For… Read Full Bio ↴Tangled is a band who released the single "Make Your Way There".
For the soundtrack, please see Alan Menken.
When Will My Life Begin
Tangled Lyrics
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Start on the chores and sweep 'til the floor's all clean
Polish and wax, do laundry, and mop and shine up
Sweep again, and by then it's like 7:15.
And so I'll read a book
Or maybe two or three
I'll add a few new paintings to my gallery
And cook and basically
Just wonder when will my life begin?
Then after lunch it's puzzles and darts and baking
Paper mache, a bit of ballet and chess
Pottery and ventriloquy, candle making
Then I'll stretch, maybe sketch, take a climb,
Sew a dress!
And I'll reread the books
If I have time to spare
I'll paint the walls some more,
I'm sure there's room somewhere.
And then I'll brush and brush,
And brush and brush my hair
Stuck in the same place I've always been.
And I'll keep wonderin' and wonderin'
And wonderin' and wonderin'
When will my life begin?
And tomorrow night,
Lights will appear
Just like they do on my birthday each year.
What is it like
Out there where they glow?
Now that I'm older,
Mother might just
Let me go ...
The opening lines of Tangled's song "When Will My Life Begin?" convey the monotony of the singer Rapunzel's daily routine. She wakes up at 7 AM, and begins her chores-- sweeping, waxing, laundry, and sweeping again. By 7:15, her morning routine is over, and she spends the rest of her day engaging in various leisure activities - reading books, playing guitar, cooking, painting, and knitting. While part of her finds joy in these activities, another part ponders when her life will truly begin. She feels stuck in a rut, doing the same things over and over again, and longing for adventure.
The song speaks to the universal human desire for purpose and meaning. It's easy to get caught up in the daily grind and feel like we're not really living. The song reminds us that life is about more than just going through the motions - it's about finding our true calling and pursuing our dreams, whether that means exploring the world, creating art, or falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
7 AM, the usual morning lineup:
I start every day with the same routine.
Start on the chores and sweep 'til the floor's all clean
I start by cleaning the floors and do other chores.
Polish and wax, do laundry, and mop and shine up
I clean everything in my room so that it is spotless and well-maintained.
Sweep again, and by then it's like 7:15.
After all the cleaning, I sweep the floors again, and by then it's a little bit later in the morning.
And so I'll read a book
To relax, I like to read books.
Or maybe two or three
Sometimes, I can read more than one book if I have enough time.
I'll add a few new paintings to my gallery
I like to paint and add to my collection of paintings.
I'll play guitar and knit
I have other hobbies besides reading and painting like playing guitar and knitting.
And cook and basically
I enjoy cooking and experimenting with different recipes.
Just wonder when will my life begin?
Despite all these activities, I still feel like my life hasn't started yet.
Then after lunch it's puzzles and darts and baking
After lunch, I have other activities like playing games, shooting darts, and baking.
Paper mache, a bit of ballet and chess
I like doing different activities, like making paper mache, doing ballet, and playing chess.
Pottery and ventriloquy, candle making
I enjoy making pottery, practicing ventriloquy, and making candles.
Then I'll stretch, maybe sketch, take a climb,
To keep myself active and healthy, I like to stretch, sketch, and climb.
Sew a dress!
Sometimes, I even sew my clothes.
And I'll reread the books
If I have spare time left over, I'll read my books again.
If I have time to spare
I sometimes have extra time after finishing my tasks.
I'll paint the walls some more,
In my free time, I like to paint my room and add more designs.
I'm sure there's room somewhere.
My room is always open to new designs and improvements.
And then I'll brush and brush,
I keep brushing my hair until it's soft and silky.
And brush and brush my hair
I work hard to make sure my hair is always looking great.
Stuck in the same place I've always been.
Even after all these activities, I still feel like I haven't gone anywhere or done anything meaningful.
And I'll keep wonderin' and wonderin'
I'll constantly wonder about what more I can do with my life.
When will my life begin?
I'm eagerly waiting for my life to start and have more meaning.
And tomorrow night,
Tomorrow, something unexpected might happen.
Lights will appear
Something bright and exciting is coming.
Just like they do on my birthday each year.
Similar to how my birthday always brings lights and excitement, something exciting might happen tomorrow.
What is it like
I'm curious and excited to see what the future might bring.
Out there where they glow?
What is beyond where I am now, and what exciting things are waiting for me?
Now that I'm older,
As I grow older, my mother might trust me with more responsibilities.
Mother might just
My mother might give me more freedom.
Let me go...
She might allow me to explore the world beyond what I know.
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.