30/90
Andrew Garfield Joshua Henry Vanessa Hudgens Robin de Jesús Alexandra Shipp & Mj Rodriguez Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Stop the clock
Take time out
Time to regroup
Before you lose the bout

Freeze the frame
Back it up
Time to refocus
Before they wrap it up

Years are getting shorter
Lines on your face are getting longer
Feel like you're treading water
But the riptide's getting stronger

Don't panic, don't jump ship
Can't fight it, like taxes
At least it happens only once in your life

They're singing, "Happy Birthday"
You just want to lay down and cry
Not just another birthday
It's 30/90

Why can't you stay twenty-nine?
Hell, you still feel like you're twenty-two
Turn thirty, 1990
Bang, you're dead, what can you do?
What can you do?
What can you do?

Clear the runway
Make another pass
Try one more approach
Before you're out of gas

Friends are getting fatter
Hairs on your head are getting thinner
Feel like a clean-up batter
On a team that ain't a winner

Don't freak out, don't strike out
Can't fight it, like City Hall
At least you're not alone
Your friends are there, too

They're singing, "Happy Birthday"
You just wish you could run away
Who cares about a birthday?
But 30/90, hey

Can you be optimistic?
You're no longer the ingenue
Turn thirty, 1990
Boom, you're passé, what can you do?
What can you do?
What can you do?

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell
Which way to Never Never Land?
Emerald City's gone to hell
Since the wizard blew off his command

On the streets you hear the voices
Lost children, crocodiles
You're not into making choices, wicked witches
Poppy fields or men behind the curtain
Tiger lilies, ruby slippers
Clock is ticking, that's for certain

And they're singing, "Happy Birthday" (happy birthday)
I just wish it all were a dream
It feels much more like Doomsday
Fuck 30/90

Seems like I'm in for a twister
I don't see a rainbow, do you?
Turn thirty in the '90s
Into my hands now the ball is passed
I want the spoils, but not too fast
The world is calling, it's now or Neverland
Why can't I stay a child forever, and

30/90, 30/90 (30/90)
30/90, 30/90 (30/90)
30/90, 30, 30/90 (what)
What can I do?




30/90, 30, 30/90
What can I do?

Overall Meaning

The song 30/90 by Andrew Garfield is a reflection on the fear and anxiety associated with turning 30 years old, particularly during the year 1990. The lyrics suggest a feeling of being stuck in time, as the years pass by quickly while the singer feels like he is still in his 20s. The repetition of the chorus, "30/90, what can I do?" highlights the singer's feelings of powerlessness and confusion about life, as he faces the reality of growing older and facing the challenges and disappointments that come with it.


The verses of the song address specific aspects of aging, such as the physical changes that come with getting older, feeling stuck in a dead-end job or relationships, and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. The lyrics suggest that it's natural to feel overwhelmed by these changes, but that it's important to remain optimistic and not give up: "Don't panic, don't jump ship. Can't fight it, like taxes. At least it happens only once in your life."


The song also references various cultural icons, such as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, the Wizard of Oz, and lost children, all of which serve to underscore the singer's sense of feeling lost and out of place. Overall, 30/90 speaks to a universal feeling of uncertainty and fear associated with growing older, while also advocating for pushing forward and finding hope despite the challenges.


Line by Line Meaning

Stop the clock
Take a pause in life


Take time out
Step back from the hustle and bustle of the world


Time to regroup
Time for introspection and self-reflection


Before you lose the bout
Before you end up losing in life


Freeze the frame
Pause and capture the moment in time


Back it up
Rewind to look back into the past


Time to refocus
Time to concentrate on what lies ahead


Before they wrap it up
Before it's too late or the end comes


Years are getting shorter
Time seems to fly by quickly as you grow older


Lines on your face are getting longer
Signs of aging and wrinkles are more distinct


Feel like you're treading water
Going through the motions of life without any progress


But the riptide's getting stronger
Despite feeling stagnant, the world keeps changing without your control


Don't panic, don't jump ship
Don't make impulsive decisions or give up just yet


Can't fight it, like taxes
Change is inevitable like paying taxes, it's unavoidable


At least it happens only once in your life
This particular milestone happens only once, so don't freak out too much


They're singing, Happy Birthday
The world is celebrating a day that you're dreading


You just want to lay down and cry
You're not feeling great about the whole ordeal


Not just another birthday
This birthday is a big deal and comes with new challenges


It's 30/90
The specific birthday milestone is 30-years-old in 1990


Why can't you stay twenty-nine?
You don't feel ready to be thirty


Hell, you still feel like you're twenty-two
You don't feel like you've aged at all mentally


Turn thirty, 1990
A specific year combined with an age to create a unique milestone


Bang, you're dead, what can you do?
Suddenly, you're this new age and there's no going back


Clear the runway
Prepare for takeoff, get things in order for what's next


Make another pass
Take another swing at what you want in life


Try one more approach
Attempt to achieve your goals one final time


Before you're out of gas
Before you're too tired or burnt out


Friends are getting fatter
Your support system is coasting along with you


Hairs on your head are getting thinner
Getting older has clear physical signs


Feel like a clean-up batter
Finding purpose seems difficult when everything seems lost


On a team that ain't a winner
Life doesn't always go as planned and it can feel like you're losing


Don't freak out, don't strike out
Don't panic or give up, just because things aren't perfect


Can't fight it, like City Hall
Avoiding change is futile, it's like trying to fight a steadfast institution


At least you're not alone
Others are going through similar moments of uncertainty and aging


Your friends are there, too
You have a support system to navigate you through tough times


They're singing, Happy Birthday
The rest of the world remains joyful despite your disinterest


You just wish you could run away
The birthday seems daunting and you'd rather avoid it altogether


Who cares about a birthday?
The whole concept of celebrating a day of aging isn't exactly uplifting


But 30/90, hey
This specific milestone means something unique to the person


Can you be optimistic?
Finding positivity during tough life moments


You're no longer the ingenue
You're no longer a rookie at life, you've learned some hard lessons


Turn thirty, 1990
The year and age that bear specific meaning to the person


Boom, you're passé, what can you do?
Suddenly, you're not as relevant as you use to be


Peter Pan and Tinkerbell
Characters from children's stories referenced as characters that don't age


Which way to Never Never Land?
The desire to keep youthful and never grow old


Emerald City's gone to hell
A reference to the Wizard of Oz, things don't seem as shiny and magical anymore


Since the wizard blew off his command
Things fell apart after the one in charge left


On the streets you hear the voices
There's constant noise and chaos in the world


Lost children, crocodiles
People feel directionless and confused, danger looms


You're not into making choices, wicked witches
Making decisions and choices feels overwhelming and witches represent negative influences and consequences


Poppy fields or men behind the curtain
Reference to The Wizard of Oz- sometimes things aren't what they seem


Tiger lilies, ruby slippers
More famed Wizard of Oz objects and characters


Clock is ticking, that's for certain
The dreaded feeling of time running out


And they're singing, Happy Birthday
Despite the chaos of the world, someone is still singing Happy Birthday over it all


I just wish it all were a dream
Regret about the reality of aging and life


It feels much more like Doomsday
The birthday seems scary and apocalyptic


Fuck 30/90
The person doesn't feel positive or happy about the age mileston


Seems like I'm in for a twister
The world seems tumultuous and unpredictable


I don't see a rainbow, do you?
The person doesn't feel optimistic


Into my hands now the ball is passed
The responsibility to live life and make the most of it is now in the person's own hands


I want the spoils, but not too fast
Desire for success and achievement but with limited effort or struggle


The world is calling, it's now or Neverland
The urgency of living life now before it's too late


Why can't I stay a child forever, and
Longing to remain innocent and carefree


30/90, 30/90 (30/90)
Repetition of the specific age milestone


What can I do?
Feeling lost and uncertain about what to do next




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jonathan Larson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@raltinata

[JON]
Stop the clock
Take time out
Time to regroup
Before you lose the bout

Freeze the frame
Back it up
Time to refocus
Before they wrap it up

Years are getting shorter
Lines on your face are getting longer
Feel like you're treading water
But the riptide's getting stronger

Don't panic, don't jump ship
Can't fight it, like taxes
At least it happens only once in your life

They're singing, "Happy Birthday"
You just want to lay down and cry
Not just anothеr birthday
It's 30/90

Why can't you stay twenty-nine?
Hell, you still feel likе you're twenty-two
Turn thirty, 1990
Bang! You're dead
What can you do?
What can you do?
What can you do?
[ROGER]
Clear the runway
Make another pass
Try one more approach
Before you're out of gas

[JON]
Friends are getting fatter
Hairs on your head are getting thinner
Feel like a clean-up batter
On a team that ain't a winner

[ROGER]
Don't freak out, don't strike out
Can't fight it, like City Hall

[JON]
At least you're not alone
Your friends are there, too
They're singing, "Happy Birthday"

[JON & MICHAEL]
You just wish you could run away

[JON]
Who cares about a birthday?
[JON, with MICHAEL]
But 30/90, hey

[JON]
Can you be optimistic?

[JON & MICHAEL]
You're no longer the ingenue
Turn thirty, 1990

[JON]
Boom! You're passé

[JON & MICHAEL]
What can you do?

[JON]
What can you do?
What can you do?

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell
Which way to Never Never Land?
Emerald City's gone to hell
Since the wizard

[ALL]
Blew off his command
[JON]
On the streets you hear the voices
Lost children, crocodiles
You're not into
Making choices, wicked witches
Poppy fields, or men behind the curtain
Tiger lilies, ruby slippers

[ALL]
Clock is ticking, that's for certain!

[JON, (ROGER & KARESSA)]
And they're singing, "Happy Birthday" (Happy birthday)

[JON]
I just wish it all were a dream
It feels much more like Doomsday
Fuck

[JON, ROGER & KARESSA]
30/90

[JON]
Seems like I'm in for a twister
I don't see a rainbow, do you?

[JON, ROGER & KARESSA]
Turn thirty in the '90s

[JON]
Into my hands now
The ball is passed
I want the spoils, but not too fast

The world is calling
It's now or Neverland
Why can't I stay a child forever, and

[JON, (ENSEMBLE)]
30/90
30/90 (30/90)
30/90
30/90 (30/90)
30/90

[ALL]
30, 30/90
What can I do?

[ENSEMBLE]
30/90, 30, 30/90

[ALL]
What can I do?



All comments from YouTube:

@thebeandemon3449

Andrew put his whole garfussy in this song ong

@AlanAckboo

i can’t escape the word garfussy istg 😭😭😭

@cucumberwater6

STOP-

@thatrandomtheatrekid6357

@@AlanAckboo we’re in this together.

@Nononono36353

“Garfussy” why

@despicable_x5461

wh- why did you do this to me...

109 More Replies...

@justincharles2185

It’s a crime that Andrew didn’t win that Oscar

@notsleptwell1973

So sorry here

@COMMANDR.0ID

my mans had to learn how to sing, play the piano, the mannerisms of jonathan and he didnt win





not a suprise tho oscars are always fucked like they play we dont talk about bruno the second before the best animated feature

@boyman2416

Agreed

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