Springsteen
Eric Church Lyrics

To this day when I hear that song
Whenever Eric Church hears a certain song, it reminds him of a specific moment in his past.

I see you standin' there all night long
He remembers a specific girl standing in front of him, listening to the same song he heard.

Discount shades, store bought tan
The girl he saw was wearing cheap sunglasses and had a fake tan.

Flip flops and cut-off jeans
Her casual attire consisted of flip flops and jean shorts cut above the knee.

Somewhere between that setting sun
This moment occurred while the sun was setting.

"I'm On Fire" and I'm "Born To Run"
This line references two songs by Bruce Springsteen that were likely playing at the time.

You looked at me and I was done
The girl Eric saw made such an impression on him that he could not resist her.

But we, we're just getting started
Despite being struck by the girl, Eric and the girl were just beginning their night together.

I was singin' to you, you were singin' to me
Eric and the girl were singing along to the same song, perhaps creating a connection between the two.

I was so alive, never been more free
The night Eric and the girl spent together was the most carefree he had ever felt.

Fired up my daddy's lighter and we sang, oh
In a display of his emotions and excitement, Eric lit a lighter and sang with the girl beside him.

Stayed there 'til they forced us out
Eric and the girl stayed out so late that the establishment they were in had to close and force them out.

And took the long way to your house
The two of them took an indirect route to the girl's home, extending the night together.

I can still hear the sound of you sayin' don't go
At the end of the night, the girl told Eric not to leave, which stuck with him afterward.

When I think about you, I think about seventeen
Eric is reminded of when he was 17 years old when he thinks about the girl he was with.

I think about my old Jeep
Eric links the girl he was with to the vintage car he owned at the time.

I think about the stars in the sky
He remembers the stars in the sky from that particular night.

Funny how a melody sounds like a memory
Eric muses on how a certain melody from a song can bring back vivid memories.

Like the soundtrack to a July Saturday night
That specific melody reminds Eric of the perfect summer evening he had with the girl.

Springsteen
This is the first mention of the titular musician, who represents all of the nostalgia and memories of that summer night.

I bumped into you by happenstance
At some point after their night together, Eric coincidentally saw the girl again.

You probably wouldn't even know who I am
Eric doubts that the girl would recognize him if he happened to run into her again.

But if I whispered your name
If he were to say the girl's name, there might still be a spark of recognition.

I bet there'd still be a spark
There is still a chance that Eric and the girl could feel a spark or attraction if they met again.

From back when I was gasoline
Eric describes his younger self as being like gasoline, like he was full of energy and vigor.

And this old tattoo had brand new ink
Eric had recently gotten a new tattoo, which gives more context to the time of his life he is thinking about.

And we didn't care what your mom would think
Eric and the girl were young and didn't care much about other people's opinions or rules.

About your name on my arm
The girl's name was tattooed on Eric's arm, which had caused some controversy or concern.

Baby, is it spring or is it summer?
Eric is unsure of the season or stage of his life when he was with the girl.

The guitar sound or the beat of that drummer
The sound of guitar or drums in certain songs reminds Eric of that summer night and the girl he was with.

You hear sometimes late at night on your radio
The melody or song Eric is thinking of can come on the radio late at night.

Even though you're a million miles away
Even though the girl is far away and they haven't been in touch, the memory of her still lingers on for Eric.

When you hear "Born in the USA"
This is another reference to a Bruce Springsteen song that serves as a reminder of that summer night and the girl.

You relive those glory days
The memory of that summer night and being with the girl is considered to be some of the best times of Eric's life.

So long ago
The memory or feeling seems like it happened a long time ago, even if it wasn't that far in the past.

When you think about me, do you think about seventeen?
Eric wonders if the girl remembers him and that summer night as fondly as he does, if at all.

Do you think about my old Jeep
Another question Eric has for the girl is whether or not she remembers his old car, which he links to that summer night.

Think about the stars in the sky
Like before, he wonders if the girl remembers seeing the stars that night.

Whoa, Springsteen
This is the final mention of Bruce Springsteen, which represents the power of music to spark vivid memories and emotions.