Boomchild [Dennis DeYoung]

Boomchild
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by Dennis DeYoung

Ever young, always cool
We had our Chevys and our hoola hoops
Watchin' Bandstand and Mickey Mouse
A generation born to Twist And Shout

Hey everybody
We were the children shining like gold
Transistor sister under my pillow
Go Johnny go

New horizons, new frontiers
Sons and daughters of our parents' fears
Super highways in stereo
Make it faster, louder rock 'n roll

We were dreamin', happy endings
Ask anyone
Expecations, the generation
Born to run

I'm a boomchild baby, warn Uncle Sam
Boomchild baby, epidemic in the land
I'm a boomchild baby, federal case
Boomchild baby, just tryin' to find a place

All at once, the dreams had stopped
Three bullets fired ended Camelot
But we kept searchin' for the clues
We never knew the world could be so cruel

People marchin', people dyin'
Carryin' signs
Assassinations and revelations
Blew our minds

I'm a boomchild baby, warn Uncle Sam
Boomchild baby, epidemic in the land
I'm a boomchild baby, born of the bomb
Boomchild baby, revolution gone wrong

I saw the picture of the flame
Thinking back before the world had changed
Some reflections make no sense
The fall is always hard from innocence

Close the door baby, turn the page
I do believe we've finally come of age
Hittin' thirty just like that
I know it's corny but it sure goes fast

Hey everybody
We are the children mining for gold
From the hippies to the yuppies
Don't you know

I'm a boomchild baby, warn Uncle Sam
Boomchild baby, epidemic in the land
I'm a boomchild baby, I me my
Boomchild baby, still tryin' to find the light

Interpretation

In the liner notes to Dennis DeYoung: The Ultimate Collection, Dennis says, "A commentary about baby boomers, folks like me. The lyric says it all."

The lyrics reference many iconic memories of the 50s and 60s when the Baby Boomers were growing up. Chevrolet muscle cars were very popular for awhile.  Hula hoops caught on as a big craze for many years.  Younger kids would watch The Mickey Mouse (Club) on TV, and kids of all ages saw the Beatles sing Twist and Shout on the Ed Sullivan Show and tuned in to watch American Bandstand every week. When transistor radios allowed people to carry a battery-powered radio in one hand, kids would listen to them at night in bed, hiding under the pillow so their parents wouldn't now, listening to Chuck Berry sing Johnny B. Goode while singing along with "Go Johnny Go!".

The Interstate Highway System allowed for easier cross-country travel.  Stereo sound made the music come alive while driving down the highway.  Life was good, and everyone seemed to finally be living the American Dream.

When President Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963, the seemingly magical court of Camelot (in reference to the hopes and dreams that many people had placed on the Kennedy family after the 1960 election) ended abruptly.  It was followed by assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as the Vietnam War.

The world has changed.  The generation of hippies grew up to be a generation of yuppies out to get rich.  Time goes by quickly.

Dennis DeYoung commentary