Cut my tongue out
I've been caught out
Like a giant juggernaut
Happy hours
Golden showers
On a cruise to freak you out

We could fly a helicopter
Nothing left to talk about
Entertain you
Celebrate you
I'll be back to frame you

When I grow up
I'll be stable
When I grow up
I'll turn the tables

Trying hard to fit among you
Floating out to wonderland
Unprotected
God I'm pregnant
Damn the consequences

When I grow up
I'll be stable
When I grow up
I'll turn the tables

Blood and blisters
On my fingers
Chaos rules when we're apart
Watch my temper
I go mental
I'll try to be gentle

When I grow up
I'll be stable
When I grow up
I'll turn the tables

When I grow up
When I grow up
When I grow up
I'll turn the tables

Don't take offense
Better make amends
Rip it all to shreds and let it go

I rip it all to shreds and let it go
I rip it all to shreds and let it go
I rip it all to shreds and let it go


Lyrics submitted by EbeneezerNamePlate

When I Grow Up Lyrics as written by Douglas Elwin Erickson Bryan David Vig

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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When I Grow Up song meanings
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33 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    i am POSTIVE that the song is about this. in an interview at the time she admitted that the song was very sexual and was about discovering what turns you on, and that the growing up means when you have got bored with experimentation and want to settle down with what you like. its about the immaturity of certain sexual acts.

    xpankfrisston April 25, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Shirley Manson ROCKS!!!!!!!!! Garbage's so great! :)

    Nowhere_Girlon August 18, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I always figured that this song was meant to be somewhat ironic, as all four members were very much adults (i.e. "grown up") when this song was written. I see it as written from a younger person's point of view, speaking about sex and youthful indescrections (partying, unprotected sex, having a bad temper, ... the helicopter suggests danger and being a bit wild and out of the ordinary), but then saying "When I grow up, I'll be stable." I think the "stable" part is the key here, as they are saying this behavior will stop, when experience kind of shows that it probably won't (back to the irony I mentioned before). There are definately sexual overtones, but I don't think it is the sole focus, it is more of an example of generally wild behavior (perhaps Shirley's choice of wild youthful behavior??). Oh, and I once read an interview where she mentioned golden showers, and this was a good few years before this song was ever released. Kind of interesting.

    Just_a_Fanon September 01, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    u think so, man?

    azizulon April 18, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I really dont think that's the truth--though if you really read it that literally, then whatever.

    I beleive it has to do with Shirleys childhood--when she was young she was really insecure. I think this is the way she said, when she grows up she'll turn the tables on everyone else.

    Iceon April 25, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I always thought it had to do with what Ice said. If you do look at the lyrics literally, then I see where you can get the sexual stuff. Who knows.....:)

    vamprockeron July 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well I never thought of it in a sexual way but now that you put that thought in my mind the line "Blood and blisters on my fingers" has become extremely disturbing to me.

    JerrySizzleron July 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    me too.. d sexual meaning didnt go in my mind before.. and now, uh ok.. the choice and use of words in this song connected d dots.. and yeah, it does make a sexual sense! :) pretty convincing.

    |mesh|on August 06, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think that this song is about shirley not wanting to grow up coz she's having too much fun in the present, and by the sounds of it she really fucking is (tho i sont think that im a golden shower fan...)

    boptonon April 02, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i really think this song is about shirley's childhood ... well adolescence ... and the whole experimentation bit... but it's also about her realising how stupid it was to be this person, this "whore" that she visualises herself being. uhm let me think. i know how this is, and i like this song cos it puts it together for me. Trying hard to fit among you, floating out to wonderland Unprotected, god I'm pregnant damn the consequences

    i think this part is talking about how she really trusts this guy, and he's great and everything, but she's depending on him to fit in. so by depending him she trusts him. but then she "gets pregnant" from him...

    Blood and blisters on my fingers chaos rules when we're apart Watch my temper, I go mental I'll try to be gentle

    this is her like going crazy cos she realises how much it sucks. but that's just what i think.

    -taylor.

    drunkcatholickidon May 08, 2003   Link

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