The end of 2008 saw Grieves enlisting the help of friend and collaborator Budo to co-produce Together/Apart bringing his signature swiss-army knife, multi-instrumental backdrop to Grieves' hauntingly poignant narrative. The album began taking shape in New York as the two built off the success 88 Keys and Counting had generated and paired it with the intensity they developed from their live performances. The recording process began to shadow the theme of the album as it saw tracks recorded in Colorado and Washington in addition to New York, infusing it with a mixture of regional influences while still maintaining a cohesive sound. As the album neared completion the title took on a double meaning for Grieves as he explored new subject matter in the absence of trust, refuge in addiction, acceptance and honesty in self-reflection, and trying to find his place in the world without forgetting his roots.
Growing Pains
Grieves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life has been a bitch holding onto me, I'm always freaking out
I don't play well with others, I panic in a crowd
And I'm quick to fall in love, that's why I'm always on the ground
So pick it up
Pop the umbrella over my problems
And understand I'll never be a man until I solve 'em
And sometimes I wish that I could go back home
And that would be everything-just another boy left with nothing
An object of security slowly losing its stuffin'
The Sumter Square slum king
Looking for another motherfucking chance to re-break the broken in is something
And that's the part I'm never going to get
Growing up is more than just a mind state and owning all your debts
Blowing out the breath I don't feel so tall
So tell me how am I supposed to reach anything, anything at all
Anything at all
Tell me how, can I, grow to see the change in my life
I wanted, to overcome the battle inside what is owed to anxiety's hold
Is there a better way to figure it out?
I sweep it all under the rug
Cover up the loss found inside of me and wash it down with blood
I was born with an option and taught to swim a flood
But the older I become I start to humor giving up
So pick it up
Listen to all of the words in my head
And understand I'll have a shaky hand until they're said
And I don't know if I can get my mind state back
But I would travel to the end just to feel that grasp
And that would be everything, speak it through the can on the line
And prophesied the future from the twinkle in my eye
I could wrinkle up and die
In that room where the dreams started talking to me constantly and dancing through the sky
I'm alive, but growing up has proved to be a task
And left a couple daydreams broken down and smashed
Looking through the glass I don't feel so tall
So tell me how am I supposed to reach anything, anything at all
Anything at all
Tell me how, can I, grow to see the change in my life
I wanted, to overcome the battle inside what is owed to anxiety's hold
Is there a better way to figure it out?
Tell me how, can I, grow to see the change in my life
I wanted, to overcome the battle inside what is owed to anxiety's hold
Is there a better way to figure it out?
In "Growing Pains" by Grieves, the lyrics convey an introspective struggle with anxiety and growing up. The song begins with acknowledging the difficulties life has presented and the feeling of being constantly overwhelmed, even in social situations. The singer expresses a desire to solve his problems and move towards maturity but finds himself stuck in the past, longing for the simplicity of childhood. In the second verse, the singer covers up his pain with substance abuse and contemplates giving up on life. However, he recognizes the importance of speaking about his struggles and confronting them head-on. The song ends with a plea for guidance and a better understanding of how to navigate through the ongoing battles with anxiety and growing up.
The lyrics in "Growing Pains" offer a raw and relatable view into the struggles of mental health and the challenges of transitioning into adulthood. Grieves' emotive delivery adds weight to the frank message, and the instrumental arrangement is a mix of somber and upbeat. The lyrics offer an introspective and vulnerable perspective on growing pains, lending the song a unique authenticity that listeners can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
I take a breath and breathe it out
Life has been difficult for me lately, so I just take a moment to breathe and try to release my stress and anxiety.
Life has been a bitch holding onto me, I'm always freaking out
I feel like life has been really tough on me lately, and I'm constantly anxious and worried about everything.
I don't play well with others, I panic in a crowd
I struggle to socialize and interact with others, and being in larger groups often triggers my anxiety and panic.
And I'm quick to fall in love, that's why I'm always on the ground
I tend to fall in love quickly and easily, which often leads to me getting hurt and feeling down.
So pick it up
Pop the umbrella over my problems
And understand I'll never be a man until I solve 'em
I need to face my problems head-on and take responsibility for them if I want to truly mature and grow as a person.
And sometimes I wish that I could go back home
Yeah crawl into my childhood dreams and be alone
And that would be everything-just another boy left with nothing
Sometimes I long for the simplicity and comfort of my childhood, when I had fewer responsibilities and worries.
An object of security slowly losing its stuffin'
The Sumter Square slum king
Looking for another motherfucking chance to re-break the broken in is something
I feel like my sense of security is deteriorating, and I'm struggling to find my place in the world and make something of myself.
And that's the part I'm never going to get
Growing up is more than just a mind state and owning all your debts
I'm starting to realize that growing up and maturing is about more than just a change in mindset or taking responsibility for my actions; it's a complex and ongoing process.
Blowing out the breath I don't feel so tall
So tell me how am I supposed to reach anything, anything at all
Anything at all
I feel small and powerless in the face of my struggles, and I'm not sure how to overcome them or achieve my goals.
I sweep it all under the rug
Cover up the loss found inside of me and wash it down with blood
I was born with an option and taught to swim a flood
But the older I become I start to humor giving up
I tend to ignore my problems and pretend like everything is fine, even when I'm hurting inside. I was raised to be resilient and strong, but as I get older, I'm starting to lose hope and consider giving up.
Listen to all of the words in my head
And understand I'll have a shaky hand until they're said
And I don't know if I can get my mind state back
But I would travel to the end just to feel that grasp
I need to acknowledge and address the negative thoughts and emotions in my head if I ever want to overcome them. I don't know if I can fully recover, but I'm willing to try anything to feel better.
And that would be everything, speak it through the can on the line
And prophesied the future from the twinkle in my eye
I could wrinkle up and die
In that room where the dreams started talking to me constantly and dancing through the sky
For me, finding a way to express myself and my emotions is everything. Sometimes, it feels like my dreams are the only thing keeping me going and giving me hope for the future.
Looking through the glass I don't feel so tall
So tell me how am I supposed to reach anything, anything at all
Anything at all
When I look at my life and my problems, I feel small and insignificant, and I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to achieve anything meaningful.
Tell me how, can I, grow to see the change in my life
I wanted, to overcome the battle inside what is owed to anxiety's hold
Is there a better way to figure it out?
I'm looking for ways to overcome my anxiety and find peace and meaning in my life, but I'm not sure where to turn or what to do.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind