How You've Grown
10000 Maniacs Lyrics


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"My, how you've grown."
I remember that phrase from my childhood days too.
"Just wait and see."
I remember those words and how they chided me, when patient was the hardest thing to be.
Because we can't make up for the time that we've lost, I must let these memories provide.
No little girl can stop her world to wait for me.

I should have known.
At your age, in a string of days the year is gone.
But in that space of time, it takes so long.
Because we can't make up for the time that we've lost, I must let those memories provide.
No little girl can stop her world to wait for me.

Every time we say goodbye you're frozen in my mind as the child that you never will be, you never will be again.
I'll never be more to you than a stranger could be.





Every time we say goodbye you're frozen in my mind as a child that you never will be, will be again.

Overall Meaning

The song "How You're Grown" by 10000 Maniacs talks about the experience of growing up and how time passes by quickly. The phrase "My, how you've grown" is something that the singer remembers from her childhood, a memory that reminds her of how people would comment on her growth and progress. When people say "Just wait and see," the singer remembers feeling impatient because she couldn't wait to grow up quickly.


The singer understands that it's impossible to make up for lost time and that memories are all that remain. She acknowledges that while she may have wanted to spend more time with someone when she was younger, she now understands that they couldn't have stopped their life from progressing just for her.


The singer also reflects on how every time she says goodbye to someone, she remembers them frozen in her mind as the child they used to be. This is a bittersweet feeling because she knows that they will never be that child again, and she will never be more than a stranger to them. The song ultimately captures the fleeting nature of time and the feeling of holding onto memories and people who have grown and changed.


Line by Line Meaning

My, how you've grown.
The singer is remarking on the physical growth of someone they knew as a child.


Just wait and see.
The singer recalls being told to be patient when waiting for growth.


Because we can't make up for the time that we've lost, I must let these memories provide.
The singer acknowledges that they cannot go back in time, so they rely on memories to remember the past.


No little girl can stop her world to wait for me.
The artist understands that people grow up and move on with their lives, and cannot wait for others to catch up.


I should have known.
The artist realizes they should have anticipated the passing of time and the growth of others.


At your age, in a string of days the year is gone.
The singer recognizes that time seems to pass more quickly as we age.


But in that space of time, it takes so long.
Although time seems to pass quickly, waiting for something to happen can feel like an eternity.


Every time we say goodbye you're frozen in my mind as the child that you never will be, you never will be again.
The artist remembers someone as they were in the past, and knows they will never be that way again.


I'll never be more to you than a stranger could be.
The artist recognizes that they are no longer as important to the person as they once were, and are essentially a stranger to them now.




Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: NATALIE MERCHANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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