In 1973, Springsteen released his first two albums, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, neither of which earned him a large audience. He changed his style and reached worldwide popularity with Born to Run in 1975. It was followed by Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) and The River (1980), which topped the US Billboard 200 chart. After the solo recording, Nebraska (1982), he reunited with the E Street Band for Born in the U.S.A. (1984), his most commercially successful album and one of the best-selling albums of all time. Seven of its singles reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100, including the title track. Springsteen recorded his next three albums, Tunnel of Love (1987), Human Touch (1992), and Lucky Town (1992) using mostly session musicians. He reassembled the E Street Band for 1995's Greatest Hits, then recorded the sparse acoustic The Ghost of Tom Joad, followed by the EP Blood Brothers (1996), his last release of the decade.
Springsteen dedicated his 2002 album The Rising to the victims of the September 11 attacks. He released two more folk albums, Devils & Dust (2005) and We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006), followed by two more albums with the E Street Band: Magic (2007) and Working on a Dream (2009). The next two, Wrecking Ball (2012) and High Hopes (2014), topped album charts worldwide. His latest releases include the solo Western Stars (2019), the E Street Band-featuring Letter to You (2020) and a solo cover album Only the Strong Survive (2022). When Letter to You went to No.2 in the US, Springsteen became the first artist to score a Top Five hit across six consecutive decades.
Among the album era's prominent acts, Springsteen has sold more than 140 million records worldwide and more than 71 million in the United States, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists. He has earned numerous awards for his work, including 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and a Special Tony Award (for Springsteen on Broadway). Springsteen was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009, named MusiCares person of the year in 2013, and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2016. He ranked 23rd on Rolling Stone's list of the Greatest Artists of All Time, which described him as being "the embodiment of rock & roll".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Springsteen
Studio albums
Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973)
The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (1973)
Born to Run (1975)
Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
The River (1980)
Nebraska (1982)
Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
Tunnel of Love (1987)
Human Touch (1992)
Lucky Town (1992)
The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995)
The Rising (2002)
Devils & Dust (2005)
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006)
Magic (2007)
Working on a Dream (2009)
Wrecking Ball (2012)
High Hopes (2014)
Western Stars (2019)
Letter to You (2020)
Only the Strong Survive (2022)
Growin’ Up
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
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I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone and come out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, but when they said, "Sit down," I stood up
Ooh...growin' up
The flag of piracy flew from my mast, my sails were set wing to wing
I pushed be -52 and bombed them with the blues with my gear set stubborn on standing
I broke all the rules, strafed my old high school, never once gave thought to landing
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, but when they said, "Come down," I threw up
Ooh...growin' up
I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere, and you know it's really hard to hold your breath
I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress
Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth, but I got me a nice little place in the stars
And I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the mother breast of the crowd, but when they said, "Pull down," I pulled up
Ooh...growin' up
Ooh...growin' up
The lyrics to Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band's song Growin' Up tell a story of a teenager's journey towards adulthood. The song's verses describe different experiences, each with its own set of challenges and risks that the character faces. The first verse reveals that the character had an internal conflict of being vulnerable to pain but remained resilient. The second verse shows a teenage rebellion with a "pirate" flag on his mast at such a young age, sailing with a girl who couldn't sail but could sing, breaking all the rules and strafing his old high school. In the third verse, the narrative shifts to a more cosmic, surreal tone when Springsteen says he took "month-long vacations in the stratosphere," losing everything he ever loved or feared, as he found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car.
This song represents the coming of age story of the singer, a journey that is bittersweet and not always easy. Still, there is an underlying positivity as they find their footing and identity along the way. Bruce Springsteen's growin up resonates with every generation, with its relatable and poignant message of the struggle towards adulthood.
Line by Line Meaning
I stood stone-like at midnight, suspended in my masquerade
I felt stuck and lost, pretending to be someone I'm not
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I put on a tough exterior to try and control my surroundings
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and I walked on a crooked crutch
I was vulnerable to hurt and had to limp through life's challenges
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone and come out with my soul untouched
I endured personal struggles and emerged with my inner self still intact
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, but when they said, "Sit down," I stood up
I wanted to blend in with the crowd, but eventually found the courage to stand up for myself
The flag of piracy flew from my mast, my sails were set wing to wing
I rebelled against societal norms and charted my own course
I had a jukebox graduate for first mate, she couldn't sail but she sure could sing
I chose unconventional partners, valuing talent and shared interests over practicality
I pushed Be-52 and bombed them with the blues with my gear set stubborn on standing
I pursued my passions with unwavering determination, unapologetically expressing myself
I broke all the rules, strafed my old high school, never once gave thought to landing
I took risks and challenged authority, even if it meant disregarding the consequences
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, but when they said, "Come down," I threw up
I continued to second-guess myself, but pushed myself outside of my comfort zone
I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere, and you know it's really hard to hold your breath
I sought out escapism from reality, but found it difficult to detach entirely
I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress
I experienced deep loss and struggled to find my place in the world
Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth, but I got me a nice little place in the stars
I found stability but never lost my sense of imagination and wonder
And I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car
I discovered profound meaning in unexpected places
I hid in the mother breast of the crowd, but when they said, "Pull down," I pulled up
I continued to struggle with feeling like an outsider, but learned to embrace my uniqueness
Ooh...growin' up
The repeated refrain emphasizes the ongoing process of personal growth, change, and discovery
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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