Eric Church Pays Tribute to His Own Musical Hero in ‘Springsteen’ Lyrics

Eric Church's "Springsteen" lyrics are a page out of the singer's life, and it's a song that resonates deep down with his fans.

"Out of the entire record, this is the song I’ve been the most excited about the entire time," Church told Taste of Country in 2012 of the song he co-wrote with Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell. "It’s my favorite song on the record. I think it’s going to be our biggest record. It’s been one of the best songs we play live."

What Is Eric Church's "Springsteen" About?

"'Springsteen' was born on the road," Church explained. "Jeff is in my band. I wrote ‘Smoke a Little Smoke’ with him. It was the first time Ryan came out on the road. He had kind of this drum loop and piano part. When we recorded it, we didn’t try to reproduce it; we just used it. It’s very haunting and cool. We started painting this picture with the song. I’ve always wanted to do a song about the experience that fans have and that I had myself, on the lawn at an amphitheater at a concert."

"To this day when I hear that song / I see you standin' there all night long / Discount shades, store bought tan / Flip flops and cut-off jeans / Somewhere between that setting sun / I'm on fire and born to run / You looked at me and I was done / And we're, we're just getting started / I was singin' to you, you were singin' to me / I was so alive, never been more free / Fired up my daddy's lighter and we sang / Ooohh," they wrote in the opening lyrics.

Get our free mobile app

Is Eric Church's "Springsteen" a Real Story?

"For me particularly, I remember being at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte, N.C., and I remember a big group of us on the lawn at this concert," Church recalled. "I started falling for one of the girls in the group. Throughout the course of this concert was kind of our first date."

"The relationship went nowhere … I think it lasted two weeks, but to this day when I hear that artist’s song, I think about her," he said. "I don’t even think I could tell you her last name, but I still see her and think about her."

"When I think about you, I think about 17 / I think about my old jeep / I think about the stars in the sky / Funny how a melody sounds like a memory / Like the soundtrack to a July Saturday night / Springsteen," they wrote in the lyrics of the chorus.

"I love how powerful music is, and this is a song directly about that," Church noted, "And, I’m a big Springsteen fan. I just paid homage to him and what his music meant to me. Of all the songs on the record ... this is the one when we put the record out, I was the most excited about ‘Springsteen.’"

Eric Church's "Springsteen" Lyrics:

To this day, when I hear that song
I see you standin' there on that lawn
Discount shades, store bought tan
Flip-flops and cut-off jeans
Somewhere between that settin' sun
I'm on Fire and Born to Run
You looked at me and I was done
We were just gettin' started
I was singin' to you, you were singin' to me
I was so alive, never been more free
Fired up my daddy's lighter and we sang
"Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh"
Stayed there 'til they forced us out
And took the long way to your house
I can still hear the sound of you sayin' "Don't go"
When I think about you, I think about 17
I think about my old Jeep
I think about the stars in the sky
Funny how a melody sounds like a memory
Like a soundtrack to a July Saturday night
Springsteen
I bumped into you by happenstance
You probably wouldn't even know who I am
But if I whispered your name, I bet there'd still be a spark
And back when I was gasoline
And this old tattoo had brand-new ink
And we didn't care what would mama think
'Bout your name on my arms
Baby, is it spring or is it summer?
The guitar sound, roll the beat of a drummer
You hear sometimes late at night on your radio
Even though you're a million miles away
When you hear 'Born in the USA'
You relive those glory days
So long ago
When you think about me, do you think about 17?
Do you think about my old Jeep
Think about the stars in the sky?
Funny how a melody sounds like a memory
Like a soundtrack to a July Saturday night
Springsteen
Springsteen
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Funny how a melody sounds like a memory
Like a soundtrack to a July Saturday night
Springsteen
Springsteen
Oh, Springsteen
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh