When I Grow Up Lyrics
From the very first time I heard this song I think I understood it but it was on a subconscious level. It immediately got stuck in my head to where I HAD to listen to it again and again because I was so touched by it emotionally. I interpret this song as follows: This is a adult haunted by her memories of childhood. She speaks as a child to a parent or some other very significant person from whom she sought love and approval but never really felt. Just a note about one lyric that seems to have a lot of people perplexed, I offer another take on this: "You have cucumbers on your eyes"- cucumber slices on the closed eyelids are often used to reduce puffiness in the eye area (from crying, lack of rest, etc.) The song is from a child's perspective, and the person this is referring to here is almost certainly a female, possibly the child's mother or an older sister. This was a beauty treatment this woman performed day after day, possibly in preparation for a significant event, such as a wedding. From the child's point of view this behavior is puzzling, it seem like such a waste of time... young children do not comprehend vanity because they are not yet conscious of their appearance "too much time spent on nothing waiting for a moment to arrive". The child does not see the point of this ritual at all. It's taking attention away from her as the beloved person is focused more on herself. The child put her soul into everything she does, like her drawing of a of a funny man... can't this person see that? Wouldn't it be nice if Karin would just tell us all what she meant???
I would love to see an interview with her on the meaning of her songs!
I would love to see an interview with her on the meaning of her songs!
I love this song, I am captive to it.
I understand it as a sung from an adult who still waiting for a sign of affection (or a show of comfort) that they've had since childhood; a hug from mom/dad or the like. Maybe the person the narrator sings to abdondoned them, or died, or maybe they failed to return the love the child felt for them.
By the verses: 1-even when I grow up I'll be waiting for you to come (back) to me 2-for all the things I'll have, I'll be "waiting for it |you| to embrace me" 3-I did things for you, drew a picture, but I didn't like it because "I never liked a sad look from someone who wants to be loved by you" - like I do. 4-I'm an adult/my friends trust me/I am responsible/I work- I stay occupied because when I have time to think, I cry for you. 5-(Cucumber facial?)you spent your time preparing for things that didn't happen, that didn't involve me. I was afraid in the dark. And I'm... Waiting for you to embrace me.
nice!
nice!
I like this interpretation. :)
I like this interpretation. :)
I think she sings "it goes way BACK" instead of "it goes way BAD"... Play it loud, you'll hear the "ck" rather clearly.
That's true. It's in the lyrics included with the CD.
That's true. It's in the lyrics included with the CD.
This song is one of the most strongest songs I've ever heard - and one of the strongest music videos I've ever witnessed.
It seems to me that she really wants away from all the world and wants to focus on nature. In the video, she wears very "hippy" clothes and almost seems that of American Indian descent. She's trying to say that probably her mother is superficial. Her mom has cucumbers on her eyes while getting pampered and just laying around. She wants to be one with the nature, as she has an eye drawn on her palm, the usually egyptian/Native American symbol of all knowing. She wants her mother to embrace her and actually care.
Interesting... But Karin's mother died in 2006. The Knife song "We Share Our Mother's Health" was written just after her death and deals with losing the connection to your heritage through a parent's death. I doubt Karin would make casual slanderous comments about her mother in this song. "on the seventh day i rest for a minute or two then back on my feet and cry for you"
Interesting... But Karin's mother died in 2006. The Knife song "We Share Our Mother's Health" was written just after her death and deals with losing the connection to your heritage through a parent's death. I doubt Karin would make casual slanderous comments about her mother in this song. "on the seventh day i rest for a minute or two then back on my feet and cry for you"
This line makes me think she's still grieving for her mother in between raising her children and carrying on her day to day activities.
This line makes me think she's still grieving for her mother in between raising her children and carrying on her day to day activities.
The first verse is from...
The first verse is from her daughter's perspective - as with many Fever Ray songs, the child's perspective is often represented - the daughter is perhaps fascinated by Australia and maybe has books on it and talks about it constantly in the way kids become obsessed so wholly with things.
The next verse is I think Karin fantasising about growing up all over again from childhood and and wondering what path her life could have take a turn had she chosen a different course.
The theme's of age and alternate perspectives are all over this album. The video for "Seven" shows Karin as an old woman still looking after 'children' (the farm animals) as though she see's no end to the demands on her time by 'underlings'. The clip for this song is less directly Native American influenced than it is any kind of tribal person from any ancient culture. Her character enters a domestic setting and commands the water in the pool to bubble and leap on her command as though she sees herself as far removed from simple domesticity and her connection to the earth has strengthened since bringing two children into the world. Domesticity/tired mum with kids at her feet is a somewhat enforced lifestyle so she feels like a stranger in that world.
i love this song!
to me she just wants to be with nature. and be embraced by it.
i could listen to this song all day.
it feels so...strong to me. if you know what i mean? maybe not. but this song gives me butterflies.
it kinda sounds like what god would say to the population.
I actually think, that in this song she takes God's place...But it's only because of "on the seventh day i rest"...Just as God did, after world's creation...Though I do agree with all the other opinions here... One thing I know...This song is amazing..One of the best I heard lately...
I actually think, that in this song she takes God's place...But it's only because of "on the seventh day i rest"...Just as God did, after world's creation...Though I do agree with all the other opinions here... One thing I know...This song is amazing..One of the best I heard lately...
Though,her "God" is Nature, I guess:o)
Though,her "God" is Nature, I guess:o)
phenomenal
then back on my feet and CALL for you??
then back on my feet and CALL for you??
then back on my feet and CALL for you??
I think you may be right.
I think you may be right.
I think you may be right.
I think you may be right.
yep yep. definitely call
yep yep. definitely call
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_folklore could this have any relation...? From the video, I thought she was a Tomte, since there's the whole "When my friends are away" bit. But I don't know anything really of swedish folklore, just wanted to throw that out there in case
staggering. so so so so good.