One of the more successful singles lifted from Version 2.0, "When I Grow Up" reached the U.K. Top Ten, and the Australian Top Forty. In Australia, the song became Garbage's most successful single release up until that point. "When I Grow Up" was included on the soundtrack to the 1999 comedy Big Daddy.
"When I Grow Up" was remastered in 2007 for Garbage's greatest hits album Absolute Garbage.
"When I Grow Up" was written and recorded at Smart Studios during the 1997 sessions for Version 2.0.
Bass on "When I Grow Up" was performed by Daniel Shulman.
"When I Grow Up" was released to radio in the U.K. and Europe onwards from December 3, 1998, and was A-listed at Radio One, Atlantic 252, Xfm and GLR, and B-listed at Virgin as well as a further 68 regional radio playlists. Mushroom serviced mixes by Danny Tenaglia to clubs upfront of the single release, these becoming playlisted by KISS FM, while cable channel The Box kept the music video in heavy rotation.
The single release of "When I Grow Up" supported the band's headline arena concert tour that kicked off on January 15 in Belfast, ending in Glasgow on the 23rd. During the tour, the band performed the single on Friday Night's All Wright and Top of The Pops, while the Pepsi Chart Show broadcast a performance that had been pre-recorded months earlier. "When I Grow Up" hit the shops on January 25 on cassette single and two-part CD single set, and debuted on the UK Singles Chart at #9. This was the band's fifth U.K. Top Ten hit. A limited edition 3" CD single of "When I Grow Up" was released to stores on February 1.
"When I Grow Up" was sent to Modern Rock format radio in the United States on April 12, following their two Grammy nominations for parent album Version 2.0. Previous single "Special" had taken off on Top 40 radio, while the band were supporting Alanis Morissette on tour across the U.S. Garbage performed "When I Grow Up" and "Special" on Saturday Night Live on March 20, and "Special" had already peaked on Modern Rock radio. Stations such as KROQ and KNDD were already playing the track prior to the songs release.
"When I Grow Up" was licensed to the soundtrack of the comedy film Big Daddy, with a U.S. theatrical release on June 25. Upfront of this, the track was serviced to Top 40 radio stations, and a newly filmed music video serviced to MTV on June 15. Garbage produced new mixes of the track for the mainstream radio formats, while a 12" single featuring Danny Tenaglia's remix of the track (and a Brothers in Rhythm remix of "Special") was commercially issued. "When I Grow Up" failed to register on Top 40 charts, but placed fairly high on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
To coincide with the announcement of the band's co-headling (with Morissette) Australasian tour, and to support the repackaged Version 2.0 special edition, "When I Grow Up" was released in both Australia and New Zealand in July 1999. "When I Grow Up" reached the Top 30 of both countries single charts, and in Australia, enjoyed a chart run taking it to the end of the year. This was by far the most successful Australian single release of Garbage's career up to that point. Garbage performed the track on Hey Hey It's Saturday following its success.
"When I Grow Up" saw its final release within Germany in March 2000, following the success of the band's James Bond title theme "The World is Not Enough, which was released in December 1999."
"When I Grow Up" was backed with an original Garbage track titled "Tornado", which was recorded on the Garbage tour bus through the band's mobile ProTools rig, and samples the vocals of Shannon Fischer. The song was recorded on November 18 while the band were in their home base of Madison.
The second b-side was a cover version of The Seeds 1965 single "Can't Seem To Make You Mine". Garbage debuted the track on their tour in November 1998, and performed the track over the following three months.
The single also featured a urban radio remix of preceding single "Special" produced by Rickidy Raw.
The original music video made for "When I Grow Up" was shot while Garbage toured North America. Director Sophie Muller shot live footage of the band over three nights, beginning on November 17 at the Egyptian Theater in Indianapolis. Footage was also shot at concerts performed at the Dane County Expo Center in Madison (Nov 18) and at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City (Nov 20. A live video for "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" was also shot on the same dates. Both videos were ready to air on December 3, 1998.
A second 'performance' music video for the single was directed by Sophie Muller in May 1999. This video featured the band performing on a stage set backed by large lighted replicas of the bands segmented G, Version 2.0 globe and "When I Grow Up" thought balloon logos. Three sequences within the video were filmed featuring Manson performing choreographed dance moves with two backing dancers. This video was released in the United States, and subtitled the U.S. version or Performance version. The second music video was also released containing montage clips from the Big Daddy movie (subsequently known as Big Daddy version). The video premiered in the US on June 14, 1999, on MTV's Total Request Live.
A remastered version of the live video was included on Garbage's 2007 greatest hits DVD Absolute Garbage.The Performance version has not been released on any official media, however the Big Daddy version of the second music video was included as a DVD bonus on the 2000 home release of Big Daddy.
"When I Grow Up" has been performed in the "Version 2.0" tour, the "beautifulgarbage" tour and the "Bleed Like Me" tour.
When I Grow Up
Garbage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been caught out
Like a giant juggernaut
Happy hours
Golden showers
On a cruise to freak you out
We could fly a helicopter
Entertain you
Celebrate you
I'll be back to frame you
When I grow up
I'll be stable
When I grow up
I'll turn the tables
Trying hard to fit among you
Floating out to wonderland
Unprotected
God I'm pregnant
Damn the consequences
When I grow up
I'll be stable
When I grow up
I'll turn the tables
Blood and blisters
On my fingers
Chaos rules when we're apart
Watch my temper
I go mental
I'll try to be gentle
When I grow up
I'll be stable
When I grow up
I'll turn the tables
When I grow up
When I grow up
When I grow up
I'll turn the tables
Don't take offense
Better make amends
Rip it all to shreds and let it go
I rip it all to shreds and let it go
I rip it all to shreds and let it go
I rip it all to shreds and let it go
The lyrics to Garbage's "When I Grow Up" are intriguing and catchy, with many layers of interpretation. The song begins with the line, "Cut my tongue out, I've been caught out, like a giant juggernaut." This opening conveys a sense of wanting to take back words that have been said, and the feeling of being trapped like a juggernaut that cannot be stopped. The following lines, "Happy hours, golden showers, on a cruise to freak you out," can be interpreted in a few ways: it could be that the singer is living a hedonistic lifestyle and getting into trouble, or that they are seeking new experiences and living life to the fullest. The chorus, "When I grow up, I'll be stable, when I grow up, I'll turn the tables," expresses the desire to become more mature and in control of one's life, to be able to "turn the tables" on those who have wronged them or held them back.
The second verse of the song begins with the lines, "Trying hard to fit among you, floating out to wonderland, unprotected, God I'm pregnant, damn the consequences." Here, the singer seems to be struggling to fit in with others, perhaps feeling like an outsider or a misfit. The mention of being unprotected and pregnant could be a metaphor for being vulnerable and exposed to the world, with potentially devastating consequences. The next lines of the chorus, "When I grow up, I'll be stable, when I grow up, I'll turn the tables," continue to express the desire for control and stability.
The final verse of the song touches on themes of anger and chaos, with the lines, "Blood and blisters on my fingers, chaos rules when we're apart, watch my temper, I go mental, I'll try to be gentle." This verse speaks to the struggles of managing emotions and trying to maintain control in difficult situations. The song ends with the repeated refrain of, "I'll rip it all to shreds and let it go," suggesting a desire to let go of the past and move forward with a sense of freedom and release.
Line by Line Meaning
Cut my tongue out
I regret what I said and I don't want to speak anymore.
I’ve been caught out
I made a mistake and now I'm facing the consequences.
Like a giant juggernaut
I feel out of control, like an unstoppable force.
Happy hours
Moments of happiness.
Golden showers
Moments of pleasure.
On a cruise to freak you out
Going on a trip to excite and surprise you.
We could fly a helicopter
We could do anything.
Nothing left to talk about
We have said all that needs to be said.
Entertain you
Make you happy and amused.
Celebrate you
Honor and appreciate you.
I'll be back to frame you
I will return with the intention of catching you doing something wrong.
Trying hard to fit among you
I want to belong to your group and I'm making an effort to fit in.
Floating out to wonderland
Getting lost in my own thoughts and imagination.
Unprotected
Vulnerable and defenseless.
God I'm pregnant
I'm carrying a great amount of responsibility and consequences.
Damn the consequences
I'm willing to face the negative outcomes of my actions.
Blood and blisters on my fingers
I worked hard and endured pain to achieve something.
Chaos rules when we're apart
Everything is disorganized and uncertain when we are not together.
Watch my temper
Please be aware of how I react when I'm angry.
I go mental
I lose control and act irrationally.
I'll try to be gentle
I will attempt to be kind and not hurtful.
Don't take offense
Please don't feel upset or insulted.
Better make amends
It's better to apologize and make things right.
Rip it all to shreds and let it go
Destroy everything related to the issue and move on with your life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bryan David Vig, Douglas Elwin Erickson, Shirley Ann Manson, Steve W Marker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mayscough72
Probably one of the most underrated bands ever, they are absolutely fantastic, every album has been fantastic
@foreverebw8539
Love this song. Always remember Big Daddy when I hear this 😎🤘
@Megara20
YES!
@Tyham456
This is why I’m currently here rewatched an was like songs kinda catchy must know it’s name
@yodambomb4974
I was wondering what movie they played this one on
@samcocherl680
Very nostalgic. I love it and love Big Daddy
@caseykosier4631
Same here
@rumrunner8019
I played this song in the year 2000 when I graduated high school. Now I play it for my 40th birthday in 2021. Where did the time go?
@jboswell1768
Happy birthday!
@derekjohnson1105
But did you grow up yet?