One of Springsteen’s most iconic songs, “Born in the U.S.A.” is about the troubled return home of a Vietnam veteran. It’s original working title was “Vietnam Blues”.

On January 3, 1982, Bruce recorded the… Read More [Verse 1]

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

'Til you spend half your life just coverin' up, now

[Chorus]

Born in the U.S.A.​

I was born in the U.S.A.​

I was born in the U.S.A.​

Born in the U.S.A. now

[Verse 2]

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

[Chorus]

Born in the U.S.A.​

I was born in the U.S.A.​

I was born in the U.S.A.​

I was born in the U.S.A.​

[Verse 3]

Come back home to the refinery

Hirin' man says, "Son, if it was up to me"

Went down to see my V.A. man

He said, "Son, don't you understand?" now

[Interlude]

Oh, yeah

No, no

No, no, no

[Verse 4]

I had a brother at Khe Sanh

Fightin' off them 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

[Verse 5]

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary

Out by the gas fires of the refinery

I'm ten years burnin' down the road

Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go

[Chorus]

Born in the U.S.A.​

I was born in the U.S.A. now

Born in the U.S.A

I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A. now

Born in the U.S.A.​

Born in the U.S.A.​

Born in the U.S.A.​

I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A. now