---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not until recently that I could even…"
description: "\"It's not until recently that I could even imagine myself as an adult. But these kids today, they look at me like I'm Neil Young. Nirvana is the band th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/dave-grohl-1713_adults_it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-eve_2062498.jpg"
---

#  It's not until recently that I could even imagine myself…

![“It's not until recently that I could even imagine myself as an adult. But these kids today, they look at me like I'm Neil Young. Nirvana is the band their parents listen to.” quote by Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/dave-grohl-1713_adults_it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-eve_2062498.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/dave-grohl-1713_adults_it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-eve_2062498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/dave-grohl-1713_adults_it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-eve_2062498.jpg)

> “It's not until recently that I could even imagine myself as an adult. But these kids today, they look at me like I'm Neil Young. Nirvana is the band their parents listen to.”

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He notes that younger generations view him as a cultural icon, while he still feels immature, underscoring generational perception gaps.

**In simple terms:** Older artists seen as legends by youth.

Key Takeaway

Accept evolving identity and influence.

Themes

culture generational perception legacy humility

Mood

contemplative lighthearted

Type

musical social

When to use this quote

- concerts
- media interviews
- fan interactions

Key Concepts

iconography age perception music history

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you define adulthood?
- What does being a role model mean to you?

A Different Perspective

Identity can shift as cultural relevance changes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Band Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band-parents-1842784/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Like Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-neil-953315/) [Look at me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-at-me/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity/) [Nirvana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nirvana/) [Nirvana Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nirvana-band-1842782/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young Nirvana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-nirvana-1842783/)

## Related quotes

> [Kids today look at me like I'm Neil Young. Nirvana is the band their parents listen to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncle-kracker/kids-today-look-at-me-like-i-m-neil-young-nirvana-is-the-band-their/)

[Uncle Kracker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uncle-kracker/)

> [Nirvana was a band that led you somewhere, as opposed to all the grunge bands that began and ended with themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/nirvana-was-a-band-that-led-you-somewhere-as-opposed-to-all-the/)

[Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/)

> [My older brother was the guitar player in the neighborhood band. My parents were the cool ones that had the basement for rehearsal. Rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-sobule/my-older-brother-was-the-guitar-player-in-the-neighborhood-band-my/)

[Jill Sobule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-sobule/)

> [My whole life, I have listened to people like Neil Young, or Crosby, Stills &amp; Nash, and artists that have made a career out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/my-whole-life-i-have-listened-to-people-like-neil-young-or-crosby/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [That's what I like about Neil Jordan's films: everyone is better at what they do than you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hart/that-s-what-i-like-about-neil-jordan-s-films-everyone-is-better-at/)

[Ian Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hart/)

> [I was always impressed by some of the progressive styles of guys like Neil Peart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/i-was-always-impressed-by-some-of-the-progressive-styles-of-guys-like/)

[Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/)

> [In general, the musicians we met that made the most sense just said to do what feels right and try not worry about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vanwyngarden/in-general-the-musicians-we-met-that-made-the-most-sense-just-said-to/)

[Andrew VanWyngarden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vanwyngarden/)

> [You can say that Wayne Coyne sounds like Neil Young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lowry/you-can-say-that-wayne-coyne-sounds-like-neil-young/)

[Mike Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lowry/)

> [“Flirtatious men I could handle. It was the serious ones, like Neil, who made me nervous—the ones who looked straight at you and spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kearsley/flirtatious-men-i-could-handle-it-was-the-serious-ones-like-neil-who/)

[Susanna Kearsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kearsley/)

> [You look at someone like Neil Wagner - he's got a big heart, a big engine, and keeps running. And that's what you want,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-root/you-look-at-someone-like-neil-wagner-he-s-got-a-big-heart-a-big/)

[Joe Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-root/)

> [“TODD: Well, listen, Neil. I-I appreciate this concern, but I-I'm not like you.All right? You, you, you say things and people listen. I'm, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-schulman/todd-well-listen-neil-i-i-appreciate-this-concern-but-i-i-m-not-like/)

[Tom Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-schulman/)

> [Other people like Neil Young and Dennis Hopper, those are just really close knit family friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-tamblyn/other-people-like-neil-young-and-dennis-hopper-those-are-just-really/)

[Amber Tamblyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-tamblyn/)

> [I've gotten to work with amazing people. I would say usually we get to a point before we get into the studio where there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/i-ve-gotten-to-work-with-amazing-people-i-would-say-usually-we-get-to/)

[Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/)

> [“What? I thought you didn't like her." Nicky bolted upright like Neil struck him. "Who doesn't like Renee?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-sakavic/what-i-thought-you-didn-t-like-her-nicky-bolted-upright-like-neil/)

[Nora Sakavic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-sakavic/)

> [I owe everything to Nirvana. But I can't let that overshadow the future. For the first few years, I didn't even want to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-owe-everything-to-nirvana-but-i-can-t-let-that-overshadow-the/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

## More by Dave Grohl

> [There's nothing better than having a bottle of beer in your hand in the waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/there-s-nothing-better-than-having-a-bottle-of-beer-in-your-hand-in/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I love Black Sabbath. They made an amazing contribution to music today. Almost every band that made it big in the Nineties owed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-love-black-sabbath-they-made-an-amazing-contribution-to-music-today/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Rock stars are like sports stars: If you snap your ankle, you're done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/rock-stars-are-like-sports-stars-if-you-snap-your-ankle-you-re-done/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Nothing's going to keep me from making music. If I were in the want-ads in the back of the paper or playing to six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/nothing-s-going-to-keep-me-from-making-music-if-i-were-in-the-want/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I don't want to say that most rock bands live these formulaic biography existences - but they kinda do. There's always a divorce. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-don-t-want-to-say-that-most-rock-bands-live-these-formulaic/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I think musicians like me are drawn to those older desks, not just because they're legend and lore but also because they do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-think-musicians-like-me-are-drawn-to-those-older-desks-not-just/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [CBGB represents a lot to New York City and to underground rock and to new wave and post-punk and whatever. But, you know, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/cbgb-represents-a-lot-to-new-york-city-and-to-underground-rock-and-to/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Ramones or AC/DC are two bands that have managed to keep their signature sound and their signature formula for years and years and album…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/ramones-or-ac-dc-are-two-bands-that-have-managed-to-keep-their/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I think maybe what happened was the convenience of technology overshadowed the experience of holding an album in your hands, and sitting on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-think-maybe-what-happened-was-the-convenience-of-technology/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I think that if you're passionate about something and you're driven and you're focused, then you can pretty much do anything that you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-think-that-if-you-re-passionate-about-something-and-you-re-driven/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Neil Young is my hero. You know what that guy has been doing for the past 40 years? Making music. That's what that guy does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/neil-young-is-my-hero-you-know-what-that-guy-has-been-doing-for-the/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I guess it was exciting that every time I pulled up to the gate of my house, I wondered if someone was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-guess-it-was-exciting-that-every-time-i-pulled-up-to-the-gate-of-my/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [If it weren't for the Beatles, I would not be a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/if-it-weren-t-for-the-beatles-i-would-not-be-a-musician/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [To me the most important thing is getting into a studio and making an album that is 12 or 14 amazing songs, getting up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/to-me-the-most-important-thing-is-getting-into-a-studio-and-making-an/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I mean, I never liked being told what to do. It's one of the reasons I dropped out of school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-mean-i-never-liked-being-told-what-to-do-it-s-one-of-the-reasons-i/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

[Explore all 213 Dave Grohl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

## More Adults quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/)

[Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/)

> [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/)

[Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/)

> [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/)

[K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/)

> [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/)

[One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/)

> [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/)

[Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/)

> [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/)

[Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/)

> [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/)

[Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/)

> [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/)

[Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/)

[Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's not until recently that I could even imagine myself as an adult. But these kids today, they look at me like I'm Neil Young. Nirvana is the band their parents listen to.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dave Grohl"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-even-imagine-myself-as-an-adult/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adults"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-even-imagine-myself-as-an-adult/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/dave-grohl-1713_adults_it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-eve_2062498.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/dave-grohl-1713_adults_it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-eve_2062498.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/dave-grohl-1713_adults_it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-eve_2062498.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's not until recently that I could even imagine myself as an adult. But these kids today, they look at me…” — Dave Grohl",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dave Grohl",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's not until recently that I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-even-imagine-myself-as-an-adult/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/it-s-not-until-recently-that-i-could-even-imagine-myself-as-an-adult/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
