Growing Pains
Freddie Lewis Lyrics

When I was little I felt the weight of something bigger
As a child, I could sense that there was something significant in my life that was beyond my understanding.

Couldn't put my finger on it without feeling like it's on the trigger
I couldn't pinpoint what was troubling me, but I knew it was something that could trigger intense emotions.

Of a weapon I don't understand or even know the name of
I felt like I was facing a threat that I had no knowledge of or any clue as to how to deal with it.

But I was staring down the barrel of myself like a face-off
I was confronting myself and fighting an internal battle.

The mirror's looking at me funny
I felt like something was wrong when looking at my reflection.

Flutter feeling in my tummy
I felt a nervous sensation in my stomach.

How the hell do I become me?
I was struggling to figure out how to become my own person.

When I grew taller I felt the weight grow with me
As I grew up, the burdens got heavier and more complex.

Like I was living in the suburbs but my home was in the city
I felt like I didn't belong wherever I was and was constantly searching for acceptance.

It's a pity, cause I know that I'm pretty
I felt like the physical aspects of myself were at odds with who I felt like on the inside.

But in a way that never fit me like the dresses in my broken closet
I didn't feel comfortable in, or fully connected to, the things that were supposed to make me feel good about myself.

It wasn't easy was it
I went through a lot of hard times trying to come to terms with everything.

Dwelling in a prison called my epidermis
I felt trapped in my own skin and didn't know how to break free from that feeling.

Growing pains, but with a different kind of hurting
I was going through the difficulties of adolescence, but they were coming with a unique set of challenges for me.

And the worst thing, is that when I see myself I'm looking twice
I struggled to see the real me when I looked in the mirror and had to look twice to get a sense of who I was.

I know that I'm in there, but part of me's a poltergeist
I felt like there was an aspect of myself that was disconnected and haunting me.

From a different life that was never mine
It was like I was living a life that didn't belong to me.

I find segments of myself a couple beats out of time
I felt like certain aspects of myself weren't syncing up and were out of alignment.

Then out the other side of the danger years wiping off my tears
I managed to come out of a tough phase in my life and move beyond it.

With a nametag made of jetlag and my biggest fears
As I moved forward, I carried the weight of my past and my previous struggles with me.

Whiplash, and dreaming of a mustache
I had to deal with the difficulties of moving forward and adjusting to new stages in my life.

I'm sitting on the bus back and I see it just like that
I had a moment of clarity where everything started to make sense.

The rest of my days that were fading fast they start to flicker
I started to feel like my life had more value and meaning.

A bright red light, I press play and I shake off the bitter
I was able to let go of the negative emotions that had been holding me back.

The kid in the mirror started smiling like I've never seen
I was beginning to see real change in myself and felt happy with who I was.

And with the help of a prescription, and a self-love remedy he starts to look like me
Through self-care and a little help, I was able to become myself and feel comfortable in my own skin.

Peel off the layers of pain and the heavy's subsiding
As I worked through my issues, the weight of my problems began to lessen.

And the inside's less violent
As I healed, my emotional pain became less intense and overwhelming.

And the outside tells the truth, and the world can see it brighter
As I became happier and more comfortable in my own skin, it showed in the way I presented myself to the world.

And I'm a fighter, I will not give in
Despite everything I had been through, I refused to let it defeat me.

And I'm just lucky to be out here existing
I was grateful for the opportunity to be alive and to have the chance to work through my problems.

In a flesh house of bones that I call home
I learned to appreciate and love my body, despite its flaws and imperfections.

No more growing pains 'cause I'm all grown
I finally reached a point in my life where I was no longer struggling with the challenges of growing up.

This is a poem for all the boys who cry in the mirror before they get in the shower
This song is for anyone who has struggled with self-doubt and acceptance, especially young men who feel like they can't express their emotions.

Or forget that being themselves is a superpower
Many people don't realize that embracing their unique identity is a strength, not a weakness.

One day things will look brighter
There is hope for a brighter, happier future.

Your mind shines with truth and kindness
With self-love and acceptance, your inner light will shine through.

And you make your mum proud
You will make your loved ones proud by being true to yourself.

You already teach others to love loud
By embracing your unique identity, you're setting an example for others.

One day the love you have for the inside of you
Your self-love and acceptance will grow over time.

Will be matched when your gaze meets itself
As you become more comfortable with who you are, you'll start to see yourself in a new and happier light.

In the reflective glass hung on the wall
You'll see your true self reflected in the mirror.

And you'll catch your face in your hands and it'll feel like yours
You'll finally feel a sense of ownership and belonging in your own body and identity.

One day your body will be your home
You'll learn to appreciate and love your body as the place where you reside.

And you'll be everything you wanna be
You'll achieve your dreams and be true to yourself.

And the boy in the mirror won't cry anymore
You'll finally feel at peace with yourself and your identity and won't feel the need to hide or cry.