I Don't Wanna Grow Up

Unlike some other respondents, I don't see this as being about the childhood innocence we all used to have, but now that we've grown up we've seen the light. Quite the opposite. I see it as a man who has grown up, and wishes he could regain the freedom that children have; the freedom not to have to fit into the system and become something nobody ever wanted to be. Part of the beauty of being a child is you can not conform, and people still love you and look after you. When you're an adult, if you don't conform, you suffer.

So I see this as a critique of our society and a manifesto for not taking the place we're supposed to sit still in after we "grow out of" our yearning for something better. If in our society growing up is combing your hair, shining your shoes, becoming a good boy scout, and wanting the biggest amount, then, fuck it, I don't wanna grow up.

Wanting to stay a child and not have to deal with the problems that adults have is so natural, I think. It's so innocent.

"how the hell did it get here soon". i am always aking that question. years are passing so fast.

I do not interpret 'medicine chest' as a reference to suicide. It's a reference to needing pharmaceutical drugs as you grow older. This interpretation fits well with the rest of the song. Fact of the matter is you spend childhood disagreeing with your parents and promising to be nothing like them. Next thing you know you are much more like them than you ever anticipated - to include using many of the parenting skills learned from them with your own children.

I dont want to ever grow up.

I'm glad i can now drink and have sex. So you know, it's not all bad.

it being about suicide makes a lot of sense with the "medicine chest" line. I think it's also about a few other things: a sentimental (somewhat less dark) recollection of being little and powerless in a big scary world. A reminder of the childhood innocence that we all want back. An affirmation that children really hold the truth and grown-ups mess it by conforming, by settling ("seems that folks turn into things they never want to be").

I really love this song but it's hard to really pin down why it clicks so much with me. All I know is that I heard it and after every line my eyes got wide and I gave a knowing nod.

I was introduced to this song (but not to Tom Waits who I already knew) by the Ramones. As a 38 year old guy who's been listening to the Ramones since the mid 80s this song sometimes brings me to tears, especially sung with Joey's melodic crooning voice.

It is the tale of a man growing up and wishing he could stay young forever but having to deal with the realities of the world around him. Opening up the medicine chest could be either the medicine that comes with old age (although that's an easy explanation), or more poetically, dealing with suicidal thoughts.

Now that I have heard the Tom Waits version (after the excellent Ramones cover!) and listened to the album I see a lot of songs deal with death, so the medicine chest could well be the easy way out!

thats such an awesome song.. i feel the same way.

ha ha great song... made me think

The Ramones did a great cover of this song on their last album "Adios Amigos".