When I Grow Up
The Musical Original Cast (Matilda) 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 the Musical Original Cast of Matilda is a nostalgia-driven and slightly sarcastic number that embodies the wistful and idealistic visions of childhood. The lyrics are from the perspective of a child who has grand visions of adulthood, with the freedom to eat sweets everyday, stay up late, and watch cartoons. The child also envisions themselves as being strong and brave enough to fight the monsters that lurk beneath the bed, and being smart enough to answer all the questions that grown-ups have.
Throughout the song, there's a sense of longing and innocence, as the child dreams about growing up to reach the branches that are too high and to carry all the heavy things. But towards the end of the song, there's a subtle shift in tone as the child realizes that just because they've grown up, doesn't mean that everything is already predetermined for them. They acknowledge that life may not always be fair, but that it's better to try and change things than to accept them as they are.
Overall, "When I Grow Up" is a commentary on the duality of growing up - there's the freedom and possibility that comes with adulthood, but there's also the harsh realities and challenges that sometimes come along with it. The song encourages a sense of agency and advocacy, even in the face of life's obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
When I grow up
In the future, when I become an adult
I will be tall enough to reach the branches
I will be physically stronger and able to reach higher places
That I need to reach to climb the trees
So that I can climb trees like adults do
You get to climb when you're grown up
Adults have the privilege of climbing trees
And when I grow up, I will be smart enough to answer all the questions that you need to know
I will have enough knowledge to answer all the questions that adults know the answers to
The answers to before you're grown up
Answers that are usually only known by adults
And when I grow up, I will eat sweets everyday
I will be able to eat sweets as much as I want when I become an adult
On the way to work and I will go to bed late every night
I will have freedom to eat sweets whenever I want and stay up late
And I will wake up when the sun comes up
I will wake up early in the morning every day
And I will watch cartoons until my eyes go square
I will be able to watch cartoons as much as I want when I become an adult
And I won't care 'cause I'll be all grown up
I won't have to worry about anything because I'll be an adult
When I grow up, when I grow up, (when I grow up)
Repeated reminder of becoming an adult in the future
I will be strong enough to carry all the heavy things you have to haul around
I will be physically stronger to carry heavy things like adults do
When you, when you're a grown up
When you are an adult
And when I grow up, when I grow up, (when I grow up)
Repeated reminder of becoming an adult in the future
I will be brave enough to fight the creatures that you have to fight beneath the bed
I will be brave enough to face my fears like an adult does
Each night to be a grown up
Facing fears like monsters beneath the bed is something adults have to do
I will have treats everyday
I will be able to enjoy treats like an adult does
And I'll play with things that mum pretends that mums don't think are fun
I will be able to play with things that adults may think are silly or childish
When the sun comes up and I will spend all day just lying in the sun
I will have the freedom to leisurely spend my days any way I want
And I won't burn 'cause I'll be all grown up
I won't have to worry about getting sunburned because I'll be able to take care of myself
Just because you find that life's not fair
Sometimes life can be difficult and things may not seem fair
It doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it
It's important to take action and make changes when needed
If you always take it on the chin and wear it
If you keep accepting difficult situations without seeking solutions, nothing will change
Nothing will change
Things will stay the same if no action is taken
Just because I find myself in this story
Just because I am living this 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 believe that my future is predetermined and unchangeable
I might as well be saying
It's like saying
I think that it's ok
It's okay to not try to change anything
And that's not right
It's not okay to stay in the same situation without attempting to make changes
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TIMOTHY MINCHIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mystic Queen
Pro Tip: Don't play this song on your graduation day. You'll get teary-eyed, trust me.
luvvellyyy
I am singing this on graduation day lol i hate this song
Aerin Hinton
Yeah, this hits really hard as a college student now.
Jessica Watson
@Nlab i wish you luck on your journey :)
Nlab
everytime I listen to this song I think of my graduation and now its in 10 days :(
•Harper •
currently in a production of Matilda and this song never fails to make me cry😂
🧸aoife🧸
Same
Jius odd eye
Same and same
gameb9oy
It’s strange listening to this song and thinking “even away from acting, these kids probably don’t even know how hard these lyrics will hit when they ‘grow up’”
R Cantwell
My director wants us to smile like we're having fun and also make the audience cry...but how