Growing Up - Stephen Sondheim

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?