Growing Up

30 whole years ' It sounds so old
I'm 30 years old, or so I am told

I have a house and job and two identical cats,
A partner and kids and a mortgage to pay
I make dinner, do laundry and sort out the bills
When did I get too old to just simply play

One minute I was young and so easily pleased
playing hide and seek and making up rhymes
Running everywhere at super high speeds
now I long for those simpler times

It seemed so much easier way back then
there was no stopping us when we were just small
We could climb trees and hang upside down
Do cartwheels and handstands against any wall

We went to the movies without mobiles or pagers
we ate sour balls and ice cream without even a thought
We walked home from school with all of our friends
Already forgetting what that day we'd been taught

We made ice forts and snowmen without catching colds
we threw snowballs and sucked icicles and didn't get sick
We built sand-castles with moats and a flag on the top
we played all day in the sun 'til clouds grew too thick

We rode our bikes without helmets or padding
practiced skating with friends in the park
We'd build tree forts and hold meetings
and tell stories well after dark

We had our imagination to fall back on
when rain forced us inside on those dull days
We could dress up, paint pictures or just dance around
we played checkers, made up games and acted out plays

We were fearless and carefree and could conquer the world
We knew better than grown ups and were of course right
Consequence means nothing when you're only knee-high
we had the world in our hands and our future in sight

Then one day we wake up to aches and pains
and responsibilities to full-fill
A job we don't like to go to
or a child who is ill

We walk the dog and mow the lawn
and check our pension is firmly in place
We have insurance and wills drawn up
and we check for wrinkles upon our face

We question everything
and we worry too much
We talk about money
and slowly grow out of touch

The kids music becomes noise
when it used to be rock 'n' roll
Staying out late is nothing but hassle
when we were once the life and soul

I don't think I'm quite there yet
I still feel like a child
I'm not ready for that yet
I still may want to go wild¦