I had a friend was a big baseball player
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

[Chorus:]
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

[Chorus:]

My old man worked twenty years on the line
And they let him go
Now everywhere he goes out looking for work
They just tell him that he's too old
I was nine years old and he was working at the
Metuchen Ford plant assembly line
Now he just sits on a stool down at the Legion hall
But I can tell what's on his mind

Glory days yeah goin back
Glory days aw he ain't never had
Glory days, glory days

Now I think I'm going down to the well tonight
And I'm going to drink till 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

Chorus (repeat twice)



Lyrics submitted by askewchan

Track duration: 04:15

"Glory Days" as written by Jack Christopher Allsopp

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Glory Days song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I think he's suggesting to young adults what life's going to become in the future. The kids who were badasses in high school and college are going to be the same as everyone else once the glory days pass; however, they wont be able to accept it and will always bring up the past and talk about their glory days because that's what they love and that's when they were the happiest.
    Moreover, when he talks about that girl we all remember from high school who was stunning and who everyone dreamed of hooking up with, but never thought it was possible. He's saying she's going to marry one of these people who used to be a badass, but once the glory days pass a lot of time they'll split up. Consequently, opening the door for you who always thought she was amazing to go fulfill that dream and hook up with her. It's an ironic, but a realistic situation. She can only recall her glory days w/ her husband to stop her from crying because that's when she was happiest.
    Finally, Springsteen speaks about going to the bar and drinking until his buzz is gone and hoping he doesn't think about the girl he just let get away when he gets older, which we all have a girl who we think of in that manner. He creates scenarios through his lyrics that are imaginable for all people growing up and makes people think about the future.
    Flag skur14on January 24, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Just a fun rock song about people as they grow old. They don't wanna tell boring old stories of their youth, but you gotta realize that those really are your glory days. Then you grow old, pay bills, raise kids, pay for their education, reitre, etc. But for those glory days, you just have fun.
    Flag ryfall101on August 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:See, now I kinda disagree. I think the first verse refers to a man who is used to being "the big fish in a small pnd, and is now a small fish in a lake. He isnt retelling stories over and over, he's just commenting on the fact that they are gone and they go by so very fast, and sometimes, what we imagine ourselves to be in ten eyars is very different to reality.
    Flag ceecooon July 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Chasing girls, playing baseball... the glory days
    Flag brewster39on March 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Magnificent song.

    Goes on for everybody on this damn sphere. LOL
    it should not be depressing.
    It's just bout how life goes. But told... right on that spot.
    Flag TypO1313on December 18, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The first verse of this song is actually a true story where Bruce met a old friend walking out of bar he was walking into.
    sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/…
    Flag mrpitifulon August 05, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I was listening to this song today for the first time in a really long time. I think the message is obvious and clear cut, but I actually came on here because I couldn't understand some of the lyrics! Thanks for clearing that up and @ bongo-hahaha-I think it started out innocent but he definitely boned her at least once...twice...i mean, drinks, reminiscing..it had to happen!!

    Oh and the message is surprsingly dpressing!

    Also, this is my first post..hope they get better than this!
    Flag radioxon December 21, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I've listened to this song for years now, but today on the way to work I got how sad it is. I couldn't help but to think of myself. Get me in a group with my old friends and someone (usually me, if I've had a few drinks) will bust out a yearbook or a memory and start talking about the "old days." We're not even 25 yet, so I guess rmcd0494 is right...Except we're not dicks, and we certainly weren't popular, so we didn't really have any "glory." We mainly just talk about crap we used to do: copying homework, acting stupid and just talk about silly stuff.

    The song is true though. Those who did have "glory" usually are the ones who recount story after (boring) story. And that gets old. And he's right, too...as much as you don't want to talk about your younger days, you most likely will.
    Flag bueller84on July 23, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:do you think he is boning the girl up the block or are the friday night drinks totally innocent?
    Flag bongoon July 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Great song about any dick you meet in your life who can't help remembering and retelling ad nauseum the one time in their life (usually before they turned 25) when they had it all (Glory Days). Anytime any of my friends start recounting some story I've heard for the millionth time about some girl they laid or some sproting event they triumphed at YEARS ago, I break into the refrain of this song. Heard IT, now move on with your life. And I like how Bruce hopes (though will probably fail) he never starts retelling his Glory Days stories.
    Flag rmcd0494on September 21, 2007   Link

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