Dancing in the Dark” is one of Bruce Springsteen’s most iconic hits, released in 1984 as the lead single from his album Born in the U.S.A. The song quickly climbed the charts, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a defining anthem of the 1980s. Its infectious melody, paired with lyrics about yearning for connection and expressing frustration, made it resonate deeply with listeners, and it remains a favorite at Springsteen’s live performances.

Did You Know?

• “Dancing in the Dark” was the first single from Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. album.
• The song hit number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, marking it as one of Springsteen’s biggest chart successes.
• In 1985, it won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male.

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🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤

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

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

Message keeps getting cle arer
Radio’s on and I’m moving ’round the place
I check my look in the mirror
I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain’t getting nowhere
I’m just living in a dump like this
There’s something happening somewhere
Baby, I just know that there is

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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

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

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 ’round here trying to write this book
I need a love reaction
Come on now, baby, gimme just one look

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

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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