Lyrics Growing Up - Stephen Sondheim

Growing Up

FRANK
Thanks, old friends
Keep reminding me
Frank’s old friends always seem to come through
Frank will, too…
So, old friends, now it’s time to start growing up
Taking charge, seeing things as they are
Facing facts, not escaping them
Still with dreams, just reshaping them
Growing up…
Charley is a hothead
Charley won’t budge
Charley is a friend
Charley is a screamer
Charley won’t bend
Charley’s in your corner
Mary is a dreamer
Mary’s a friend
Mary is a nudge
Mary is a purist
Charley’s a judge
Charley is a dropout
Everything’s a cop-out
Why is it old friends don’t want old friends to change?
Every road has a turning
That’s the way you keep learning
So, old friends, don’t you see we can have it all?
Moving on, getting out of the past
Solving dreams, not just trusting them
Taking dreams, readjusting them
Growing up…
Growing up…
Trying things, being flexible
Bending with the road
Adding dreams when the others don’t last
Growing up
Understanding that growing never ends
Like old dreams
Some old dreams…
Like old friends
GUSSIE
Life is knowing what you want, darling
That’s the only thing to… know
As I told you moons ago, darling
Nothing wrong with wanting
Nothing wrong with wanting me, darling
Also nothing wrong with… not
Though it’s only fair that
You should be aware that
I want you a lot
Growing up
Means admitting the things you want the most
Can’t pursue every possible line
Folding tents, making choices
Ignoring all other voices
Including mine
You’re divine
You decide on what you want, darling
Not on what you think you… should
Not on what you want to want, darling
Not from force of habit
Once it’s clearly understood, darling
Better go and grab it
Things can slip away for good, darling
What is it you really… hmm?