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 fallout zone And come out with my soul untouched I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd But when they said "sit down", I stood up Ooh, Growin' 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 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 I hid in the clouded warmth of the crowd But when they said, "come down", I threw up Ooh, Growin' up I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere And you know it's really hard to hold your breath I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth But I got me 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, "pull down", I pulled up Ooh, Growin' up Ooh, Growin' up