GROWIN' UP

Live 09 Apr 1974 version

Well I stood stone-like at midnight suspended in my masquerade
And I combed my hair till it looked 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 strode all alone into a fallout zone and came out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded warmth of the crowd, when they said "sit down" I stood up
Ooh, ooh, growin' up

Well the flag of piracy flew from my mast, my sails were set wing to wing
I had a jukebox graduate for first mate, she couldn't sail but she sure could sing
I pushed B-52 and bombed 'em with the blues with my gear set stubborn on standing
Mm!
And never once gave thought to landing
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, when they said "come down" I threw up
Ooh, ooh, growin' up

Make it funky!

I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere, and you know it's really hard to hold your breath
Swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress
My feet they finally took root in the earth, but I got me a nice little place here in the stars
Well I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car
Whoa I hid in the mother breast of the crowd, when they said "pull down" I pulled up
Ooh, ooh, growin' up
Oh, oh my my my my my my my my my, growin' up
Oh, yeah

Yeah! [laughs]

Info

The above lyrics are for the live 09 Apr 1974 radio performance of GROWIN' UP as broadcast on Boston's WBCN-FM. The song was played in a full-band acoustic arrangement.

The 09 Apr 1974 WBCN-FM Radio Performance

Bruce Springsteen's 09 Apr 1974 radio performance was broadcast live on Boston's WBCN-FM. The show took place at the radio station in Boston, MA. The complete performance was recorded off the airwaves and has since circulated in excellent quality among fans.

The 09 Apr 1974 WBCN-FM radio broadcast was commercially released in Europe. Since 2005 some enterprising record labels in Europe (mostly in the UK) have been releasing Bruce Springsteen radio and TV broadcasts (and some soundboard recordings) from the seventies, eighties, and nineties. Though these releases are not authorized by Bruce Springsteen or his record company, they are lawful due to a legal loophole in Europe.

Bruce Springsteen -- Live Sessions: Houston Boston Richmond

Digital album - Wyte Myce (no catalog number) - UK, 2015

This is a download-only digital album. It contains the 31 May 1973 WGOE-FM radio broadcast, part of the 09 Mar 1974 KLOL-FM radio broadcast, and the 09 Apr 1974 WBCN-FM radio broadcast.

Bruce Springsteen -- Acoustic Radio Broadcast Collection

2xCD - The Broadcast Archive (BSCD6047) - UK, 2017

This release contains the 09 Jan 1973 WBCN-FM radio broadcast, the 31 May 1973 WGOE-FM radio broadcast, the 09 Mar 1974 KLOL-FM radio broadcast, and the 09 Apr 1974 WBCN-FM radio broadcast. This is a repackaging of Good Ship Funke's Acoustic Radio 1973 and Acoustic Radio 1974.

Bruce Springsteen -- Acoustic Radio 1974

CD - Good Ship Funke (GS024) - UK, 2017

This release contains the 09 Mar 1974 KLOL-FM radio broadcast and the 09 Apr 1974 WBCN-FM radio broadcast. It was also released on CD exclusively as part of the Acoustic Radio Broadcast Collection package.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Acoustic Sessions

Digital album - Radioland (no catalog number) - Europe, 2017

This is a download-only digital album. It contains the 31 May 1973 WGOE-FM radio broadcast and the 09 Apr 1974 WBCN-FM radio broadcast.

Bruce Springsteen -- The 1974 Acoustic Radio Sessions

2xLP - Big Car (unknown catalog number) - UK, 2018

This release contains the 09 Mar 1974 KLOL-FM radio broadcast and the 09 Apr 1974 WBCN-FM radio broadcast.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Live In The Studio - WBCN-FM Studios Boston MA USA

Digital album - Altamont Productions / Studioville (no catalog number) - Europe, 2018

This is a download-only digital album. It contains the 09 Apr 1974 WBCN-FM radio broadcast.

Credits

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Available Versions

List of available versions of GROWIN' UP on this website:

Page last updated: 22 Jul 2010