--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was young music was life or death." description: "\"When I was young music was life or death.\" — Paul Young" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/paul-young-3981_death_when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death_3042704.png" --- # When I was young music was life or death. ![“When I was young music was life or death.” quote by Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/paul-young-3981_death_when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death_3042704.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/paul-young-3981_death_when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death_3042704.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/paul-young-3981_death_when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death_3042704.png) > “When I was young music was life or death.” [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music felt essential for survival in youth. **In simple terms:** Music was vital. Key Takeaway Value music’s emotional impact. Themes music survival identity passion Mood nostalgic energetic Type personal cultural When to use this quote - concerts - personal playlists - creative expression Key Concepts cultural importance emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How does music shape personal identity? - What alternatives fulfill similar needs? A Different Perspective May overstate importance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life or death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-or-death/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [“Music is not take it or leave it; Music is life or death!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/music-is-not-take-it-or-leave-it-music-is-life-or-death/) [Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/) > [Rock is young music, it is youth oriented. It just speaks for a generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-blades/rock-is-young-music-it-is-youth-oriented-it-just-speaks-for-a/) [Ruben Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-blades/) > [This is still a young man's game, so we have to stay young. Music allows you to do that, especially rock'n'roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/this-is-still-a-young-man-s-game-so-we-have-to-stay-young-music/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [“They call it "young music"; I see, however, that the record industry makes millions by the carload for shrewd older people! They invoke the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-i/they-call-it-young-music-i-see-however-that-the-record-industry-makes/) [Pope John Paul I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-i/) > [Rock isn't a young music anymore. I don't think it's necessarily even a youth-oriented music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/rock-isn-t-a-young-music-anymore-i-don-t-think-it-s-necessarily-even/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [We loved Neil Young and all the music he's given the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/we-loved-neil-young-and-all-the-music-he-s-given-the-world/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [Younger players in this music often turn out to be middle aged; it is not a young music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/younger-players-in-this-music-often-turn-out-to-be-middle-aged-it-is/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [We will persevere, come life or death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-tappan/we-will-persevere-come-life-or-death/) [Lewis Tappan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-tappan/) > [I put my heart into this. Like, winning to me is, I make it life or death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/i-put-my-heart-into-this-like-winning-to-me-is-i-make-it-life-or-death/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [People aren't often asked to make life or death decisions. There are no causes to die for. You can go through life never knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-pollen/people-aren-t-often-asked-to-make-life-or-death-decisions-there-are/) [Bella Pollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-pollen/) > [“I might face death any minute now! But I should try not to put myself in harms' way as long as I can live.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samad-beh-rang/i-might-face-death-any-minute-now-but-i-should-try-not-to-put-myself/) [Samad Beh-Rang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samad-beh-rang/) > [“Flip a coin. Life or death. Heads or tails. You never know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-nadel/flip-a-coin-life-or-death-heads-or-tails-you-never-know/) [Laurie Nadel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-nadel/) > [“I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/i-am-aragorn-son-of-arathorn-and-if-by-life-or-death-i-can-save-you-i/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [It's life or death for me every single time I step in the cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gaethje/it-s-life-or-death-for-me-every-single-time-i-step-in-the-cage/) [Justin Gaethje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gaethje/) > [The only saving faith is that which casts itself on God for life or death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-only-saving-faith-is-that-which-casts-itself-on-god-for-life-or/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More by Paul Young > [I remember being 12 or 13 and listening to 'Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp' by OC Smith. It reminds me of holidays in Cornwall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/i-remember-being-12-or-13-and-listening-to-son-of-hickory-holler-s/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [Even as a child I knew I wanted to be a singer, and in 1976, at the age of 20, I quit my job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/even-as-a-child-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-singer-and-in-1976-at-the-age/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [We once employed a girl in Texas to produce a fanzine, and after meeting her there she seemed fine. Then the letters started and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/we-once-employed-a-girl-in-texas-to-produce-a-fanzine-and-after/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [Money came my way but wasn't really in the plan, so I didn't know how to deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/money-came-my-way-but-wasn-t-really-in-the-plan-so-i-didn-t-know-how/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [We were far from being the kind of band that threw TVs out of hotel windows. In fact, we carried our own toolbox with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/we-were-far-from-being-the-kind-of-band-that-threw-tvs-out-of-hotel/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [My mum said I used to sing on the bus. I was about five and would simply sit, staring out of the window, singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/my-mum-said-i-used-to-sing-on-the-bus-i-was-about-five-and-would/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [People forget that scenes and fashion trends changed very rapidly during the '80s. We went from glam rock to punk, to new romantic, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/people-forget-that-scenes-and-fashion-trends-changed-very-rapidly/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [I flew to Malaga once and instead of going left to Marbella, turned right and went to Nerja. I wanted to get as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/i-flew-to-malaga-once-and-instead-of-going-left-to-marbella-turned/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [You have to be entrepreneurial and use your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/you-have-to-be-entrepreneurial-and-use-your-name/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [I was a dreamer as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/i-was-a-dreamer-as-a-kid/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [I did 'Hell's Kitchen' and 'Celebrity MasterChef.' I was quite good at those, and did a cookbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/i-did-hell-s-kitchen-and-celebrity-masterchef-i-was-quite-good-at/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [I work and work and if I have a surplus I book a holiday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/i-work-and-work-and-if-i-have-a-surplus-i-book-a-holiday/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [If you do something right you get a real sense of achievement and an adrenalin rush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/if-you-do-something-right-you-get-a-real-sense-of-achievement-and-an/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [Although it wasn't my era, Soul is the root of what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/although-it-wasn-t-my-era-soul-is-the-root-of-what-i-do/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [Everything that happens in your life is a lesson learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/everything-that-happens-in-your-life-is-a-lesson-learned/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) [Explore all 118 Paul Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was young music was life or death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/paul-young-3981_death_when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death_3042704.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/paul-young-3981_death_when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death_3042704.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/paul-young-3981_death_when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death_3042704.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was young music was life or death.” — Paul Young", "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": "Paul Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was young music was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/when-i-was-young-music-was-life-or-death/#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 } } ] } ```