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 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 growin' up