--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The boy will grow older, and over time…" description: "\"“The boy will grow older, and over time there will be other songs – not many – ten or maybe twenty in a lifespan, that stand apart from the rest of the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/nick-cave-1153_music_the-boy-will-grow-older-and-over-time-th_552123.jpg" --- # The boy will grow older, and over time there will be other… ![“The boy will grow older, and over time there will be other songs – not many – ten or maybe twenty in a lifespan, that stand apart from the rest of the music he will discover. He will realise as he grows older still, and crosses the Canadian border and drives down into Seattle, that not only are…” quote by Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/nick-cave-1153_music_the-boy-will-grow-older-and-over-time-th_552123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/nick-cave-1153_music_the-boy-will-grow-older-and-over-time-th_552123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/nick-cave-1153_music_the-boy-will-grow-older-and-over-time-th_552123.jpg) > ““The boy will grow older, and over time there will be other songs – not many – ten or maybe twenty in a lifespan, that stand apart from the rest of the music he will discover. He will realise as he grows older still, and crosses the Canadian border and drives down into Seattle, that not only are these songs holy or sacred, they are hiding songs – what the Aztec Indians call carrion songs – that deal exclusively in darkness, obfuscation, concealment and secrecy. He will realize that, for him, the purpose of these songs has been to shut off the sun, to draw a long shadow down and protect him from the corrosive glare of the world.”” [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Some songs are intentionally obscure, serving as protective shadows that shield listeners from harsh realities. **In simple terms:** Certain songs hide darkness to protect listeners. Key Takeaway Recognize that some art is meant to conceal rather than reveal. Themes artistic concealment protective darkness cultural symbolism Mood melancholic thoughtful Type philosophical interpretive When to use this quote - exploring music history - analyzing lyrical themes - reflecting on personal growth Key Concepts carrion songs Aztec references song purpose Questions to Reflect On - Why do artists choose to hide meaning? - Can hidden songs still offer comfort? A Different Perspective The perspective may romanticize darkness, overlooking the value of openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The heart never grows better by age; I fear rather worse, always harder. A young liar will be an old one, and a young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-heart-never-grows-better-by-age-i-fear-rather-worse-always-harder/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The whole business of marshaling one's energies becomes more and more important as one grows older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hume-cronyn/the-whole-business-of-marshaling-one-s-energies-becomes-more-and-more/) [Hume Cronyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hume-cronyn/) > [The whole business of marshaling ones energies becomes more and more important as one grows older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hume-cronyn/the-whole-business-of-marshaling-ones-energies-becomes-more-and-more/) [Hume Cronyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hume-cronyn/) > [It is the nature of a man as he grows older- to protest against change, particularly changes for the better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/it-is-the-nature-of-a-man-as-he-grows-older-to-protest-against-change/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [As a man grows older, his ability to sit still and follow indoor occupations increases. He grows vespertinal in his habits as theevening of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-a-man-grows-older-his-ability-to-sit-still-and-follow-indoor/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As one grows older, one becomes wiser and more foolish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/as-one-grows-older-one-becomes-wiser-and-more-foolish/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [As an artist grows older, he has to fight disillusionment and learn to establish the same relation to nature as an adult, as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight-disillusionment-and-learn-to/) [Charles E. Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/) > [“Apparently one grows more carnal and more mortal as one grows older. Only youth has a taste of immortality--”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/apparently-one-grows-more-carnal-and-more-mortal-as-one-grows-older/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I don't believe one grows older. I think that what happens early on in life is that at a certain age one stands still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/i-don-t-believe-one-grows-older-i-think-that-what-happens-early-on-in/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [I sometimes imagine that as one grows older one comes to live a role which as a young person one merely 'played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-sometimes-imagine-that-as-one-grows-older-one-comes-to-live-a-role/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [ “As the world grows older there is loss and gain - let us not with modern insolence and blindness imagine it all gain; \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/as-the-world-grows-older-there-is-loss-and-gain-let-us-not-with/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [It is best as one grows older to strip oneself of possessions, to shed oneself downward like a tree, to be almost wholly earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/it-is-best-as-one-grows-older-to-strip-oneself-of-possessions-to-shed/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [As one grows older one must try not to work oneself to death unnecessarily. At least that's how it is with me... I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/as-one-grows-older-one-must-try-not-to-work-oneself-to-death/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [As a man grows older it is harder and harder to frighten him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/as-a-man-grows-older-it-is-harder-and-harder-to-frighten-him/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [Irish people have a trick of over-statement, at which one ceases to wince as one grows older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-tynan/irish-people-have-a-trick-of-over-statement-at-which-one-ceases-to/) [Katharine Tynan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-tynan/) ## More by Nick Cave > [Texting is apocalyptic on some level. It's a reduction of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/texting-is-apocalyptic-on-some-level-it-s-a-reduction-of-things/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“And I know why our friendship must be kept a secret. Or they will kill You like they killed You in the Bible. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/and-i-know-why-our-friendship-must-be-kept-a-secret-or-they-will-kill/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I want to write songs that are so sad, the kind of sad where you take someone's little finger and break it in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-want-to-write-songs-that-are-so-sad-the-kind-of-sad-where-you-take/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“Through these days Bunny made increasingly frequent and protracted visits to the bathroom, beating off with a single-minded savagery intense even by Bunny's standards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/through-these-days-bunny-made-increasingly-frequent-and-protracted/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Personally I find the story of Christ incredibly moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/personally-i-find-the-story-of-christ-incredibly-moving/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [ That's what we \[outsiders\] feel America is really about - the kind of crazed ravings of the Christian right - when it's probably something… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/that-s-what-we-outsiders-feel-america-is-really-about-the-kind-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-relationship-with-my-muse-is-a-delicate-one-at-the-best-of-times/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I'm kind of old-school and love nothing more than sitting, opening a book, and reading it. But I also love listening to audio books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-m-kind-of-old-school-and-love-nothing-more-than-sitting-opening-a/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Early on I realized when you write a song about someone, it flatters them on some level, and gives you a lot of room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/early-on-i-realized-when-you-write-a-song-about-someone-it-flatters/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [My father was a teacher and my mother also worked in the school, so the family has a background in education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-father-was-a-teacher-and-my-mother-also-worked-in-the-school-so/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I think it's an essential fact for any performer or artist to fail as poignantly as they can succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-think-it-s-an-essential-fact-for-any-performer-or-artist-to-fail-as/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [To my undying shame, I do read reviews. I don't read them all, but I like to get some kind of idea how things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/to-my-undying-shame-i-do-read-reviews-i-don-t-read-them-all-but-i/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Brother, be a brother, fill this tiny cup of mine. And please, sir, make it whiskey: I have no head for wine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/brother-be-a-brother-fill-this-tiny-cup-of-mine-and-please-sir-make/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [When you've been initiated, you can stand in the world differently. And I think it is up to all of us, we can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/when-you-ve-been-initiated-you-can-stand-in-the-world-differently-and/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Polly Jean, I love you. I love the texture of your skin, the taste of your saliva, the softness of your ears. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/polly-jean-i-love-you-i-love-the-texture-of-your-skin-the-taste-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) [Explore all 280 Nick Cave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) Hubert Laws > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. 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I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The boy will grow older, and over time there will be other songs – not many – ten or maybe twenty in a lifespan, that stand apart from the rest of the music he will discover. He will realise as he grows older still, and crosses the Canadian border and drives down into Seattle, that not only are these songs holy or sacred, they are hiding songs – what the Aztec Indians call carrion songs – that deal exclusively in darkness, obfuscation, concealment and secrecy. 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