Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA (1984)

In 1984, American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen released Born in the USA, the first single from his album of the same name. Its simple but evocative lyrics tell of a man of working-class background who, along with his brother, is drafted and sent to fight in the Vietnam War. After returning home from Vietnam he struggles with adjustment to civilian life, unemployment and the loss of his brother. Born in the USA reached the top 10 singles charts in several countries, including the United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. It was famously misinterpreted as a patriotic song by US president Ronald Reagan, even though its lyrics are sharply critical of the United States government and its treatment of Vietnam veterans.

Born down in a dead man’s town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
End up like a dog that’s been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up

Born in the USA, I was born in the USA
I was born in the USA, born in the USA

Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man

Born in the USA, I was born in the USA
Born in the USA, born in the USA

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man said “Son if it was up to me…”
Went down to see my VA man
He said “Son, don’t you understand.”

I had a brother at Khe Sanh
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They’re still there, he’s all gone
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I’m ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run, nowhere to go

Born in the USA, I was born in the USA
Born in the USA, I’m a long gone daddy in the USA


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