When I Grow Up released as a single 1998 got to no4 in UK charts

there are three versions of the When I Grow Up video a video from the film Big Daddy [link left] and a video of live footage filmed in France in 1998 during the Version 2.0 world tour [now showing] then there is the new version with the Big Daddy clips replaced by live footage

LYRICS WHEN I GROW UP

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


 

tomorrowschild80

I feel it's autobiographical. Shirley was writing when Garbage were at their peak and they must have been really living it up! Riding high on excitement and success and experimenting with new experiences they must have felt like big kids. Hence 'when I grow up'.

links

song meanings...?

here are some theories for the meaning of Garbage and Shirley Manson 's lyrics. If you wish to add your own ideas you can comment at the foot of this page or in the forum. I will add your contribution to the appropriate page within a few days.

lyrics:

theories for meaning: