Growing up the hard way We're growing up the hard way She's got a blue tattoo on the back of her hand It says "I love you" from the boys in the band She's been living on the run for almost a year Her daddy would abuse her, she's been living in fear She's got a diamond in her teeth and a leather beret She knows every city street from New York to L.A. She's got little girl eyes And her heart's made of stone I guess you gotta grow up fast When you're out on your own Try to hold your head up high You live and then you die Can someone tell me why Growing up the hard way Learning how to live with the pain The weight of the world on your shoulders I guess that's just the price that you pay Growing up the hard way It;s getting harder every day Lying in a bead made of fire Praying to God for some rain Growing up the hard way He was the pride and joy of the family He always was the good boy they told him to be But no one knew the anger that was building up inside He was drinking from the bottle That his old man used to hide He stole this rent-a-car off of Route 35 And when he gunned it I heard him scream "Straight to hell I'm gonna drive"
Then the cops came out of nowhere And that truck got in his way, I'm sorry, Mrs. Johnson, that it had to end this way Try to hold your head up high You live and then you die Can someone tell me why Growing up the hard way Learning how to live with the pain The weight of the world on your shoulders I guess that's just the price that you pay Growing up the hard way It;s getting harder every day Lying in a bead made of fire Praying to God for some rain Growing up the hard way, growing up the hard way Growing up the hard way, growing up the hard way [Solo] Try to hold your head up high You live and then you die Can someone tell me why Growing up the hard way Learning how to live with the pain The weight of the world on your shoulders I guess that's just the price that you pay Growing up the hard way It;s getting harder every day Lying in a bead made of fire Praying to God for some rain Growing up the hard way, growing up the hard way I'm growing up the hard way Growing up the hard way We'll suffer the hard way, baby Growing up the hard way, growing up the hard way