When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)

Album: Today! (1964)
Charted: 27 9
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Songfacts®:

  • Brian Wilson and Mike Love of The Beach Boys wrote this song and shared vocal duties. Wilson explained to Goldmine in 2011: "'When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)' was inspired about what it was gonna be like to grow up. Will I like the things then as I did now? I wrote that in my early twenties. As I look back on that I am happy with my life now and I didn't think I would be."
  • This is the theme song to the TV show Men of a Certain Age. The lyrics are a bit of a mismatch, as the characters in the show are already grown up.

Comments: 1

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 30th 1964, "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" by the Beach Boys entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #83; and on October 11th, 1964 it peaked at #9 {for 2 weeks} and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
    On October 13th, 1964 it reached #1 {for 2 weeks} on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles chart...
    The record's B-side, "Wendy", also made the Top 100 chart; it reached #44 and stayed on the chart for 6 weeks...
    R.I.P. Dennis Wilson {1944-1983} and Carl Wilson {1946-1998}.
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