Lyrics and Background

Lyrics 

Boys call you sexy
And you don't care what they say
See, every time you turn around
They screaming your name

Boys call you sexy
And you don't care what they say
See, every time you turn around
They screaming your name

Now I've got a confession
When I was young I wanted attention
And I promised myself that I'd do anything
Anything at all for them to notice me

But I ain't complaining
We all wanna be famous
So go ahead and say what you wanna say

You don't know what it's like to be nameless
Want them to know what your name is
'Cause see when I was younger I would say

When I grow up, I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies
When I grow up, I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies

When I grow up, be on TV
People know me, be on magazines
When I grow up, fresh and clean
Number one chick when I step out on the scene

But be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it

But be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it

They used to tell me I was silly
Until I popped up on the TV
I always wanted to be a superstar
And knew that singing songs would get me this far

But I ain't complaining
We all wanna be famous
So go ahead and say what you wanna say

You don't know what it's like to be nameless
Want them to know what your name is
'Cause see, when I was younger I would say

When I grow up, I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies
When I grow up, I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies

When I grow up, be on TV
People know me, be on magazines
When I grow up, fresh and clean
Number one chick when I step out on the scene

But be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it

But be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it

I see them staring at me
Ooh I'm a trendsetter
Yes this is true 'cause what I do
No one can do it better

You can talk about me
'Cause I'm a hot topic
I see you watching me, watching me
And I know you want it

When I grow up, I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies
When I grow up, I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies

When I grow up, be on TV
People know me, be on magazines
When I grow up, fresh and clean
Number one chick when I step out on the scene

But be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it

But be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it

When I grow up, I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies
When I grow up, I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies
When I grow up, be on TV
People know me, be on magazines
When I grow up, fresh and clean
Number one chick when I step out on the scene
When I step out on the scene

But be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it

But be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it
'Cause you just might get it

Background of the song  

"When I Grow Up" was one of several songs that were originally recorded by Scherzinger during the Her Name Is Nicole sessions, the others being "Happily Never After", "Who's Gonna Love You" and "I Hate This Part, that appears on Doll Domination Scherzinger cited that she felt as if the songs were more suited as a Pussycat Dolls song than her own."When I Grow Up" was written by Theron and Timothy Thomas, along with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who also produced the song.