I’m Goin’ Down
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


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We sit in the car outside your house
I can feel the heat coming 'round
I go to put my arm around you
And you give me a look like I'm way out of bounds
Well you let out one of your bored sighs
Well lately when I look into your eyes

Down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down

We get dressed up and we go out, baby, for the night
We come home early burning, burning, burning in some fire fight
I'm sick and tired of you setting me up yeah
Setting me up just to knock-a knock-a knock-a me down

Down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down, hey now

I pull you close now baby but when we kiss I can feel a doubt
I remember back when we started
My kisses used to turn you inside out
I used to drive you to work in the morning
Friday night I'd drive you all around
You used to love to drive me wild yeah
But lately girl you get your kicks from just driving me down

I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down

I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, hey bopa d-d-down

I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm goin down, hey bopa d-d-down
I'm goin down, down, down, yeah
I'm goin down, down, hey bopa hey bopa

Hey hey mmm bopa bopa well down
Hey babe mmm bopa bopa said down
Hey hey mmm bopa bopa well down
Hey hey mmm bopa bopa say




Hey unh say down, down, down, down, down
Hey down now, say down, down, down, down, down

Overall Meaning

In "I'm Goin' Down," Bruce Springsteen sings about a struggling relationship. As the song begins, Springsteen is sitting in a car outside his lover's house, trying to hold her close. However, she's not interested, as evidenced by the bored sigh she lets out. The relationship is no longer what it used to be, and while Springsteen remembers a time when his kisses would turn her "inside out," now they only seem to push her further away. The chorus repeats the title phrase, with Springsteen acknowledging that he's "goin' down" in the relationship - he's falling apart as she sets him up, only to knock him down.


Throughout the song, Springsteen's lyrics depict a sense of frustration and confusion about how the relationship got to this point. He remembers how he used to drive her everywhere and how they used to love to "drive each other wild," but now she seems to enjoy driving him down - it's almost as if making him feel bad is her new hobby. Overall, "I'm Goin' Down" is a lament for a dying relationship, with Springsteen grappling with a sense of loss and futility.


Line by Line Meaning

We sit in the car outside your house
We are parked in front of your house.


I can feel the heat coming 'round
The tension between us is building.


I go to put my arm around you
I try to be affectionate with you.


And you give me a look like I'm way out of bounds
You react to me as if I've done something wrong.


Well you let out one of your bored sighs
You express your lack of interest with a sigh.


Well lately when I look into your eyes
Recently, when I gaze into your eyes,


Down, down, down, down
I'm heading straight down.


We get dressed up and we go out, baby, for the night
We get dressed nicely and go out for the evening, baby.


We come home early burning, burning, burning in some fire fight
We come back early, having argued and fought.


I'm sick and tired of you setting me up yeah
I'm fed up with you putting me in no-win situations.


Setting me up just to knock-a knock-a knock-a me down
You arrange things so that you can knock me down.


I pull you close now baby but when we kiss I can feel a doubt
I embrace you, but doubts arise when we kiss.


I remember back when we started
I recall the beginning of our relationship.


My kisses used to turn you inside out
My kisses used to make you wild with passion.


I used to drive you to work in the morning
I used to take you to work in the morning.


Friday night I'd drive you all around
On Friday nights, I used to drive you everywhere.


You used to love to drive me wild yeah
You used to enjoy getting me all worked up.


But lately girl you get your kicks from just driving me down
Lately, you find pleasure in causing me to feel bad.


I'm goin down, down, down, down
I'm heading straight down.


Hey bopa d-d-down
Up and down, up and down.


Hey hey mmm bopa bopa well down
Hey hey, slowly falling apart.


Hey babe mmm bopa bopa said down
Hey babe, saying we're done.


Hey hey mmm bopa bopa well down
Hey hey, slowly falling apart.


Hey hey mmm bopa bopa say
Hey hey, saying that it's over.


Hey unh say down, down, down, down, down
Hey, as if to say, we're going down.


Hey down now, say down, down, down, down, down
Hey, implying that we're on a downward spiral.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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