"Childish Things" by James McMurtry is a song about growing up and leaving behind the innocence of childhood. The lyrics tell the story of the narrator's memories of his Aunt Clara's Bible and the childhood games he used to play. As he grows older, he begins to see the world differently and realizes that he can't continue to hold onto the same beliefs and ideas. The narrator describes a trip home on the Trailways bus where he has a moment of clarity and calls his parents by their first names, indicating that he is no longer their child but an independent grown-up. He has put away childish things, including playing the games he used to enjoy. Despite this, the wolves howling outside his window serve as a reminder of the darker side of the world. The narrator understands that while he may have outgrown certain things, there are still some things he cannot control. In the final verse, the narrator reflects on his own son's youthful energy and enthusiasm, admitting that he himself has grown tired and just wants a comfortable chair. He may no longer believe in heaven, but he still believes in ghosts, symbolizing his desire to hold onto some sense of the supernatural and magical that he has left behind in childhood.
