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Michelle Shocked — When I Grow Up
Album: Short Sharp Shocked
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 681









Released: 1988
Length: 3:26
Plays (last 30 days): 0
When I grow up I want to be an old woman
When I grow up I want to be an old woman
Oh, an o-o-o-o-old, an old, old woman

Then I think I'm gonna find myself an old man
Then I think I'm gonna marry myself that old man
An old, an old, an old, an old, a really old man

We're gonna have a hundred and twenty babies
A hundred and five, ten, fifteen, twenty babies
Uh huh, that's what I said a hundred and twenty babies

We'll raise 'em on tiger's milk and green bananas
Mangoes and coconuts and watermelon
We're gonna give 'em that watermelon when they starts yellin'

Here's what they'll yell...

In the summer we'll sit in a field and watch the sun melt
In the winter we'll sit by a fire and watch the moon freeze
Me my old man and a hundred and twenty babies
Me my old man and a hundred and twenty babies
I said, me my old man and a hundred and twenty babies
Oh, when I grow up I want to be an old woman
When I grow up I want to be an oooooold...
Comments (158)add comment
26 years ago.... scary... my son was 2 who this came out, and now he towers over me!

Still sounds good - think the ex took this when she went - don't miss her but I do miss some of the music that went with her!
 socalhol wrote:
This song was featured on a TV ad for Kaiser Health Insurance in CA a few years back — it always made me smile!

 
Yep.  Great commercial!!!
i'm glad bill likes michelle
i like er too 
I like the way she says "Ahaa, a 120 babies" ... the "Ahaa" has a delicious inflection ... Ahaa ..
Did I mention how much I love the PSD button...
This song was featured on a TV ad for Kaiser Health Insurance in CA a few years back — it always made me smile!
Thanks RP for reminding me what fine artists and work exists.  I used to love Michelle Shocked, but always seem to just miss the cut. I find her music has aged well.
 ronniegirl wrote:
My daughter loves this song, and wanted to have 120 babies.  Then she had one.
 
I can't stop laughing over this....Something tells me she did a complete 180 after the "one."

 GaryG wrote:

How about How Many More Times?
 
that's it!
More from this album, please Bill?

VFD? Fogtown? The L&N?
 cc_rider wrote:
No, the hidden track is 'Fogtown', made with a punk band called MDC.

Love this whole album.
 
"Arkansas Traveler" is pretty great too.
 paulmack wrote:

Always loved this song - if I remember right this is a hidden track and a departure from the rest of the album - more consistently like "Anchorage" to oversimplify but also give you an idea of the contrast between this and her more typical folky stuff of that time. Cool little guitar and percussion parts in my opinion....


  No, the hidden track is 'Fogtown', made with a punk band called MDC.

Love this whole album.


This was an important album for me. Perhaps the first truly non-mainstream thing I ever bought. It's still good.
Tempted to rate that a 9+.

I recognized the phrase "short, sharp, shock" from Pink Floyds "Us and Them", but I did not realize its real meaning and how other artists have use it as well... interesting in an RP sort of way.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short,_sharp_shock


My daughter loves this song, and wanted to have 120 babies.  Then she had one.
I have loved this since I was a kid.
If there were a rating entitled "not so much"
-That would really encapsulate my feelings for this song.
 agnes wrote:
Anybody else here Zep's "How Many More Times?"
 
i think they got it from Howlin Wolf's- "How Many More Years" or something like that—I love Zep, of course..

umm...oooookay....
When I grow up I want to be an old woman — and I'm well on my way!!

Great!  I've been singing the first line for weeks but never knew who sang it.  Thanks! 

Hilarious! Just caught that joke and what you were hearing.
 Jelani wrote:
Is that the "Predator" singing backup?
 


 Lrobby99 wrote:
To never hear this again will be too soon.
 
You said it {#Puke}
If love was a train I'd ride me a fertile one......
Is that the "Predator" singing backup?
 ick wrote:
I'd hate see that uterus...
 

'ya seen one, you've seen 'em all. {#Whistle} 
A funky old woman, no doubt - great song!  {#Sunny}
To never hear this again will be too soon.
I'd hate see that uterus...
I heard a great cover of this song by an Iowa City group called the Awful Purdies. Very creative instrumentation.
Nice!
I hear backgammon.
 Randomax wrote:
Octomom's theme song!
 
nice

{#Yes}steal away baby crowhog2000 wrote:


yeah.....Zep...heard of them before justa little bit....you nailed it {#Hand}
 


God, I love how annoying that cover photo is.
tapping foot    checking info page   instant 7 lol like it {#Dancingbanana}
 Randomax wrote:
Octomom's theme song!
 

That made me laugh really hard.
 GaryG wrote:

How about How Many More Times?
 
Damnit, you beat me to it by about 5 years.

Octomom's theme song!

Always loved this song - if I remember right this is a hidden track and a departure from the rest of the album - more consistently like "Anchorage" to oversimplify but also give you an idea of the contrast between this and her more typical folky stuff of that time. Cool little guitar and percussion parts in my opinion....


{#Group-hug}{#Group-hug}{#Group-hug}{#Group-hug}{#Group-hug}{#Hug}{#Group-hug}{#Group-hug}{#Group-hug}{#Group-hug}{#Group-hug}

That's a lot of babies!
 Exene wrote:
I'd love to hear Anchorage!
 
Yes!  Someone please upload! {#Pray} I only have it on vinyl ...

 kysmet wrote:
120 BABIES?!?!


 

This would make the 'OctoMom' look like rookie, now wouldn't it?
I'd love to hear Anchorage!
we do not hear enough Michelle Shocked in RP!
E.C ,,,,,,some moore dogs,instead ,{#Rolleyes}
I'm getting older every day too, when I grow up, I want to wear bright colors from my head to my toes
my favorite - so clever

we're gonna give them that watermelon when they start yellin

I'll take "Things a Six-Year-Old Says" for 100, Alex

That said, good song! 
 agnes wrote:
Anybody else here Zep's "How Many More Times?"
 

yeah.....Zep...heard of them before justa little bit....you nailed it {#Hand}
 agnes wrote:
Anybody else here Zep's "How Many More Times?"
 
Totally.
I haven't heard this in 20 years - good stuff!
Funky Michelle.  Love it.
 jbtidwell wrote:
played this tape in my old Honda Civic till it snapped in two
 
The Honda did?  Bummer!  {#Eek}
maybe she means baby chickens?
played this tape in my old Honda Civic till it snapped in two
...first time i've heard this - very, very cool...
this ones a grower (pun intended!)
redtex wrote:
How you doing squidish? Ever make it to Houston?
Hey RedTex, I did, indeed, over Memorial Day. How's the architecture biz? Several of my friends lived in a veggie co-op in Austin with Michelle back in the 80's.
kysmet wrote:
120 BABIES?!?!
She must drink POWERTHIRST!!! (click here)
squidish wrote:
Uh huh that's what I said, 120 babies.
How you doing squidish? Ever make it to Houston?
kysmet wrote:
120 BABIES?!?!
My thoughts exactly. She hasn't done the childbirth thing yet, apparently.
kysmet wrote:
120 BABIES?!?!
Uh huh that's what I said, 120 babies.
a_genuine_find wrote:
120 BABIES?!?!
a_genuine_find wrote:
HELP! I can't get 'The Beat Goes On' out of my head and it's killing me!
THANK YOU! I thought I was going out of my mind when I backscrolled through the comments, and no one mentioned this sounding like an old (Sonny &) Cher song! Don't get me wrong, I like this tune, but I definitely got a Cher (when she was younger) vibe from it.
Makes me wanna drink a furry drink with fog flowing over the edge Munster-Style
Hey, this is me. I did marry an old man (20 yrs my senior). It didn't last, shock I know....
outerspace wrote:
It is a picture of her from a protest in California, I think. There is another version of the cover which is a wider angle crop of the same shot. It shows her being held by the 2 officers and vigorously resisting (she's completley off the ground). The photo is from a news paper and the officer on the left was retouched to disguise his appearance. This is why it looks a little weird (the other version). How do I know this? I used to know the designer of the cover.
Interesting - I had read that the photo was re-staged for the album cover. Anyone else heard that?
agnes wrote:
Anybody else here Zep's "How Many More Times?"
don't poop on the mighy zep. this sounds more like nancy sinatra's "these boots were made for walkin". walkin in dog sh*t.
Is it just me or is this tune REAAALLLY REPETITIVE?
agnes wrote:
Anybody else here Zep's "How Many More Times?"
DJ Earworm...potential mash up...Michelle Shocked w/ Led Zep and Sonny & Cher! Hey! I didn't say it would be good.
HELP! I can't get 'The Beat Goes On' out of my head and it's killing me!
How great to hear this on RP. "Short Sharp Shocked" is a great album. It's produced by Pete Anderson, Dwight Yoakum's long-time guitar ace. He plays some smokin' guitar on several cuts.
agnes wrote:
Anybody else here Zep's "How Many More Times?"
Nope, her name is Michelle Shocked and she's what I hear. Enough for me...
Anybody else here Zep's "How Many More Times?"
outerspace wrote:
It is a picture of her from a protest in California, I think. There is another version of the cover which is a wider angle crop of the same shot. It shows her being held by the 2 officers and vigorously resisting (she's completley off the ground). The photo is from a news paper and the officer on the left was retouched to disguise his appearance. This is why it looks a little weird (the other version). How do I know this? I used to know the designer of the cover.
Whoops, guess I shoulda backscrolled....
The uncropped album cover is much more interesting. I wonder why there are 2 cover versions available?
lolsshea wrote:
Can we talk about how the album title is an obvious Pink Floyd quote?
Not so sure about that.
lolsshea wrote:
Can we talk about how the album title is an obvious Pink Floyd quote? Awesome...
And the quote on DSOTM was already a well-known phrase, certainly in the UK - I was thinking it was coined by a politician or other (I couldn't remember who, I was too young at the time - but have just looked it up - Willie Whitelaw, one of Maggie's camp-followers) re: the new (at the time) youth offender institutes that would rid the UK of crime (irony mode on: as you know, we now have *no crime*: irony mode off). You can hear the Willie Whitelaw version in "The Garden of England" by Gerry Rafferty. However, a bit of net research revealed that it has been around for a lot longer - the following letter is from 1820! (click here)
my daughter is 74" tall, volleyball center, all she wans to do is have 120 children... i don git 'it
120 babies?
ksb wrote:
I love the dog barking after she sings "120 babies".
Yip, yip, yip! Love it.
How magnanimous of Bill to play Michelle Shocked ....despite her vocal pro SoundExchange stance on the CRB thing. I personally will avoid her from now on.
I just love this woman's sound.
southern_duality wrote:
120 babies!? That will take 1,080 months/90 years (if they come one at a time)!
And for an "old woman" to begin with! I'm just addicted to that sound that comes after she sings "old woman". If only I could remember the instrument.
Could it be that those guys join her band: ?
outerspace wrote:
It shows her being held by the 2 officers and vigorously resisting (she's completley off the ground).
Showed them.
Can we talk about how the album title is an obvious Pink Floyd quote? Awesome...
Amazon wrote:
That would be the Smothers Brothers on their TV show back in the late 60s. Great joke! Great musicians and great comedians, but it got to where they could never get thru a whole song without interrupting themselves.
That WAS the joke.
TheLoneIguana wrote:
Reminds me of an old joke: "Every fifteen seconds, a woman in this country has a baby. We have to find this woman and stop her."
That would be the Smothers Brothers on their TV show back in the late 60s. Great joke! Great musicians and great comedians, but it got to where they could never get thru a whole song without interrupting themselves.
I've been listening to this song on RP for all the years since I first started "tuning in" via modem. It was kinda O.K. the first time. But I get more tired of hearing it with every time you play it, Bill. Sorry. I really, REALLY enjoy most of what you play, tho.
That sound effect at the start sounds like a sample from "Predator". (Arnold Schwarzenegger 80s action movie.) Terrible track, BTW.
Nice song on an excellent album. The cover shot is actually a close-up from the original cover, but who cares? The music is what matters, and there are many wonderful songs on this album, which I consider her finest.
mattcol99 wrote:
What the hell is that album cover ?Im scared of this woman. Creepy song as well. Nice, cutsey sentiments, but delivered in a menacing way
It is a picture of her from a protest in California, I think. There is another version of the cover which is a wider angle crop of the same shot. It shows her being held by the 2 officers and vigorously resisting (she's completley off the ground). The photo is from a news paper and the officer on the left was retouched to disguise his appearance. This is why it looks a little weird (the other version). How do I know this? I used to know the designer of the cover.
Haven't I heard this a million times on RP? It's a good song but not that good.
i like this song. it's fun to sing along with, sometimes. i gotta say, though, it feels weird to sing about having '100 & 5, 10, 15, 20 babies.' lol.
What the hell is that album cover ?Im scared of this woman. Creepy song as well. Nice, cutsey sentiments, but delivered in a menacing way
lobster claw
TheLoneIguana wrote:
Reminds me of an old joke:...
Reminds me of another joke: A daughter brings home her boyfriend to meet her Dad. Dad asks the boy, "What do you want to do with your life?" Kid answers, "When I grow up, I wanna be a drummer!" Dad responds, "Sorry, son, you can't do both." Likeable tune from Ms. Shocked.
Reminds me of an old joke: "Every fifteen seconds, a woman in this country has a baby. We have to find this woman and stop her."
Fun song, but recorded version pales in comparison to seeing her perform it live with a band. Turns into a great jam.
One hundred and twenty babies, huh? Sounds like some of the Orthodox families in my neighborhood.
I think this may be the spooky girlfriend Elvis Costello sings about.
Kinda fun concept...
Blah blah blah blah babies... Boring.
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 5:05 pm ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Damn, Bill, you sure do have a good ear for songs that go well together. This string just feels right together: 2:01 pm - Michelle Shocked - When I Grow Up 1:59 pm - Neko Case - Stinging Velvet 1:55 pm - Be Good Tanyas - Rain and Snow 1:52 pm - Hank Williams - Ramblin Man Great work!
Why are we listening to so much recycled music ? (Note Dates) Hit the random / shuffle button....
All these songs are sending me on a long journey and I haven't left the room !!! Nice.
Great album....great song. I loved this when it came out and haven't played it for years. Thanks, Bill for saving me having to find it.
bobringer wrote:
Treat me the waaaaaaaayyyyyyyy... you wanna do............. I came to comment about the "How Many More Times" bass line which is clear. But I assume Zeppelin took that from someone else. Strange as it's my favorite Zeppelin song and I don't know where it came from. This song is all sorts of friggin' good in my mood right now no matter where it came from.
Funny I heard the "Immigrant Song" in the harmonica solo too.
120 babies!? That will take 1,080 months/90 years (if they come one at a time)!
I played this cassette a bunch when my now-18 year old son was little. He still loves Michelle.
please start on the babies and keep away from the mike!
Quick, someone, throw this woman a rubber.
Treat me the waaaaaaaayyyyyyyy... you wanna do............. I came to comment about the "How Many More Times" bass line which is clear. But I assume Zeppelin took that from someone else. Strange as it's my favorite Zeppelin song and I don't know where it came from. This song is all sorts of friggin' good in my mood right now no matter where it came from.
zburch wrote:
I loved this album when it came out and forgot about it till I heard some of the tunes on hear. Good stuff. I sold that disc during a purge a few years back. May need to get that again.
I've uploaded the song off this album with Uncle Tupelo. It's on the Review Station now.
This song has all the food groups I need to sustain myself.
my 2nd favorite song from this album (after "Anchorage") - the whole thing rocks
Damn, Bill, you sure do have a good ear for songs that go well together. This string just feels right together: 2:01 pm - Michelle Shocked - When I Grow Up 1:59 pm - Neko Case - Stinging Velvet 1:55 pm - Be Good Tanyas - Rain and Snow 1:52 pm - Hank Williams - Ramblin Man Great work!
hcaudill wrote:
Bill sure does like this song.
He's not the only one! 8)