When I Grow Up
Matilda the Musical [Original Cast] Lyrics
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I will be tall enough to reach the branches
That I need to reach to climb the trees
You get to climb when you're grown up
And when I grow up
I will be smart enough to answer all the questions that you need to know
The answers to before you're grown up
On the way to work and I will go to bed late every night
And I will wake up when the sun comes up
And I will watch cartoons until my eyes go square
And I won't care 'cause I'll be all grown up
When I grow up
When I grow up, when I grow up, (when I grow up)
I will be strong enough to carry all the heavy things you have to haul around
When you, when you're a grown up
And when I grow up, when I grow up, (when I grow up)
I will be brave enough to fight the creatures that you have to fight beneath the bed
Each night to be a grown up
And when I grow up, (when I grow up)
I will have treats everyday
And I'll play with things that mum pretends that mums don't think are fun
And I will wake up (I will wake up)
When the sun comes up and I will spend all day just lying in the sun
And I won't burn 'cause I'll be all grown up
When I grow up
When I grow up
I will be brave enough to fight the creatures
That you have to fight beneath the bed each night to be a grown up
When I grow up
Just because you find that life's not fair
It doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it
If you always take it on the chin and wear it
Nothing will change
When I grow up
Just because I find myself in this story
It doesn't mean that everything is written for me
If I think the ending is fixed already
I might as well be saying
I think that it's ok
And that's not right
The song "When I Grow Up" from Matilda the Musical is a playful and optimistic tune, sung in the voices of the children who are imagining their futures as grown-ups. The lyrics describe how they will behave as adults, with a mix of childlike whimsy and earnest aspirations. The children sing about how they will climb trees, answer tough questions, eat sweets every day, and play with "things that mum pretends that mums don't think are fun." They also boast about how they will be brave enough to fight imaginary creatures under their beds and carry heavy objects without breaking a sweat.
The song serves as a tribute to the innocence and limitless imagination of childhood, which is contrasted with the challenges and responsibilities of adulthood. The children seem to view growing up as an opportunity to do all the things they can't do as kids, but also understand that there may be certain struggles they will need to overcome in order to become confident, capable adults.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the joys and possibilities of childhood, while acknowledging the hard work and uncertainty that comes with growing up. It is a reminder that, even though life can be tough, we should never lose our sense of curiosity, creativity, and wonder.
Line by Line Meaning
When I grow up
In the future, when I'm an adult
I will be tall enough to reach the branches
I will be physically capable of climbing trees and reaching their branches
That I need to reach to climb the trees
So I can climb up the trees and enjoy the view from up high
You get to climb when you're grown up
I can't wait until I'm grown up and can climb trees whenever I want to
And when I grow up
In the future, when I'm an adult
I will be smart enough to answer all the questions that you need to know
I will have enough knowledge to answer any question that comes my way
The answers to before you're grown up
Answers to the questions that only adults know
And when I grow up, I will eat sweets everyday
I will treat myself to sweets every day as an adult
On the way to work and I will go to bed late every night
I will stay up late and enjoy my free time to the fullest, even if it means sleeping less
And I will wake up when the sun comes up
I will be an early riser and make the most of my day
And I will watch cartoons until my eyes go square
I'll watch cartoons to my heart's content, even if it's bad for my eyes
And I won't care 'cause I'll be all grown up
As an adult, I won't have to worry about what people think of my choices
When I grow up
In the future, when I'm an adult
When I grow up, when I grow up, (when I grow up)
In the future, when I'm an adult
I will be strong enough to carry all the heavy things you have to haul around
I will develop enough strength to carry heavy things that adults have to carry
And when I grow up, when I grow up, (when I grow up)
In the future, when I'm an adult
I will be brave enough to fight the creatures that you have to fight beneath the bed
I will have the courage to face and conquer my childhood fears like monsters under the bed
Each night to be a grown up
Facing and conquering fears is a part of becoming a grown up
When I grow up, (when I grow up)
In the future, when I'm an adult
I will have treats everyday
As an adult, I will enjoy having treats every day
And I'll play with things that mum pretends that mums don't think are fun
I'll have fun playing with toys that adults normally don't play with
And I will wake up (I will wake up)
I'll be an early riser and make the most of my day
When the sun comes up and I will spend all day just lying in the sun
I'll be able to spend my day soaking up the sun and enjoying free time as an adult
And I won't burn 'cause I'll be all grown up
As an adult, I won't have to worry about getting a sunburn because I'll know how to take care of myself
When I grow up
In the future, when I'm an adult
I will be brave enough to fight the creatures
I will be brave enough to face my fears and monsters under the bed without fear
That you have to fight beneath the bed each night to be a grown up
Facing and conquering fears like monsters under the bed is an important part of growing up
Just because you find that life's not fair
Although life can seem unfair at times
It doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it
You don't have to tolerate unfair treatment
If you always take it on the chin and wear it
If you always put up with unfairness and injustice, it will never go away
Nothing will change
No progress or improvement will happen, if you stay idle
When I grow up
In the future, when I'm an adult
Just because I find myself in this story
Just because I experience certain things in life
It doesn't mean that everything is written for me
It doesn't mean that my life is predetermined
If I think the ending is fixed already
If I assume that everything is already predetermined
I might as well be saying
I'm basically admitting that
I think that it's ok
I accept that whatever happens to me is acceptable
And that's not right
Accepting whatever happens in your life and not taking control of your destiny is not right
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TIMOTHY MINCHIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marsellamettaarvia2522
When I grow up,
I will be tall enough to reach the branches
That I need to reach to climb the trees
You get to climb when you're grown up.
And when I grow up,
I will be smart enough to answer all
The questions that you need to know
The answers to before you're grown up.
And when I grow up,
I will eat sweets every day,
On the way to work, and I will
Go to bed late every night.
And I will wake up
When the sun comes up, and I
Will watch cartoons until my eyes go square,
And I won't care 'cause I'll be all grown up.
When I grow up (x 4)...
I will be strong enough to carry all
The heavy things you have to haul
Around with you when you're a grown up.
And
When I grow up (x 3)...
I will be brave enough to fight the creatures
That you have to fight beneath the bed
Each night to be a grown up.
And when I grow up,
I will have treats every day,
And I'll play with things that mum pretends
That mums don't think are fun.
And I will wake up
When the sun comes up and I
Will spend all day just lying in the sun.
And I won't burn 'cause I'll be all grown up.
When I grow up...
(Ms. Honey:)
When I grow up,
I will be brave enough to fight the creatures
That you have to fight beneath the bed
Each night to be a grown up.
When I grow up...
(Matilda:)
Just because you find that life's not fair, it
Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it.
If you always take it on the chin and wear it, nothing will change.
Just because I find myself in this story,
It doesn't mean that everything is written for me.
If I think the ending is fixed already,
I might as well be saying I think that it's OK,
And that's not right!
@SonySoundtracksVEVO
Listen to the official Matilda The Musical soundtrack here: https://soundtracks.lnk.to/matildaAY
@heatherelza7634
YAY!
@WrOnG1984
Do you have any plan to shared sountracks in any other language eg. Polish?
@nightbender9250
I was NOT expecting to be so emotionally impacted by this musical version. This song really hit close to home. I’m so glad we have two amazing Matilda movies in their own unique ways.
@bookwormd8627
I just finished the film. I feel the exact same way, i watched the movie and read the book and although I haven’t watched the broadway musical (cuz they don’t show it where I live) I was aware of the songs and actors. One of the songs I severely underrated was When I Grow Up. The end of the film made me she’s tears of joy.
@jessicasugh3511
Same ! Just watched it with my kids.
@ryanpollyniak9644
It got me too
@SARAI_bearycloud
Bro I cried to this song idk why
@NokoFace
I agree. The 1996 movie holds such a beautiful place in my heart as a child, that I was hesitant to watch the new movie... but I adored it. Both are so special in their own ways.
@wytchlet
am I the only person who actually gets emotional when they sing this? like to the point of tears? because damn being an adult and listening to this kinda hits you in the feels, and personally makes me wanna go back in time and protect younger me from becoming a "grown up"