Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, known professionally as Katy Perry (born October… Read Full Bio ↴Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, known professionally as Katy Perry (born October 25, 1984 in Santa Barbara, CA) is an American singer, songwriter, and television judge. The story of who was born into a totally Christian environment and who years later would become a pop music star. Muse of those who feel different or excluded, Katy Perry got her first guitar (from the church) at the age of thirteen and dreamed of it, as many young people do. The difference is that she did it. She broke free from the shackles of faith (without ever losing it) and set out to live through songs about her experiences. The result? Aside from Michael Jackson, only she was able to place five songs from the same album at the top of the charts.

After singing in church during her childhood, she pursued a career in gospel music as a teenager. Perry signed with Red Hill Records and released her debut studio album Katy Hudson under her birth name in 2001, which was commercially unsuccessful. She moved to Los Angeles the following year to venture into secular music after Red Hill ceased operations and she subsequently began working with producers Glen Ballard, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin. After adopting the stage name 'Katy Perry' and being dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group and Columbia Records, she signed a recording contract with Capitol Records in April 2007.

Perry rose to fame in 2008 with her second album, One of the Boys, a pop rock record containing the controversial U.S number one song "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold". Three subsequent albums have topped the U.S. Billboard 200. The disco-influenced Teenage Dream (2010) spawned five chart-topping U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles–"California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T.", and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" — a record tying her with Michael Jackson's "Bad". Its follow-up record Prism (2013) was inspired by her divorce, and incorporates pop and dance along with themes of self-reflection, everyday life, and relationships. With the music videos for its chart-topping songs "Roar" and "Dark Horse", Perry became the first artist to have multiple videos reach one billion views on Vevo. Her 2017 electropop album, 'Witness' featured a political subtext and a theme of liberation. Her sixth studio album 'Smile' followed in 2020.

Perry has nine U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one singles and has received various awards, including four Guinness World Records, five Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, a Brit Award, and a Juno Award. She has been included in the annual Forbes lists of highest-earning women in music from 2011 to 2019. Her estimated net worth as of 2016 is $125 million. Perry is one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 18 million albums and 125 million singles worldwide. In film, she released an autobiographical documentary titled "Katy Perry: Part of Me" in 2012, and voiced Smurfette in the 2011 film The Smurfs and its sequel in 2013. Her Super Bowl halftime show performance is the most watched in history. Perry also began serving as a judge on American Idol in 2018.

Growing Pains
Katy Perry Lyrics

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You would think that I could find a simple song
A photograph of mine
To show this public eye what I have to offer
I may not have a PHD
Or speak in eloquent philosophy
I'm nothing more than simply me you see

What I am trying to say

I'm just a babe in so many ways

I'm still growing, still stretching
Still breaking in these new shoes
Looking for a way to make a mark of my own
I'm just a spring chick, wet behind the ears
It's a part of life so there's no need to fear
These growing pains that I'm going through

I don't regret, I'm not ashamed
That I haven't yet begun to speaketh ways
As the wisest of men
Oh, perhaps some day
But for now I'm grateful
To be a part of the family tree
While The Man upstairs does His work on me
It's a job that may take eternity to complete

Just when I've learned all I can
Those growing pains up and kick on in again

What I am trying to say
I'm just a babe in so many ways

Time after time
One more time and again
Will it ever end?
It's the lessons in our lives that make us wise
But young or old I am told it’s the same
Oh, these growing pains never go away
So I'll just keep on trying

Oh, baby don’t worry about a thing

Overall Meaning

In this song, Growing Pains, Katy Perry sings about the struggles and challenges of growing up and finding her identity in the public eye. She talks about not having a degree or the ability to speak eloquently like some of the wisest men, but she's okay with that because she's still growing and stretching. She's still trying to find her place in the world and make her own mark. Katy also describes how even when she thinks she's learned all she can, life throws more growing pains her way and she has to keep trying to overcome them.

Throughout the song, Katy Perry embraces her vulnerability and acknowledges that she's still learning and growing despite her success in the public eye. She's not ashamed of her humble beginnings and her lack of knowledge on certain topics. She has a positive outlook and is grateful for the challenges that help her become a wiser and stronger person.

Line by Line Meaning

You would think that I could find a simple song
Despite my fame and talent, I struggle to find a song that truly reflects my essence.

A photograph of mine
A visual representation of myself that can convey my message to the public.

To show this public eye what I have to offer
I want to showcase my unique talents and perspective to my fans and followers.

I may not have a PHD
I don't possess a higher degree of education like many other famous people.

Or speak in eloquent philosophy
My words may not be as sophisticated as some philosophers or scholars, but they come from my heart.

I'm nothing more than simply me you see
At the end of the day, I'm just a regular person with flaws and imperfections.

What I am trying to say
My message is simple, but it carries a lot of weight.

I'm still growing, still stretching
I recognize that I have room for growth and learning, and I'm not afraid to admit it.

Still breaking in these new shoes
I'm adapting to new challenges in my life and career.

Looking for a way to make a mark of my own
I aspire to leave a meaningful impact on the world and be remembered for something special.

I'm just a spring chick, wet behind the ears
I'm young and inexperienced, and there's still a lot for me to learn and discover.

It's a part of life so there's no need to fear
Growing and learning is a natural and necessary part of the human experience, and there's nothing to be afraid of.

These growing pains that I'm going through
The challenges and obstacles I encounter along the way are all part of my personal growth journey.

I don't regret, I'm not ashamed
I have no regrets about my past mistakes or failures, and I'm not ashamed of who I am today.

That I haven't yet begun to speaketh ways
I don't claim to have all the answers, and I have yet to fully tap into my wisdom.

As the wisest of men
I don't hold myself up to the impossible standard of having all the knowledge or wisdom in the world.

Oh, perhaps some day
I hope to acquire more knowledge and wisdom as I continue to grow and learn.

But for now I'm grateful
I'm content with where I am in life and am thankful for what I've achieved so far.

To be a part of the family tree
I feel connected to my family and ancestors who have come before me and paved the way for my success.

While The Man upstairs does His work on me
I believe that a higher power is guiding me and shaping me into the person I'm meant to be.

It's a job that may take eternity to complete
Personal growth and self-improvement is a lifelong process that never truly ends.

Just when I've learned all I can
Despite my previous achievements or knowledge, I'm always open to learning and growing more.

Those growing pains up and kick on in again
I may encounter new challenges or obstacles that push me out of my comfort zone, but they are necessary for my personal growth.

Time after time
Throughout my life, I'll face numerous challenges and growing pains that will shape me into the person I'm meant to be.

One more time and again
I have to keep learning and growing, even if it means going through the same challenges multiple times.

Will it ever end?
Personal growth is a never-ending journey that will continue throughout my life.

It's the lessons in our lives that make us wise
The challenges and obstacles we face in life are what allow us to learn and grow, and ultimately make us wiser and more resilient.

But young or old I am told it’s the same
Whether we're young or old, we all face challenges and opportunities for growth throughout our lives.

Oh, these growing pains never go away
Personal growth challenges will always be a part of the human experience, even if we achieve great success.

So I'll just keep on trying
I'm committed to continuing my personal growth journey and won't let challenges stop me from achieving my goals.

Oh, baby don’t worry about a thing
I'm telling my listeners not to worry or stress about their own personal growth journeys, as they are all natural and necessary experiences.

Contributed by Adrian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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