Born In The USA
Bruce & the E Street Band Springsteen Lyrics
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The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
End up like a dog that's been beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just to cover it up now
Born in the USA
I was born in the USA
I was born in the USA
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man
Born in the USA
I was born in the USA
I was born in the USA
I was born in the USA
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man said, "Son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my VA man
He said, "Son, don't you understand now?"
(Ok)
(No, no)
(No, no, no)
I had a brother at Khe Sanh
Fighting off all the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now
Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go
Born in the USA
I was born in the USA now
Born in the USA
I'm a long gone Daddy in the USA now
Born in the USA
Born in the USA
Born in the USA
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the USA now
(Oh, no)
(Oh, no, no, no)
(Oh, no, no)
(Oh, no, no, no)
Hey
(Oh, no, no)
Woo
Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen is often misinterpreted as a patriotic song. However, the lyrics actually speak of a man who is struggling to make sense of his life after being sent to war in Vietnam. The song begins with the singer lamenting about his upbringing in a decaying town, where he is metaphorically "born in a dead man's town". The first kick he took was a metaphor for being thrown into a life of poverty and despair. The singer goes on to lament about how his life has been ruined and how he has been "beat too much" that he's like a dog.
The song then shifts towards the Vietnam War, where the singer was drafted and sent to fight. He ends up killing innocent people and being traumatized by the experience. When he returns home, he is disappointed because his government has abandoned him, and he is ridiculed by his fellow citizens because of his participation in the war. The chorus "Born in the USA" is a response to the lack of opportunities and false promises made to the working-class people of his generation.
Line by Line Meaning
Born down in a dead man's town
I was born in a place where the economy is declining and factories are closing down.
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
My life has been tough since the beginning, and I have to struggle through everything.
End up like a dog that's been beat too much
I've been treated unfairly for so long that it feels like I've been beaten down like a dog.
'Til you spend half your life just to cover it up now
I have to work hard to hide the scars left by the struggles in my life.
Got in a little hometown jam
I got in trouble in my hometown, maybe with the law or with other people.
So they put a rifle in my hands
To avoid jail time, I was forced to join the military and fight in a war.
Sent me off to a foreign land
I was sent to fight in a war in a foreign country, far away from home.
To go and kill the yellow man
I was sent to fight against Asian people in the Vietnam War.
Come back home to the refinery
After the war, I returned home and found work in a refinery.
Hiring man said, "Son if it was up to me"
Even though I came back from the war as a hero, no one wants to hire me for a job.
Went down to see my VA man
I went to see my Veterans Affairs representative, hoping for help with my situation.
He said, "Son, don't you understand now?"
The VA representative told me that I'm basically on my own and that the government doesn't care about me.
I had a brother at Khe Sanh
My brother was also sent to fight in the Vietnam War.
Fighting off all the Viet Cong
My brother was risking his life fighting against the Viet Cong guerrillas.
They're still there, he's all gone
My brother lost his life in the war, and the country he fought for is still torn apart in conflict.
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
My brother had a girlfriend in Saigon, Vietnam while he was fighting there.
I got a picture of him in her arms now
I have a photo of my late brother with his girlfriend.
Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
I live near a prison, and I feel like I'm also trapped with no escape.
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
My work at the refinery is dangerous, with gas fires being a regular hazard.
I'm ten years burning down the road
I've been traveling for ten years, but I'm not getting anywhere in life.
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go
I feel trapped in my situation with no way out or any idea of where to go.
I'm a long gone Daddy in the USA now
I don't have a family to support me or depend on me anymore.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the USA now
I'm still trying to be cool and relevant, even though I feel old and out of place.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@deborahtorres2256
Born down in a dead man's town
And the first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just to cover up
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says, "Son, if it was up to me"
I go down to see the V.A. man
He said, "Son, don't you understand?"
Had a brother at Khe Sahn
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a little girl in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms
Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
I've got nowhere to run and nowhere to go
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I'm a long time daddy in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking daddy in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a long gone daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I was
@BrendanAsivo55
Max Weinberg is an absolutely underrated drummer. The way he held together the E Street Band throughout those hours of sets. All class!
@moninrambo5257
B b b
@luizzuniga5987
One of the best versions ever made in a concert.
@benjaminhatcher9846
This blew my mind...very moving...he sang that like it was the first time...as if his life depended on it...pure art...
@anelladambrosio2513
Con questa canzone e iniziata la mia avventura con bruce.. 30anni fa.. Ho la stessa eta di bruce... 😅🤗👩❤️💋👩🥰👩❤️💋👩🥰😍😘💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
@terry5659
@@anelladambrosio2513 v😆😘
@anelladambrosio2513
@@terry5659ciao Terry! 🙋♀️😊😘
@cohimbradelacoronia3486
Best live Version of this Song i‘ve seen so far. Really love it! Ecspecially Max and Bruce performs absolutely great
@leviphillips5998
This is just awesome! The way everything fits together is just mind blowing!
@pjneslo8979
You know without a shadow of a doubt every member of this band put 110% in performing this song, as it should be. Wish our country & the world wasn’t so at odds of ridiculous politics. Great song !