Well, I stood stone-like at midnight Suspended in my masquerade I combed my hair till it was 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 strolled all alone through a fall-out zone Came out with my soul untouched I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd But when they said, "Sit down," I stood up Oh, oh, growing up 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 the B-52 and bombed 'em with the blues With my gear set stubborn on standing I broke all the rules, strafed my old high school Never once gave thought to landing, no And I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd When they said, "Come down," I threw up Oh, oh, growing up I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere You know, it's really hard to hold your breath And I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress Well, my feet finally took root in the earth But I got a nice little place in the stars And I swear I found the key to the universe In the engine of an old parked car I hid in the mother breast of the crowd But when they said, "Move down," I moved up Uh, oh, oh, oh, don't 'ya know that I'm growing up I said, uh, oh, oh, oh, I can't help it that I'm growing up, ah