Growing Up the Hard Way

This song, Growing Up the Hard Way, was released as the fifth and final single from the album Agent Provocateur. It went on sale in Europe during September 1985. The music was created by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, who were also part of Foreigner. As the B-side, She's Too Tough was included, a piece with a style reminiscent of Elvis Presley's rock and roll.

The recording of Growing Up the Hard Way took place in early 1984. The album it comes from, Agent Provocateur, is Foreigner's fifth studio work, released on December 14, 1984. This record reached the number one spot on the UK charts and placed in the top five in the United States. Although its sales in the US were lower than previous works, it contains the band's biggest hit, I Want to Know What Love Is. The album was certified Platinum in the UK and triple Platinum in the United States. The album version's duration is 4:18, while the single version was shortened to 3:32.