Bruce Springsteen’siconic 1984 hit “Born in the U.S.A." has reportedly been censored on UK radio over a lyric now viewed as controversial.
According to a report from the Daily Mail published on Saturday, January 11, the song was being played on Absolute Radio with one line altered. The lyric in question includes the phrase “yellow man,” which appears in a verse describing the experience of a working class American drafted into the Vietnam War.
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On the original recording, Springsteen sings, “So they put a rifle in my hands, sent me off to a foreign land, to go and kill the yellow man, Born in the U.S.A.”
The term has increasingly been recognized as a racial slur toward Asian people, despite the song’s broader intent. Long misunderstood as a patriotic anthem, "Born in the U.S.A." is widely regarded as criticism regarding how Vietnam veterans were treated after returning home.
The outlet reported that Absolute Radio will censor the lyric when airing the track. Bauer Media, which owns the station, has not publicly commented on the reported change.
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Released in 1984, the song became one of Springsteen’s biggest hits and the title track of his blockbuster album Born in the U.S.A. It went on to sell more than 30 million copies worldwide. Despite its catchy beat and fist-pumping chorus, the song’s verses tell a much darker story, and it’s one that Springsteen himself has repeatedly explained over the years.
"This is a song about the pain, glory, shame of identity and of place,” Springsteen said in 2021, per Ultimate Classic Rock. "So it’s a complex picture of the country. Our protagonist is someone who has been betrayed by his nation and yet still feels deeply connected to the country that he grew up in."
The track left its mark on pop culture. It was ranked No. 275 on Rolling Stone’s list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," cementing its place in rock history even as its lyrics continue to spark debate decades later.
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The reported decision followed similar moves by UK broadcasters in recent years. The Daily Mail noted that BBC Radio 2 previously altered a lyric in the Spice Girls’ 1997 hit “Spice Up Your Life,” removing the word “yellow” when airing the song due to concerns over racial sensitivity.
Springsteen has not commented on the reported censorship. For now, the song remains widely available in its original form on albums and streaming platforms.
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