When I Grow Up

i am POSTIVE that the song is about this. in an interview at the time she admitted that the song was very sexual and was about discovering what turns you on, and that the growing up means when you have got bored with experimentation and want to settle down with what you like. its about the immaturity of certain sexual acts.

Shirley Manson ROCKS!!!!!!!!! Garbage's so great! :)

I always figured that this song was meant to be somewhat ironic, as all four members were very much adults (i.e. "grown up") when this song was written. I see it as written from a younger person's point of view, speaking about sex and youthful indescrections (partying, unprotected sex, having a bad temper, ... the helicopter suggests danger and being a bit wild and out of the ordinary), but then saying "When I grow up, I'll be stable." I think the "stable" part is the key here, as they are saying this behavior will stop, when experience kind of shows that it probably won't (back to the irony I mentioned before). There are definately sexual overtones, but I don't think it is the sole focus, it is more of an example of generally wild behavior (perhaps Shirley's choice of wild youthful behavior??). Oh, and I once read an interview where she mentioned golden showers, and this was a good few years before this song was ever released. Kind of interesting.

u think so, man?

I really dont think that's the truth--though if you really read it that literally, then whatever.

I beleive it has to do with Shirleys childhood--when she was young she was really insecure. I think this is the way she said, when she grows up she'll turn the tables on everyone else.

I always thought it had to do with what Ice said. If you do look at the lyrics literally, then I see where you can get the sexual stuff. Who knows.....:)

Well I never thought of it in a sexual way but now that you put that thought in my mind the line "Blood and blisters on my fingers" has become extremely disturbing to me.

me too.. d sexual meaning didnt go in my mind before.. and now, uh ok.. the choice and use of words in this song connected d dots.. and yeah, it does make a sexual sense! :) pretty convincing.

I think that this song is about shirley not wanting to grow up coz she's having too much fun in the present, and by the sounds of it she really fucking is (tho i sont think that im a golden shower fan...)

i really think this song is about shirley's childhood ... well adolescence ... and the whole experimentation bit... but it's also about her realising how stupid it was to be this person, this "whore" that she visualises herself being. uhm let me think. i know how this is, and i like this song cos it puts it together for me. Trying hard to fit among you, floating out to wonderland Unprotected, god I'm pregnant damn the consequences

i think this part is talking about how she really trusts this guy, and he's great and everything, but she's depending on him to fit in. so by depending him she trusts him. but then she "gets pregnant" from him...

Blood and blisters on my fingers chaos rules when we're apart Watch my temper, I go mental I'll try to be gentle

this is her like going crazy cos she realises how much it sucks. but that's just what i think.

-taylor.