When I Grow Up
First Aid Kit Lyrics


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When I grow up, I want to be a forester
Run through the moss on high heels
That's what I'll do, throwing out a boomerang
Waiting for it to come back to me

When I grow up, I want to live near the sea
Crab claws and bottles of rum
That's what I'll have staring at the seashell
Waiting for it to embrace me, oh oh oh oh oh

I put my soul in what I do
Last night I drew a funny man
With dark eyes and a hanging tongue
It goes way bad, I never liked that sad look
From someone who wants to be loved by you, oh oh oh oh

I'm very good with plants
When my friends are away
They let me keep the soil moist
On the seventh day I rest
For a minute or two
Then back on my feet to call for you, oh oh oh oh oh

Ooh, ooh

You've got cucumbers on your eyes
Too much time spent on nothing
Waiting for a moment to arise




The face in the ceiling and arms too long
I'm waiting for him to catch me, oh oh oh oh

Overall Meaning

The song "When I Grow Up" by First Aid Kit is a whimsical and dreamy expression of the singer's aspirations and identity. The opening lines of the song describe the singer's desire to be a forester and run through the moss on high heels. The surreal image of running through the forest on high heels is both delightful and unexpected, and it reflects the singer's longing for freedom, connection to nature, and self-expression. The line about throwing out a boomerang and waiting for it to come back to her suggests a desire for reciprocity and harmony in her relationships and her life.


In the second verse, the singer describes her desire to live near the sea and have crab claws and bottles of rum while staring at seashells waiting for them to embrace her. Again, this verse paints a vivid and whimsical picture of the singer's inner world, as she longs for a life of leisure and natural beauty. The following lines, "I put my soul in what I do / Last night I drew a funny man / With dark eyes and a hanging tongue" suggest that the singer is an artist or creative person, and that she invests a lot of herself into her work.


The next lines of the song describe the sadness the singer feels when someone she cares about wants to be loved by someone else. The final lines of the song are cryptic but haunting, as the singer describes waiting for someone to catch her while she's staring at the face in the ceiling and feeling like her arms are too long.


Overall, "When I Grow Up" is a song that celebrates individuality, creativity, and the beauty of nature. The singer's lyrical and whimsical descriptions of her dreams and desires are both charming and profound, and they evoke a sense of wonder and possibility.


Line by Line Meaning

When I grow up, I want to be a forester
As I envision my future, I aspire to become a forester


Run through the moss on high heels
I want to explore the outdoors in a carefree and adventurous way


That's what I'll do, throwing out a boomerang
I will ensure I make my own kind of fun and enjoy life


Waiting for it to come back to me
The fulfilling experiences that I create will come back to me as cherished memories


When I grow up, I want to live near the sea
I desire to live close to the beauty and endless possibilities of the ocean


Crab claws and bottles of rum
I want to relish in the simple pleasures of life such as seafood and drink


That's what I'll have staring at the seashell
I will spend time contemplating the natural wonders of the beach


Waiting for it to embrace me, oh oh oh oh oh
I patiently await the peacefulness and calm that the ocean provides


I put my soul in what I do
I am passionate about the work I do and pour my heart and soul into each endeavor


Last night I drew a funny man
As a creative person, I often find myself expressing my ideas through art


With dark eyes and a hanging tongue
I explore the darker side of life in my art, but never letting it consume me fully


It goes way bad, I never liked that sad look
Focusing on sadness is not something that I enjoy, so I never try to dwell on it for too long


From someone who wants to be loved by you, oh oh oh oh
It is heartbreaking to see someone yearning for love as it is an essential part of our human experience


I'm very good with plants
I have a natural talent for taking care of and nurturing plants


When my friends are away
In my solitude, I focus on my passions and hobbies


They let me keep the soil moist
I have earned the trust of my friends and they are comfortable with me taking care of their plants when they are away


On the seventh day I rest
I take a moment to rejuvenate and relax, especially after tenaciously focusing on my work and in various aspects of life


For a minute or two
It's a brief period where I rejuvenate my body, mind and spirit from the exhaustion of life


Then back on my feet to call for you, oh oh oh oh oh
After a moment of rest, I resume my regular activities, still yearning for love


You've got cucumbers on your eyes
You are too focused on your physical appearance or are making time for self-care


Too much time spent on nothing
You need to focus more on the important things in life and not waste time on trivial matters


Waiting for a moment to arise
You are waiting for a chance or opportunity to come to you


The face in the ceiling and arms too long
You may be experiencing feelings of dissatisfaction or fear of the unknown


I'm waiting for him to catch me, oh oh oh oh
You are waiting to be rescued, to be helped or supported by someone else




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KARIN DREIJER ANDERSSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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