Dancing in the Dark
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


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I get up in the evenin'
And I ain't got nothin' to say
I come home in the mornin'
I go to bed feelin' the same way
I ain't nothin' but tired
Man, I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there, baby, I could use just a little help
You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancin' in the dark

Messages keeps gettin' clearer
Radio's on and I'm movin' 'round my place
I check my look in the mirror
Wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain't gettin' nowhere
I'm just livin' in a dump like this
There's somethin' happenin' somewhere
Baby, I just know that there is

You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancin' in the dark

You sit around gettin' older
There's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
I'll shake this world off my shoulders
Come on, baby, the laugh's on me

Stay on the streets of this town
And they'll be carvin' you up alright
They say you gotta stay hungry
Hey baby, I'm just about starvin' tonight
I'm dyin' for some action
I'm sick of sittin' 'round here tryin' to write this book
I need a love reaction
Come on now, baby, gimme just one look

You can't start a fire
Sittin' 'round cryin' over a broken heart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancin' in the dark
You can't start a fire
Worryin' about your little world fallin' apart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancin' in the dark
Even if we're just dancin' in the dark
Even if we're just dancin' in the dark
Even if we're just dancin' in the dark
Hey baby

Overall Meaning

In Bruce Springsteen's hit song "Dancing in the Dark," the singer expresses his restlessness and dissatisfaction with his life. He begins by describing his monotonous routine of going out at night without any real purpose, only to come home feeling tired and unfulfilled. He craves a little help in the form of some excitement or inspiration. The song's chorus emphasizes the idea that in order to make a change in his life, he needs a spark to ignite the fire within him. He offers himself as a "gun for hire," so to speak, willing to take on any challenge or opportunity that comes his way.


As the song progresses, he continues to analyze his life and the world around him. He mentions the passing of time and the feeling of being stuck, unable to make progress. He desires to shake off this feeling of stagnation by making a change in his appearance and attitude. He feels that something important is happening somewhere in the world, and he wants to be a part of it, to experience the thrill of living fully. The song's final verse reveals that he has been writing a book, but he is growing restless with the process and craves a love reaction, or some inspiration to make the words come alive.


Overall, the song is both a commentary on modern life and a call to action to break out of the monotony and find fulfillment in something extraordinary. It urges the listener to take risks, to embrace change, and to pursue their passions with vigor.


Line by Line Meaning

I get up in the evenin'
I wake up in the evening


And I ain't got nothin' to say
I have nothing to say


I come home in the mornin'
I return home in the morning


I go to bed feelin' the same way
I go to bed feeling the same as when I woke up


I ain't nothin' but tired
I'm just exhausted


Man, I'm just tired and bored with myself
I'm bored with myself and my own life


Hey there, baby, I could use just a little help
Hey there, I could use some help


You can't start a fire
You cannot ignite a fire


You can't start a fire without a spark
You need a spark to ignite a fire


This gun's for hire
I am available for hire


Even if we're just dancin' in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark


Messages keeps gettin' clearer
The message is becoming clearer to me


Radio's on and I'm movin' 'round my place
The radio is playing and I'm moving around my house


I check my look in the mirror
I look at myself in the mirror


Wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
I want to change my clothes, my hair, my face


Man, I ain't gettin' nowhere
I'm not getting anywhere


I'm just livin' in a dump like this
I'm just living in a place like this


There's somethin' happenin' somewhere
There's something happening somewhere


Baby, I just know that there is
I just know that there is


You sit around gettin' older
You sit around and age


There's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
There's a joke somewhere and I am the punchline


I'll shake this world off my shoulders
I'll get rid of this burden on my shoulders


Come on, baby, the laugh's on me
Come on, baby, make fun of me


Stay on the streets of this town
Stay on the streets of this town


And they'll be carvin' you up alright
They will harm you


They say you gotta stay hungry
They say that you must stay motivated


Hey baby, I'm just about starvin' tonight
Hey baby, I'm really hungry tonight


I'm dyin' for some action
I'm desperate for some excitement


I'm sick of sittin' 'round here tryin' to write this book
I'm tired of sitting here and trying to write this book


I need a love reaction
I need love


Come on now, baby, gimme just one look
Please give me a chance


Sittin' 'round cryin' over a broken heart
Crying over a broken heart


Worryin' about your little world fallin' apart
Worrying about everything falling apart


Even if we're just dancin' in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark


Even if we're just dancin' in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark


Even if we're just dancin' in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark


Hey baby
Hey baby




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@amanali9912

I get up in the evening
And I ain't got nothing to say
I come home in the morning
I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain't nothing but tired
Man, I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help

[Chorus 1]
You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark

[Verse 2]
Message keeps getting clearer
Radio's on and I'm moving 'round the place
I check my look in the mirror
I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain't getting nowhere
I'm just living in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere
Baby, I just know that there is

[Chorus 1]
You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark

[Bridge]
You sit around getting older
There's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
I'll shake this world off my shoulders
Come on, baby, the laugh's on me

[Verse 3]
Stay on the streets of this town
And they'll be carving you up all right
They say you gotta stay hungry
Hey, baby, I'm just about starving tonight
I'm dying for some action
I'm sick of sitting 'round here trying to write this book
I need a love reaction
Come on now, baby, gimme just one look

[Chorus 2]
You can't start a fire
Sitting 'round crying over a broken heart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
You can't start a fire
Worrying about your little world falling apart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark

[Outro]
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Hey, baby



@bekr.3240

I get up in the evening
And I ain't got nothing to say
I come home in the morning
I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain't nothing but tired
Man I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help

You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark

Message keeps getting clearer
Radio's on and I'm moving 'round the place
I check my look in the mirror
I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man I ain't getting nowhere
I'm just living in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere
Baby I just know that there is

You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark

You sit around getting older
There's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
I'll shake this world off my shoulders
Come on baby this laugh's on me

Stay on the streets of this town
And they'll be carving you up alright
They say you gotta stay hungry
Hey baby I'm just about starving tonight
I'm dying for some action
I'm sick of sitting 'round here trying to write this book
I need a love reaction
Come on now baby gimme just one look

You can't start a fire sitting 'round crying over a broken heart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
You can't start a fire worrying about your little world falling apart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Hey baby



@songs-80s

"暗闇の中でのダンス"

私は夕方に起きます
そして、私は何も言うことはありません
朝家に帰ります
同じ気持ちで寝ます
疲れただけじゃない
男私はただ疲れていて、自分自身に退屈しています
Hey there baby 少しだけ助けてあげられるよ

火を起こすことはできません
火花がないと火を起こすことはできません
この銃はレンタル用です
暗闇の中でただ踊っていても

メッセージはより明確になります
ラジオがオンになっていて、私は自分の場所を移動しています。
鏡で自分の姿を確認する
服も髪も顔も変えたい
どうにもならない男
私はこのようなダンプに住んでいます
どこかで何かが起こっている
ベイビー、そこにいることを知っているだけ

火を起こすことができない
火花がなければ火を起こすことはできない
この銃はレンタル用です
暗闇の中でただ踊っていても

あなたは年を取ると座って
冗談があります、ここのどこかで、それは私にあります
この世界を肩から振り払う
歌詞の意味: 赤ちゃんに来てください。

この街の通りにいて
そして、彼らはあなたをうまく切り刻むでしょう
彼らはあなたが空腹のままでなければならないと言います
Hey baby 今夜はもうお腹が空くよ
私はいくつかのアクションのために死にます
この本を書こうとしてここに座っているのはもううんざりだ
愛のリアクションが欲しい
さあ、ベイビーギミー一目だけ

傷ついた心に泣いて座って火を起こすことはできない
この銃はレンタル用です
暗闇の中でただ踊っていても
あなたの小さな世界が崩壊することを心配して火を起こすことはできません
この銃はレンタル用です
暗闇の中でただ踊っていても
暗闇の中でただ踊っていても
暗闇の中でただ踊っていても



@Roelles

LYRICS, enjoy!

I get up in the evening
and I ain't got nothing to say
I come home in the morning
I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain't nothing but tired
Man I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help

You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
even if we're just dancing in the dark

Message keeps getting clearer
radio's on and I'm moving 'round the place
I check my look in the mirror
I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man I ain't getting nowhere
I'm just living in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere
baby I just know that there is

You can't start a fire
you can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
even if we're just dancing in the dark

You sit around getting older
there's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
I'll shake this world off my shoulders
come on baby this laugh's on me

Stay on the streets of this town
and they'll be carving you up alright
They say you gotta stay hungry
hey baby I'm just about starving tonight
I'm dying for some action
I'm sick of sitting 'round here trying to write this book
I need a love reaction
come on now baby gimme just one look

You can't start a fire sitting 'round crying over a broken heart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
You can't start a fire worrying about your little world falling apart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Hey baby



All comments from YouTube:

@michelleanne875

Almost impossible to believe, I was at that show in June 1984 at the St Paul Civic Center, Bruce played that song 3 times in a row to get all the footage needed, he was so apologetic and we just didn’t care! The crowd went wild when he pulled that girl on stage to dance, we didn’t know she was planted there or that 10 years later, she would become Monica on Friends. Now I watch this and I feel like I’m there again.

@rosiep7596

I loved reading this :)

@navigatorx9696

Wow

@latashawatson7172

Wow!!!!!😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

@enriquetelcel

Si estuvo muy bueno

@wesleyg4386

Yeah that's not something you'll ever see in your lifetime again . Epic

450 More Replies...

@xTheFly

Bittersweet song for me. My mom would drop whatever she was doing whenever this video came on and dance with Bruce. My mom passed away a month ago and this song will forever be a beautiful memory of her.

Update: Wow. So many likes! I really only posted this to share and vent a little bit. I really didn't think so many people would reply to and like my comment! You are all incredibly kind and thoughtful so thank you for that. May you all be blessed in this crazy time.

@jamesmcallister1941

This song has so much energy no way one cant love it, im so very sorry for your loss but I'm sure your mom is dancing in Heaven to this wonderful song, god bless your mother🌹🙏

@shannonmartin9488

Rip... my love..cya soon!

@shannonmartin9488

With the up most respect

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