Diana Ross When We Grow Up -

: The lyrics explore childhood curiosity about the future, specifically questioning and then rejecting gender-based expectations. It asks whether the girl must be "pretty" and the boy "big and strong".

: Critics have noted that Ross drew "deeply inside herself" for this track, providing a vocal that felt like a "flash of light" compared to standard children's music. DIANA ROSS when we grow up

: Its central message is that children—and eventually adults—do not have to change who they are to fit societal molds. Ross sings, "I like what I look like, and you're nice small / We don't have to change at all". : The lyrics explore childhood curiosity about the

: The track ends with a spoken-word outro where Ross emphasizes staying friends "forever and ever," capturing the innocent sincerity the Free to Be... You and Me project was famous for. Why It Stands Out in Her Career : Its central message is that children—and eventually

While often overshadowed by massive solo hits like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" or "The Boss", "When We Grow Up" showcased a different side of the "Female Entertainer of the Century".

The song was written by Shelley Miller and Stephen Lawrence and later included on the expanded edition of Ross's 1973 album Touch Me in the Morning .