Glory Days
Bruce Springsteen - Topic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back in high school
He could throw that speedball by you
Make you look like a fool boy
Saw him the other night at this roadside bar
I was walking in, he was walking out
We went back inside sat down had a few drinks
But all he kept talking about was
Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
Well, there's a girl that lives up the block
Back in school she could turn all the boy's heads
Sometimes on a Friday I'll stop by
And have a few drinks after she put her kids to bed
Her and her husband Bobby well they split up
I guess it's two years gone by now
We just sit around talking about the old times
She says when she feels like crying
She starts laughing thinking about
Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
Think I'm going down to the well tonight
And I'm going to drink 'til I get my fill
And I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it
But I probably will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
A little of the glory of, well time slips away
And leaves you with nothing mister but
Boring stories of
Glory days yeah they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
Yeah, they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
The song starts off with the singer talking about a friend who was a big baseball player back in high school. He reflects on his friend's talent and how he could make anyone look like a fool. The two meet at a bar and while they reminisce about old times, the friend keeps bringing up "glory days". The chorus reiterates the fleeting nature of these glory days, summed up in the line, "glory days, well they'll pass you by, glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye."
The next verse talks about a girl from the singer's old school who was a bit of a heartthrob. They catch up on a Friday night, but the conversation inevitably turns to the past. The girl brings up how she copes by laughing rather than crying over the memory of their glory days. The final verse sees the singer feeling a sense of longing for the past and the hope that, when he gets old, he won't be that guy sitting around talking about the good old days, but concludes that he probably will. The song ends on a somber note with a reiteration of the chorus, emphasizing that these moments of glory are fleeting.
Overall, "Glory Days" speaks to the melancholic nature of nostalgia, how we all long to relive the good times, but ultimately, we can never go back. It emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and how the past, while important and formative, can't be the sole focus of our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a friend was a big baseball player
I knew someone who was a talented high school baseball player.
Back in high school
During our high school years.
He could throw that speedball by you
He had a wickedly fast pitch in baseball.
Make you look like a fool boy
If you tried to hit his pitch, you would look foolish.
Saw him the other night at this roadside bar
I recently saw him at a bar on the side of the road.
I was walking in, he was walking out
I was entering as he was leaving the bar.
We went back inside sat down had a few drinks
We returned to the bar and had some drinks together.
But all he kept talking about was
However, he only wanted to talk about
Glory days well they'll pass you by
The best days of your life will fly by.
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
The best days can disappear in the blink of an eye.
Glory days, glory days
Those best days of your life.
Well, there's a girl that lives up the block
There was a girl who lived near me.
Back in school she could turn all the boy's heads
When we were in school, she was very attractive.
Sometimes on a Friday I'll stop by
On occasion, I visit her on Fridays.
And have a few drinks after she put her kids to bed
We have some drinks after she has put her kids to sleep.
Her and her husband Bobby well they split up
She has divorced her husband, Bobby.
I guess it's two years gone by now
It has been around two years since she got divorced.
We just sit around talking about the old times
We reminisce about the good ol' days.
She says when she feels like crying
She tells me that when she feels upset,
She starts laughing thinking about
She laughs by recalling
Think I'm going down to the well tonight
I think I'll go out drinking tonight.
And I'm going to drink 'til I get my fill
I plan on drinking heavily until I've had enough.
And I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it
I hope I won't spend my old age thinking about the past.
But I probably will
However, it's highly probable that I will.
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
I'm just sitting and trying to regain
A little of the glory of, well time slips away
Some of the greatness that fades away as time goes by.
And leaves you with nothing mister but
You are left with nothing but,
Boring stories of
Tedious tales about
Glory days yeah they'll pass you by
The best times of your life will be gone before you know it.
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
The best memories can disappear quickly.
Glory days, glory days
Those unforgettable best times of your life.
Yeah, they'll pass you by
They'll fade away,
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Those memories of your best times can vanish in an instant.
Glory days, glory days
Those golden moments in your past.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PeterMartyrVermigli_is_cool
And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. - John 3:16
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.
- Acts 3:19
If you’re in North America, please go check out any of the churches available to you: PCA, OPC, Rpcna/Rpc, Urcna, or a canrc church
(These are conservative and actual Presbyterian churches)
If you can’t find one of the conservative presby churches then, maybe a Lcms Lutheran church.
If you are Scottish, I recommend the Free Church of Scotland and the APC.
(Different from the Church of Scotland)
If you’re English I recommend the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England & Wales and the Free Church of England
(Different from the Church of England)
Also online you can look up church finders for each of the groups, it will show you locations.
@jebidiahnewkedkracker1801
You must have been a real "mover-n-shaker" (or held a very high seat at the "Cool-People'sTable" during lunch hour) in high school if so many people remembered you and your accomplishments so many years later. Me? I got booed at my ten year reunion....After coming up on stage, or in front of everyone to accept some prize I won. (No shit--I had no idea I was that unpopular... Will never go back to another one....Reunion, that is).....Though restraining orders have kept me away from, like "Booger,"** combing high schools for girlfriends....I especially liked "hunting" for girlfriends at the private all girl Catholic schools, even though I went to a public school--the uniforms those girls wore got me more "hot-n-bothered" than the cheerleading outfits that the girls at my school wore---except when they did those kicks, and twirled around so their skirts gave me a quick look at their little red "Victoria's Secrets" they wore. Unfortunately "Mercy High School in San Francisco has closed 😭😭😭
**Must see, or be familiar with, an early 80's movie called Revenge Of The Nerds to get this reference .
@bart70simpson
I had a friend, was a big baseball player
Back in high school
He could throw that speed ball by you
Make you look like a fool, boy
Saw him the other night at this roadside bar
I was walking in, he was walking out
We went back inside, sat down, had a few drinks
But all he kept talking about
Was glory days, well, they'll pass you by
Glory days, in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
Well, there's a girl that lives up the block
Back in school, she could turn all the boys' heads
Sometimes on a Friday I'll stop by and have a few drinks
After she put her kids to bed
Her and husband Bobby, well, they split up
I guess it's two years gone by now
We just sit around talking about the old times
She says when she feels like crying she starts laughing
Thinking about glory days, well, they'll pass you by
Glory days, in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
I think I'm going down to the well tonight
I'm going to drink until I get my fill
And I hope when I get old, I don't sit around thinking about it
But I probably will
Yeah, just sitting back, trying to recapture
A little of the glory of
Well, the times slips away and leaves you with nothing, mister
But boring stories of
Glory days, yeah, they'll pass you by
Glory days, in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
Yeah, they'll pass you by
Glory days, in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
@jillkjv3816
This song came on the radio this morning as I drove through Starbucks. The guy at the server window smiled and started bobbing his head to the music and said, "Bruce!". He couldn't have been more than 22 years old. That's when you know you're timeless: you have staying power from someone like me at age 65, and from someone in their 20's. 😊
@jacquelinebrown4989
THE " BIG BOSS" Still Rocks on in 2023 🥰
@donna4976
Classic..Good memories 😊😊
@mikebrennan312
Friggin Unbelievable Song! It so Hits Home and makes you feel like a teenager again!!🎉
@RHYD_
I'm 22 and love this song! Sadly, no radio stations here in the UK seem to want to play Bruce's music - that's why I just rely on my playlists, guaranteed good music plays consistently!
@trishhill7563
My son is 22. We've talked about how a lot of 80's music is still relevant today. Even his friends have said "Yeah I know who they are. They're legends." In reference to people like Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Kiss just to name a few. I think that's pretty dang cool 😎
@doggydawgz
These lyrics hit harder with age 😢
@randy5655
All I do now is sit around and think about my glory days.
@giulianotoniolo
I remember when I got Born in The USA for Christmas in the mid 80s and it was the sound track of my own glory days. I look back at it now with a nostalgic feeling and Bruce and his gang was all part of it. Man oh man, does time fly quickly?
@PeterMartyrVermigli_is_cool
And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. - John 3:16
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.
- Acts 3:19
If you’re in North America, please go check out any of the churches available to you: PCA, OPC, Rpcna/Rpc, Urcna, or a canrc church
(These are conservative and actual Presbyterian churches)
If you can’t find one of the conservative presby churches then, maybe a Lcms Lutheran church.
If you are Scottish, I recommend the Free Church of Scotland and the APC.
(Different from the Church of Scotland)
If you’re English I recommend the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England & Wales and the Free Church of England
(Different from the Church of England)
Also online you can look up church finders for each of the groups, it will show you locations.