When Will My Life Begin
Alan Menken Lyrics

Seven A.M., the usual morning lineup
Every morning starts the same for me, with a set routine.

Start on the chores and sweep 'til the floor's all clean
I begin by doing all the basic chores and cleaning as needed.

Polish and wax, do laundry, and mop and shine up
I then proceed to polish and wax anything that needs it, do my laundry, and mop and shine everything until it looks new.

Sweep again, and by then it's like 7:15
I sweep again to make sure everything is perfect and it usually takes me around 15 minutes.

And so I'll read a book
After all the work is done, I like to unwind by reading a book.

Or maybe two or three
Sometimes I get so lost in my books that I end up reading two or three before I even know it.

I'll add a few new paintings to my gallery
I like to paint as well and add new paintings to my gallery whenever I can.

I'll play guitar and knit
I also enjoy playing the guitar and knitting in my free time.

And cook and basically
I'll also cook when I have time and basically do anything that catches my fancy.

Just wonder when will my life begin?
But sometimes, even after all that, I wonder when my real life – something different, something that truly touches my soul – will begin.

Then after lunch it's puzzles and darts and baking
After lunch, I engage in other varied pastimes such as puzzles, playing darts, and baking.

Paper mache, a bit of ballet and chess
I also enjoy paper mache, ballet, and chess sometimes.

Pottery and ventriloquy, candle making
I enjoy pottery, ventriloquy, and candle making so I sometimes do these as well.

Then I'll stretch, maybe sketch, take a climb
I stretch my muscles and maybe do some sketching or even exert myself with an indoor or outdoor climb.

Sew a dress!
At times I even get creative and sew a dress for myself!

And I'll reread the books
When I have some spare time, I return to reading books I loved before.

If I have time to spare
If I have some additional time after all I've done,

I'll paint the walls some more
I'll paint my walls some more to make them look more beautiful.

I'm sure there's room somewhere
I know there is always room for improvement, change, and growth in my life.

And then I'll brush and brush
I spend a lot of time taking care of my appearance and hygiene, like brushing my hair repeatedly until it gleams.

and brush and brush my hair
I enjoy brushing my hair as it gives me time to think.

Stuck in the same place I've always been
But even after all that, I often feel like I'm still stuck in the same place I've always been, without experiencing real life.

And I'll keep wanderin' and wanderin'
This realization makes me restless and I keep searching and wandering in my thoughts for something new.

And wanderin' and wonderin'
I'm always led to wonder what else is out there and what else I could be doing with my life.

When will my life begin?
I just want my actual, fulfilling life to begin.

And tomorrow night
I always have something to look forward to

Lights will appear
Tomorrow something will happen that will light up my life

Just like they do on my birthday each year
like they do each year on my birthday.

What is it like
I can only wonder what it would be like

Out there where they glow?
to experience life out there where light is shed and everything glows.

Now that I'm older
I'm older now,

Mother might just
and perhaps my mother will

Let me go
finally allow me to experience the real world for myself.