The Pussycat Dolls – When I Grow Up Lyrics - Genius

2025, In ReviewFeaturedChartsVideosPromote Your MusicSign Up16When I Grow UpThe Pussycat DollsProducerRodney JerkinsTrack 1 onDoll Domination (Deluxe) May 27, 20081 viewer246.1K views45 ContributorsTranslations

• Español

When I Grow Up Lyrics

“When I Grow Up” is the opening track and lead single off of The Pussycat Dolls second album, Doll Domination. The song was their first single following the departure of the group’s longest-standing member… Read More [Intro: Nicole Scherzinger, R.City & Rodney Jerkins]Boys call you sexy (What's up, sexy?)And you don't care what they say (Ha, ha)See, every time you turn aroundThey screaming your nameJust call you sexy (What's up, sexy?)And you don't care what they say (Yeah)See, every time you turn aroundThey screaming your name (Right about now, Darkchild)[Verse 1: Nicole Scherzinger & R.City]Now I've got a confession (Ha, ha, ha, ha)When I was young I wanted attention (Ha, ha, ha, ha)And I promised myself that I'd do anything (Ha, ha, ha, ha)Anything at all for them to notice me (Ha, ha, ha, ha)[Pre-Chorus: Nicole Scherzinger]But I ain't complaining (Oh)We all wanna be famous (Oh)So, go ahead and say what you wanna say (Oh)You know what it's like to be nameless (Oh)Want them to know what your name is (Oh)'Cause see, when I was younger, I would say[Chorus: Nicole Scherzinger & R.City](When I grow up) I wanna be famousI wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies(When I grow up) I wanna see the worldDrive nice cars, I wanna have groupies(When I grow up) Be on TVPeople know me, be on magazines(When I grow up) Fresh and cleanNumber one chick when I step out on the sceneBut be careful what you wish for'Cause you just might get it (Hey)Y-you just might get it (Hey)Y-you just might get it (Hey)But be careful what you wish for'Cause you just might get it (Hey)Y-you just might get it (Hey)Y-you just might get it, get it? (Hey)You might also like[Verse 2: Nicole Scherzinger & R.City]They used to tell me I was silly (Ha, ha, ha, ha)'Til I popped up on the TV (La, la, la, la)I always wanted to be a superstar (Superstar; Ha, ha, ha, ha)Who knew that singing songs would get me this far? (La, la, la, la)[Pre-Chorus: Nicole Scherzinger]But I ain't complaining (Oh)We all wanna be famous (Oh)So, go ahead and say what you wanna say (Oh)You know what it's like to be nameless (Oh)Want them to know what your name is (Oh)'Cause see, when I was younger, I would say[Chorus: Nicole Scherzinger & R.City](When I grow up) I wanna be famousI wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies(When I grow up) I wanna see the worldDrive nice cars, I wanna have groupies(When I grow up) Be on TVPeople know me, be on magazines(When I grow up) Fresh and cleanNumber one chick when I step out on the sceneBut be careful what you wish for'Cause you just might get it (Hey)Y-you just might get it (Hey)Y-you just might get it (Hey)But be careful what you wish for'Cause you just might get it (Hey)Y-you just might get it (Hey)Y-you just might get it, get it? (Hey)[Bridge: Nicole Scherzinger]I see them staring at meOoh, I'm a trendsetterYes, this is true 'cause what I doNo one can do it betterYou can talk about me'Cause I'm a hot topicI see you watching me, watching meAnd I know you want it, oh[Chorus: Nicole Scherzinger & R.City](When I grow up) I wanna be famousI wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies(When I grow up) I wanna see the worldDrive nice cars, I wanna have groupies(When I grow up) Be on TVPeople know me, be on magazines(When I grow up) Fresh and cleanNumber one chick when I step out on the sceneBut be careful what you wish for'Cause you just might get it (You might get it, hey)Y-you just might get it (You might get it, hey)Y-you just might get it (You might get it, hey)But be careful what you wish for'Cause you just might get it (You might get it, hey)Y-you just might get it (You might get it, hey)Y-you just might get it, get it? (You might get it, hey)(When I grow up) I wanna be famousI wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies(When I grow up) I wanna see the worldDrive nice cars, I wanna have groupies(When I grow up) Be on TVPeople know me, be on magazines(When I grow up) Fresh and cleanNumber one chick when I step out on the sceneBut be careful what you wish for'Cause you just might get it (You might get it, hey)Y-you just might get it (You might get it, hey)Y-you just might get it (You might get it, hey)But be careful what you wish for'Cause you just might get it (You might get it, hey)Y-you just might get it (You might get it, hey)Y-you just might get it, get it? (You might get it, hey)[Outro: Rodney Jerkins]Darkchild16EmbedCancel

How to Format Lyrics:

• Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
• Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
• Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
• Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
• If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

AboutSong Bio3 contributors

“When I Grow Up” is the opening track and lead single off of The Pussycat Dolls second album, Doll Domination. The song was their first single following the departure of the group’s longest-standing member Carmit Bachar. Lyrically, the song speaks about the desire to be famous.

The single peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The song was originally written for Britney Spears‘ sixth album Circus with the original Theron Thomas R. City demo leaking online and containing lyrics such as:

“My name is Britney and I don’t care what you say.“ “I swear that I was flippin’ at first / When they said I looked like Debbie Gibson / And then I tried to dance like Michael Jackson / But people saw me and started laughing.” “I would dress up like Madonna, would even try to sing like Cyndi Lauper / I would pretend I was a superstar, I never thought me being me would get me that far.”

Spears also filmed a cameo for the music video but was this was cut in the final edit.

Expand +20Share

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Ask a questionWhat did The Pussycat Dolls say about "When I Grow Up"?Genius Answer1 contributor

Rock City wrote the song with us in mind. I love the sound- its really raw and really funky. It was good coming out with a song that people could dance to and that has an attack to it! The lyrics play with what it is like to be famous.

Nicole Scherzinger via MTV

+6Is there a live performance of "When I Grow Up" by The Pussycat Dolls?Genius Answer1 contributor +2Music Video Behind the ScenesGenius Answer1 contributor +3How did the song perform commercially?Who produced “When I Grow Up” by The Pussycat Dolls?When did The Pussycat Dolls release “When I Grow Up”?Who wrote “When I Grow Up” by The Pussycat Dolls?Doll Domination (Deluxe) (2008)The Pussycat Dolls

1. 1. When I Grow Up
2. 2. Bottle Pop
3. 3. Whatcha Think About That
4. 4. I Hate This Part
5. 5. Takin’ Over the World
6. 6. Out of This Club
7. 7. Who’s Gonna Love You
8. 8. Happily Never After
9. 9. Magic
10. 10. Halo
11. 11. In Person
12. 12. Elevator
13. 13. Love the Way You Love Me
14. 14. Whatchamacallit
15. 15. I’m Done
16. 16. If I Was A Man (Introducing Jessica Sutta)
17. 17. Space (Introducing Melody Thornton)
18. 18. Don’t Wanna Fall In Love (Introducing Kimberly Wyatt)
19. 19. Played (Introducing Ashley Roberts)
20. 20. Until U Love U (Nicole Scherzinger)
21. 21. Baby Love (J.R. Rotem Remix)
22. 22. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
23. 23. When I Grow Up (Ralphi Rosario Remix - Club)
24. 24. Lights, Camera, Action
25. 25. Baby Love

Doll Domination (2008)The Pussycat DollsDoll Domination – The Mini Collection (2009)The Pussycat DollsJust Dance 2 Official Tracklist (2010)UbisoftNOW That’s What I Call Music! 29 [US] (2008)NOW That’s What I Call Music!Doll Domination 2.0 (2009)The Pussycat DollsDoll Domination 3.0 (2009)The Pussycat DollsDoll Domination (2009 Re-Release) (2009)The Pussycat DollsDoll Domination (Re-Edition Germany Version) - EP (2009)The Pussycat DollsPride Party 2021 (2021)Various ArtistsCelebrating Pride: The Pussycat Dolls (EP) (2021)The Pussycat DollsPop Princesses 2010 (2010)Various ArtistsNOW That’s What I Call Music! 71 [UK] (2008)NOW That’s What I Call Music!NOW That’s What I Call Music! 29, 30, 31 [US] (2009)NOW That’s What I Call Music!Bravo: The Hits 2008 (2008)Bravo HitsNOW - Millennium 2008-2009 (CD) (2024)NOW That’s What I Call Music!I Am Pop (2011)Various ArtistsPop Nostalgia (2018)Various ArtistsExpand CreditsProducerRodney JerkinsWritersTimothy Thomas, Theron Thomas, Paul Samwell-Smith, Jim McCarty, R. City & Rodney JerkinsLead VocalsNicole ScherzingerAdditional VocalsR. City & Rodney JerkinsArrangerRodney JerkinsVocal ProducerRodney JerkinsRecording EngineerMike Donaldson, Paul Foley & EARCANDYMixing EngineerRodney Jerkins & Mark “Spike” StentMastering EngineerBrian Gardner & Bernie GrundmanLabelInterscope RecordsCopyright ©The Pussycat DollsPhonographic Copyright ℗The Pussycat DollsPublisherRodney Jerkins Music, TNT Explosive, EMI Blackwood Music, EMI Music Publishing & Universal Music GroupMixed AtChalice Recording StudiosRecorded At2nd Floor Studios (Los Angeles) & Chalice Recording Studios (Los Angeles)Released onMay 27, 2008When I Grow Up SamplesHe's Always There by The Yardbirds & Air Raid-Alert by Jac HolzmanSongs That Sample When I Grow UpPushupbraw by Miss Prada, Home by Alvin & The Chipmunks (Ft. The Chipettes), No More Gas by DJ Earworm & Grow Your Horns by Freddy Vorobev and The KingWhen I Grow Up InterpolationsWhen I Grow Up by R. CitySongs That Interpolate When I Grow UpOne Step Away by Nikki FloresWhen I Grow Up CoversWhen I Grow Up by KIDZ BOP Kids & When I Grow Up by Mayday ParadeWhen I Grow Up RemixesWhen I Grow Up (Ralphi Rosario Remix - Club) by The Pussycat Dolls, When I Grow Up (Music Video Version) by The Pussycat Dolls & When I Grow Up (Wideboys Remix Radio Edit) by The Pussycat DollsWhen I Grow Up TranslationsThe Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up (Traducción al español) by Genius Traducciones al EspañolView When I Grow Up samplesTagsR&BPopIn EnglishUSAPop R&BDance-PopGirl GroupElectropopExpand CommentsAdd a commentSign Up And Drop Knowledge 🤓Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love.Sign Up