2025 Competition Entry:
“Baby Of The Boom” by Steve Perron
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Genre
Folk
Artist
Website
Co-writer(s)
no
Performer(s)
I am playing and singing this song.
Description
I was out for coffee with my wife, looking through a coffee-table book about life in the Fifties. It made me think back on growing up in a time of massive change, and fear, planting the seed for this song.
Bio
I was born in 1955, smack dab in the middle of the Post WWII Baby Boom. I grew up in suburban America, fully experiencing the seismic transition from the conservative Fifties to the turbulent Sixties, and beyond. I am an award-winning broadcast journalist (multiple Emmy awards), now retired. I began playing guitar in high school, began writing songs in my 40’s. I now play out all over St. Louis and host one of the longest-running, most popular open mics in the St. Louis area. I am married with two adult children and grandchildren.
Lyrics
Baby of the Boom (Steve Perron)
I was born in the shadow of the bomb
My mom and dad let out a cheer when it came down
When the air raid sirens blew – I was howlin’ in my room
I’m a baby of the boom
We played under the Fallout Shelter sign
G.I.s busted through the great suburban line
Tradin’ the city and the farm
For a ranch house and a front lawn
“Duck and Cover” was our nursery rhyme
I was finishing my lunch in the 3rd grade
When Lee Harvey blew away our JFK
I saw my teacher cry – Heard a nation asking why
And we still don’t know today
=== (CHORUS) ====
We grew our hair – rock and roll became our tune
The British boys – they made our women swoon
But it was hard to sing and dance – Through MLK and Vietnam
But we cheered when we walked on the moon
We believed we could make a better way
Give peace a chance is what we used to say
Then Oklahoma / Columbine / 9-11 – – Blow my mind!
The more things change – the more they stay the same
Oh John Lennon please come back and play
=== ( CHORUS ) ====
Now when the madness gets too loud
I light up and make my own mushroom cloud
Close my eyes and take a toke
Disappear right in the smoke
Here we go
– Here we go
So it should come as no surprise
I’m as crazy as a loon
I’m a baby of the boom
I was born in the shadow of the bomb
My mom and dad let out a cheer when it came down
When the air raid sirens blew – I was howlin’ in my room
I’m a baby of the boom
We played under the Fallout Shelter sign
G.I.s busted through the great suburban line
Tradin’ the city and the farm
For a ranch house and a front lawn
“Duck and Cover” was our nursery rhyme
I was finishing my lunch in the 3rd grade
When Lee Harvey blew away our JFK
I saw my teacher cry – Heard a nation asking why
And we still don’t know today
=== (CHORUS) ====
We grew our hair – rock and roll became our tune
The British boys – they made our women swoon
But it was hard to sing and dance – Through MLK and Vietnam
But we cheered when we walked on the moon
We believed we could make a better way
Give peace a chance is what we used to say
Then Oklahoma / Columbine / 9-11 – – Blow my mind!
The more things change – the more they stay the same
Oh John Lennon please come back and play
=== ( CHORUS ) ====
Now when the madness gets too loud
I light up and make my own mushroom cloud
Close my eyes and take a toke
Disappear right in the smoke
Here we go
– Here we go
So it should come as no surprise
I’m as crazy as a loon
I’m a baby of the boom
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