After years of speculation, the inspiration for Bruce Springsteen's touching 1984 hit “Glory Days” has finally been revealed. The singer, on his way to becoming famous but not yet a household name, ran into his old friend Joe DePugh in a bar in 1973. The two had a few drinks and reminisced about the old times, specifically DePugh's rocket arm and the nuns in their seventh grade class. The meeting stuck with Springsteen for more than a decade, and he eventually turned it into the beloved classic so many fans still cherish.

Sometimes life takes you to crazy places and in doing so, leaves good friends behind. It's sad but inevitable. After high school, Springsteen continued with music, and DePugh gave up baseball after his parents died and he became the legal guardian for his two younger siblings. They didn't see each other for years until that fateful night, but since, they've made it a point to together every now and again to have a few laughs about the glory days.

According to The New York Times, the most recent of those meetings took place at an Italian restaurant a few years back. The pair shot the shit for hours before Springsteen got up, smiled and told his old buddy he'd always love him. Dumbfounded, DePugh muttered a simple thanks, then chased him out of the restaurant screaming, “I'm proud of you.” Regardless of distance or time, you can always see your best friends and pick up the conversation like nothing ever changed.

Here's a look at the first verse about Joe DePugh from “Glory Days” followed by the music video…

I had a friend was a big baseball player
back in high school
He could throw that speedball by you
Make you look like a fool boy
Saw him the other night at this roadside bar
I was walking in, he was walking out
We went back inside sat down had a few drinks
but all he kept talking about was
Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days