Dancing in the Dark Lyrics
I get up in the evening
And I ain't got nothing to say
I come home in the morning
I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain't nothing but tired
Man, I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there, baby
I could use just a little help
[Chorus]
You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
[Verse 2]
Messages keep getting clearer
Radio's on, and I'm moving 'round my place
I check my look in the mirror
I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain't getting nowhere
Ah, just living in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere
Baby, I just know that there is
You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
[Bridge]
You sit around getting older
There's a joke here somewhere, and it's on me
I'll shake this world off my shoulders
Come on, baby, the laugh's on me
[Verse 3]
Stay on the streets of this town
And they'll be carving you up all right
They say, "You gotta stay hungry"
Hey, baby, I'm just about starving tonight
I'm dying for some action
I'm sick of sitting around here trying to write this book
I need a love reaction
Come on now, baby, give me just one look
[Chorus]
You can't start a fire
Sitting 'round crying over a broken heart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
You can't start a fire
Worrying about your little world falling apart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Hey, baby
[Outro Saxophone Solo]
About
The first single off of Springsteen’s seminal album Born In The U.S.A., this track was written two years after most of the other songs on the album.
Producer Jon Landau thought the new album lacked a guaranteed hit and pushed Springsteen to draft one more song. The two men got into a brief altercation, after which Bruce wrote “Dancing in the Dark” about his ‘difficulty writing a hit single and his frustration trying to write songs that will please people’.
Its music video contains an early appearance by actress Courtney Cox. It also helped introduce Springsteen to a younger audience, setting the stage for a seven-single run of top 10 hits from the album.
“Dancing In The Dark” became Springsteen’s highest charting single the Boss has ever had, spending four weeks in the #2 position of the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1984, held from the top spot by Duran Duran “The Reflex” and Prince “When Doves Cry”. It also spent six weeks at #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
This single is also Springsteen’s only to be certified platinum.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
“Dancing in the Dark” won a Grammy in 1984 for Best Rock Vocal Performance.
In addition, the music video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Stage Performance.
- 2.Cover Me
- 6.I’m on Fire
- 7.No Surrender
- 8.Bobby Jean
- 10.Glory Days
- 11.Dancing in the Dark
- 12.My Hometown
