Discography:
1995 - Sleater-Kinney (Chainsaw)
1996 - Call the Doctor (Chainsaw)
1997 - Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)
1999 - The Hot Rock (Kill Rock Stars)
2000 - All Hands on the Bad One (Kill Rock Stars)
2002 - One Beat (Kill Rock Stars)
2005 - The Woods (Sub Pop)
2015 - No Cities to Love (Sub Pop)
2019 - The Center Won't Hold (Mom+Pop)
2021 - Path of Wellness (Mom+Pop)
I'm Not Waiting
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Till I grow up
I'm not waiting
'Till I grow up
To be a woman
To be a woman
Honey baby sweetness darling
Your words are sticky, stupid
Running down my legs
I'm not waiting
'Till I grow up
I'm not waiting
'Till I grow up
Go out on the lawn
Put your swimsuit on
Go out on the lawn
Put your swimsuit..
To be a wo-wo-man-man
To be a woman
Honey baby sweetness darling
I'm your little girl
Your words are sticky, stupid
Running down my legs
I'm not waiting
'Till I grow up
I'm not waiting
'Till I grow up
To be a woman
The lyrics of "I'm Not Waiting" by Sleater-Kinney express a resistance to traditional gender roles that society imposes on individuals. The repetition of "I'm not waiting 'till I grow up" suggests a desire to reject the expectation of adulthood, and to remain free to be oneself. The line "to be a woman" is repeated throughout the song, which can be seen as a comment on the fact that many people believe that being a woman means conforming to certain requirements of femininity.
The second verse introduces a character identified as "Honey baby sweetness darling" who is dominating and infantilizing. The line "your words are sticky, stupid, running down my legs" suggests that the person is being condescending or disrespectful. The use of the word "little girl" also reinforces the idea of submission, powerlessness, and lack of agency that many women may feel in society.
The chorus then returns, emphasizing the refusal to conform to gender expectations. The final lyrics with the suggestive "put your swimsuit.." may be a reclamation of the female body as something that is not shameful or inherently sexualized. The repetition of "to be a wo-wo-man-man" further highlights the rejection of traditional gender roles, and the desire for a more expansive and fluid understanding of gender.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not waiting
I am not delaying my desires or goals.
'Till I grow up
Until I reach a certain age of maturity or adulthood.
To be a woman
To become a mature, fully-realized female.
Honey baby sweetness darling
A term of endearment used by a lover or partner.
I'm your little girl
A submissive, dependent role often associated with women.
Your words are sticky, stupid
Your speech is cloying and unintelligent.
Running down my legs
A metaphor for feeling dirty or degraded by someone else's words or actions.
Go out on the lawn
Get outside and enjoy life.
Put your swimsuit on
Take a risk, be playful and daring.
To be a wo-wo-man-man
To be a strong, confident, and fully-realized woman.
Contributed by Liam W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.