When I Grow Up
NF * Track #8 On The Search
Download "When I Grow Up"
Album The Search
When I Grow Up by NF
Release Date
Performed by
NFAbout
“When I Grow Up” is the third single off of NF’s 2019 album The Search. On the track, NF shares when growing up, he aspired to be a rapper, rather than go to college or work a nine-to-five job. He also shares his motivation from doubters growing up who motivated him as an artist.
The music video wa...
When I Grow Up Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Yeah, when I grow up, you know what I wanna be?
Take a seat, let me tell you my ridiculous dreams
I wanna rap, yeah, I know it's hard to believe
And I can tell you're already thinkin' I will never succeed
But I'm okay with it, I admit the lyrics are weak
I've been workin' on 'em, I'll be good eventually
I understand you gotta crawl before you get to your feet
But I been running for a while, they ain't ready for me, ahh
I know this prolly isn't really realistic
And honestly, I might not ever make a difference
But that don't make a difference, I'ma have to risk it
I've been crunchin' numbers, you ain't gotta be a mathematician
To see the odds ain't rootin' for me
I can't lie though, it's kinda how I like it to be
The underdog, yeah, you prolly think you know what I mean
But what I'm saying is they ever push me, I'm gonna swing, yeah
I could go to college, get in debt like everybody else
Graduate and prolly get a job that doesn't pay the bills
That don't make a lot of sense to me, forget the Happy Meals
I don't like the dollar menu, I would rather make a meal
Huh? Make a mil'? Nah, I said make a meal
Home-cookin', get the grill, how you want it? Pretty well?
Everything I see is overdone to me, I'm not Adele
But I'ma get a record deal and say hello to mass appeal
[Chorus]
When I grow up, I just want to pay my bills
Rappin' about the way I feel (Oh, yeah)
I just want to make a couple mil'
Leave it to the fam in the will (Oh, yeah)
I just want to sign a record deal
Maybe buy a house up in the hills (Oh, yeah)
Might not be the best in my field
But I guarantee that I'ma die real
When I grow up
[Post-Chorus]
Yeah, ayy
When I grow up
Yeah, yeah, ayy
[Verse 2]
I'ma make 'em notice me, rhymin' like it's poetry
Everything I oversee, I just like to overthink
Mockin' me, you pay the fee, no return and no receipts
Those of you that don't believe, quiet, you don't know a thing
Quiet when I'm tryna sing, quiet when I'm making beats
Quiet when I'm tryna think, sorry, I don't mean to scream
I just feel like no one really gets me and it's sad to see
'Cause someday I'ma grow up and show all of you it's meant to be (Yeah)
Anybody wanna hear me rap? "No"
Come on, let me play a couple tracks, "No"
Come on, I can spit it really fast, "No"
You think I should throw this in the trash? "No"
Tricked ya; haters, go away before I hit ya
I am not a beggar or a kiss-up
You don't understand? Well, I forgive ya
I am not a quitter, you ain't really think that, did ya?
Maybe someday I could even be up on the radio
Have a tour bus and maybe even play a couple shows
Everybody in the crowd singing every word I wrote
Tellin' me that I am not the only one that feels alone
Huh? You feel alone? Yeah, I kinda feel alone
Wonder if that feelin' ever goes away when you get old
Will I ever make it as an artist? I don't really know
Might not make a lot of dough
I'ma have to try it, though
[Chorus]
When I grow up
I just wanna pay my bills
Rappin' about the way I feel (Oh, yeah)
I just wanna make a couple mil'
Leave it to the fam in the will (Oh, yeah)
(Leave it to the fam in the will)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I just wanna sign a record deal
Maybe buy a house up in the hills (Okay, oh, yeah)
Might not be the best in my field (Ayy, ayy, yeah)
But I guarantee that I'ma die real
When I grow up
I just wanna pay my bills (Woo)
Rappin' about the way I feel (Oh, yeah)
(Yeah, the way I feel)
Yeah, I just wanna make a couple mil' (Ayy, couple mil')
Leave it to the fam in the will (Oh, yeah, to the fam in the will)
I just wanna sign a record deal (Woo)
Maybe buy a house up in the hills (Oh, yeah)
(House up in the hills)
Yeah, I might not be the best in my field
But I guarantee that I'ma die real
When I grow up
When I grow up
When I Grow Up Q&A
Who wrote When I Grow Up's ?
When I Grow Up was written by NF & Tommee Profitt.
Who produced When I Grow Up's ?
When I Grow Up was produced by Tommee Profitt & NF.
When did NF release When I Grow Up?
NF released When I Grow Up on Thu Jun 27 2019.
How was this track teased?
On June 26, 2019, NF posted a snippet of a new music video that would be releasing on June 27, 2019, at 12 PM EST.
What did the note in the video say at the 1:49 mark?
Time 7/12/19 Midnight Eastern.
Likely teasing “Time” as the final single to be released on July 12 before the album’s release on July 26.
What does the ending mean of the music video, when he walks off stage?
As mentioned in this song in addition to several others, NF has always wanted to be a rapper ever since he was a little kid. Most people didn’t think he could be successful as one. Despite all this negativity, he pushed through until he reached financial success on a major label with several thousan...
Why did Nate chose to be a trashman or a janitor or a fastwood worker?
Those are all jobs he worked both before and during his time growing as a rapper before he got signed to a label. This is also referenced in “All I Have:”
Go back to that nine-to-five, but I am not a quitter
Was a larger audience a goal for Nate? He said large crowds make him anxious.
NF is very much an introvert, and thus enjoys his time to himself and those close to him. He is referring to a show crowd when he says they make him anxious.
I get scared when I walk on these stages
I look at the crowd and see so many faces, yeah
That’s when I start to get anxious
NF, “The Search”...
what do the black balloons represent
The black balloons represent his burdens, as hinted at in the music video for “The Search.” He ties them to his cart and carries them around, and they weigh him down as he goes through life.
Has the song been certified?
“When I Grow Up” was officially RIAA certified gold with 0.5 million units on January 16, 2020.