Initially, Garbage was an informal jam session between the three producers held in Marker's basement. Steve Marker saw the music video of "Suffocate Me" by Angelfish on MTV, recorded it and showcased it to his band mates. They invited the Scottish vocalist Shirley Manson to join Garbage, she accepted, and soon Angelfish disbanded. According to Vig, Garbage was named before Manson joined the band, after the percussionist Pauli Ryan walked in while Vig was working on a remix for Nine Inch Nails and said it sounded like "garbage".
In August 1995, the group released their debut album Garbage, preceded by their first single "Vow" in March 1995. This album was an unexpected smash, selling over 5 million copies and reaching double platinum status in the UK (#6), USA (#20), Australia. Also it received great reviews from critics and featured on the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die." They released five singles from this album: "Vow", "Only Happy When It Rains", "Queer", "Stupid Girl", and "Milk". A non-album single entitled "Subhuman" was issued on 7 August 1995.
In 1996, the band released a short-form VHS and Video CD entitled "Garbage Video" (also known as "Home Video"), that included all of Garbage's promotional music videos filmed up until that point.
In 1997, Garbage were nominated at Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal for "Stupid Girl", Best Rock Song for "Stupid Girl". In the same year, the remixed version of "#1 Crush" (original version released in 1996) was included on the multi-platinum movie soundtrack William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. Also it was nominated for Best Song From a Movie at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards.
They spent over an year working on their follow-up album Version 2.0, which was released on May 1998 and hit #1 in the UK and #13 in the US. It was supported by six singles: "Push It", "I Think I'm Paranoid", "Special", "When I Grow Up", "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" and "You Look So Fine". The music video of "Push It" featured state of the art effects and it costs over $400,000 to make. Version 2.0 sold over 5 million copies, almost the same as their debut.
In 1999, they performed the theme song to the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough. That year, they also contributed the song "When I Grow Up" to the Adam Sandler movie Big Daddy. Version 2.0 was nominated at Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album, and "Special" was nominated for Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal and Best Rock Song.
In October 2001, Garbage issued their third and most pop album beautifulgarbage, preceded by the single "Androgyny" in September 2001. All four singles released ("Androgyny", "Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)", "Breaking Up the Girl" and "Shut Your Mouth") were moderately successful. This album got 6th place at Rolling Stone's Top 10 Albums of The Year. The world tour from October 2001 to November 2002 was affected by Butch's health problems.
The band struggled to remain together and almost split in 2003, before returning with the fourth studio album Bleed Like Me in April 2005, peaking at a career-high #4 in USA. Four singles promoted the album: "Why Do You Love Me", "Sex Is Not the Enemy", "Bleed Like Me", and "Run Baby Run". Garbage cut short their 2005 world tour, and announced an indefinite hiatus, but emphasized it was not a break-up.
In July 2007 the group released a greatest hits album and a DVD entitled Absolute Garbage. The compilation featured a selection of their singles, a new single "Tell Me Where It Hurts" (#50 UK), and a remixed version of "It's All Over But the Crying" (the limited edition had also a remixes disc). The DVD included most of their music videos and a documentary related to the band.
In 2008 a new track called "Witness to Your Love" was issued on a charity compilation in the USA. Shirley Manson recorded a solo album but her label refused to release it considering it to be "too noir". In the same year she started to play a regular role on US TV show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
According to a post from Shirley's Facebook profile, the band returned back to studio in 2010. On 14 May 2012, Garbage released their fifth studio album, Not Your Kind of People. The album was supported by the singles "Blood For Poppies", "Battle in Me", "Automatic Systematic Habit" and "Big Bright World".
On June 10th 2016, Garbage released their 6th album "Strange Little Birds".
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?