Glory Days
LIVING ROOM - Bruce Springsteen 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 lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" capture the nostalgic reflections of the singer as he encounters old friends from high school and reminisces about their past youthful glory. The song begins with the singer recalling a friend who was a talented baseball player in high school, capable of impressively throwing speedballs that would make others look foolish. The singer bumps into this old friend at a bar, where they catch up over drinks. Despite the passage of time, the friend seems stuck in the past, constantly reminiscing about their "glory days."
As the song progresses, the focus shifts to a girl from the singer's past who used to turn heads in school. The singer visits her occasionally, and they discuss their shared memories, including the girl's past relationship with Bobby. Although their lives have moved on and things have changed, the girl still finds solace in laughing about the past to avoid feeling sad. This section underscores the theme of longing for the past and the bittersweet aspect of nostalgia.
The chorus of "Glory Days" reinforces the idea that time passes quickly and that one's peak moments can slip away in the blink of an eye. The singer contemplates heading to the drinking well to drown his sorrows and hopes that he won't dwell too much on the past as he ages, though he acknowledges that it is likely. There is a sense of resignation and acceptance that time moves on, leaving one with only memories that may feel mundane in the present.
The repetitive nature of the chorus, with its emphasis on how "glory days" fade away and the symbolism of a young girl's eye as a fleeting moment of beauty and vitality, serves as a poignant reminder of the transience of life's most vibrant moments. Through introspective storytelling and vivid character sketches, Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" evokes the universal experience of looking back on the past with a mix of fondness, regret, and the realization that time inevitably marches forward, leaving only memories in its wake.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a friend was a big baseball player
I used to know a skilled baseball player
Back in high school
During our teenage years
He could throw that speedball by you
His fastball was difficult to hit
Make you look like a fool boy
Causing others to look incompetent
Saw him the other night at this roadside bar
Saw him recently at a local bar
I was walking in, he was walking out
Our paths crossed at the entrance
We went back inside sat down had a few drinks
We returned indoors and drank together
But all he kept talking about was
However, he only talked about
Glory days well they'll pass you by
Youthful moments will fade away
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Fleeting memories captured in a brief glance
Glory days, glory days
Golden days that are now in the past
Well, there's a girl that lives up the block
There's a girl who resides nearby
Back in school she could turn all the boy's heads
She was the center of attention in school
Sometimes on a Friday I'll stop by
I occasionally visit on Fridays
And have a few drinks after she put her kids to bed
We share a drink after she puts her kids to sleep
Her and her husband Bobby well they split up
She and Bobby separated
I guess it's two years gone by now
It has been two years since their separation
We just sit around talking about the old times
We reminisce about the past
She says when she feels like crying
She mentions that when she's sad
She starts laughing thinking about
She finds joy in recalling
Think I'm going down to the well tonight
I plan to visit a familiar spot tonight
And I'm going to drink 'til I get my fill
I'll drink until satisfied
And I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it
I hope to not dwell on the past in my old age
But I probably will
But it is likely that I will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
Simply trying to relive
A little of the glory of, well time slips away
Some of the former greatness as time escapes us
And leaves you with nothing mister but
Leaving you with nothing but
Boring stories of
Tales that have lost their excitement
Glory days yeah they'll pass you by
Past glories will fade away
Yeah, they'll pass you by
Indeed, they will disappear
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind