He's got nothing to say, he's got no excuse
He's just made that way and he's gonna stay that way
Like a dog on the loose in a firework display, in a world of his own
No, no, no, he won't back down or go running back homeHe's come a long way in life, he's got a long way to go
He don't even know, he don't care because
He's growing up the hard way, in and out of trouble every day
Growing up the hard way, now there's no tellin' where you'll end up, boyBut he's got nothing to say, like he's lost for words, his mind's in a daze
That's his way, it's just a little game he plays
He's got nowhere to run, while the city sleeps he wanders alone
Cuttin' through the steel and the hearts of stoneHe's come a long way in life, he's got a long way to go
He don't even know, he don't care because
He's growing up the hard way, in and out of trouble every day
Growing up the hard way, you'd better walk the straight and narrow, yeah
Growing up the hard way, in and out of trouble every day
Growing up the hard way, never know what you're in for, boyHe's come a long way in life, he's got a long way to go
He don't wanna know and he don't care because
He's growing up the hard way, in and out of trouble every day
He's growing up the hard way, yeah, and he's gonna stay that wayYou see, he's growing up the hard way
Walk the straight and narrow, yeah, maybe someday
But still he's growing up the hard way, it's just the way he's grown up, yeah
He's growing up the hard way, there ain't no other way
Growing up the hard way