---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Soon we'll be out amid the cold world's…"
description: "\"Soon we'll be out amid the cold world's strife. Soon we'll be sliding down the razor blade of life. But as we go our sordid sep'rate ways, We shall ne'..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/tom-lehrer-3442_blades_soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s_464400.jpg"
---

#  Soon we'll be out amid the cold world's strife. Soon we'll…

![“Soon we'll be out amid the cold world's strife. Soon we'll be sliding down the razor blade of life. But as we go our sordid sep'rate ways, We shall ne'er forget thee, thou golden college days. Hearts full of youth, Hearts full of truth, Six parts gin to one part vermouth.” quote by Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/tom-lehrer-3442_blades_soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s_464400.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/tom-lehrer-3442_blades_soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s_464400.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/tom-lehrer-3442_blades_soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s_464400.jpg)

> “Soon we'll be out amid the cold world's strife. Soon we'll be sliding down the razor blade of life. But as we go our sordid sep'rate ways, We shall ne'er forget thee, thou golden college days. Hearts full of youth, Hearts full of truth, Six parts gin to one part vermouth.”

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

## About This Quote

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

Reflects nostalgic longing for youthful college days amid life's hardships, using vivid metaphor of sliding on a razor blade.

**In simple terms:** Nostalgic longing for college days despite life's hardships.

Key Takeaway

Cherish youthful memories while facing challenges.

Themes

nostalgia college life hardship metaphor

Mood

bitancholy reflective

Type

poetic nostalgic

When to use this quote

- Graduation
- career transitions
- midlife crisis
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

Youthful idealism inevitability of decay social commentary

Questions to Reflect On

- What college moments still inspire you?
- How do you balance nostalgia with present reality?

A Different Perspective

Life's hardships can diminish the joy of past memories.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blades/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-world/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-days/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Forget the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget-the-past/) [Gin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gin/) [Gin Vermouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gin-vermouth-2999668/) [Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golden/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Sordid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-sordid-1356338/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rate/) [Razors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/razors/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Strife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strife/) [Strife Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strife-soon-4026683/) [Thee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thee/) [Thou Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-golden-4026682/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/)

## Related quotes

> [“Your sordid life is your sordid life. You shouldn't live it if you don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/your-sordid-life-is-your-sordid-life-you-shouldn-t-live-it-if-you-don/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [You can no more keep a martini in the refrigerator than you can keep a kiss there. The proper union of gin and vermouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-devoto/you-can-no-more-keep-a-martini-in-the-refrigerator-than-you-can-keep/)

[Bernard DeVoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-devoto/)

> [The proper union of gin and vermouth is a great and sudden glory; it is one of the happiest marriages on earth, and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-proper-union-of-gin-and-vermouth-is-a-great-and-sudden-glory-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You know, back in the college days you don't know nothing, you just eat whatever and do whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deebo-samuel/you-know-back-in-the-college-days-you-don-t-know-nothing-you-just-eat/)

[Deebo Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deebo-samuel/)

> [When Americans think of college these days, the first word that often comes to mind is 'debt.' And from 'debt' it's just a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/when-americans-think-of-college-these-days-the-first-word-that-often/)

[James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/)

> [I miss college days :(](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritzy/i-miss-college-days/)

[Ritzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritzy/)

> [If you always do what you did, you'll always get what you got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-diamond/if-you-always-do-what-you-did-you-ll-always-get-what-you-got/)

[Marian Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-diamond/)

> [The bonds of friendship that I forged in my college days are still going strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-penty/the-bonds-of-friendship-that-i-forged-in-my-college-days-are-still/)

[Diana Penty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-penty/)

> [Balika Vadhu' is a show that I have followed since my college days. I always wanted to be part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargun-mehta/balika-vadhu-is-a-show-that-i-have-followed-since-my-college-days-i/)

[Sargun Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargun-mehta/)

> [The Electoral College has been with us since the first days of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-electoral-college-has-been-with-us-since-the-first-days-of-america/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [In college, the two-a-days are real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandin-cooks/in-college-the-two-a-days-are-real/)

[Brandin Cooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandin-cooks/)

> [ I had lots of time to read \[being a lawyer\] what I hadn't read in my school and college days. Being a bad student… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-had-lots-of-time-to-read-being-a-lawyer-what-i-hadn-t-read-in-my/)

[Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/)

> [My dad hasn't said much about his college days. Oh, a few times, he might start telling stories. And I've seen some highlight film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-luck/my-dad-hasn-t-said-much-about-his-college-days-oh-a-few-times-he/)

[Andrew Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-luck/)

> [Friendship is always awesome :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritesh/friendship-is-always-awesome/)

[Ritesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritesh/)

> [During my college days, I was known more for my dancing than for acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-mohan/during-my-college-days-i-was-known-more-for-my-dancing-than-for-acting/)

[Shakti Mohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-mohan/)

## More by Tom Lehrer

> [Plagiarize, plagiarize, / Let no man's work evade your eyes, / Remember why the good Lord made your eyes, / Don't shade your eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/plagiarize-plagiarize-let-no-man-s-work-evade-your-eyes-remember-why/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [I ache for the touch of your lips dear, but much more for the touch of your whips dear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-ache-for-the-touch-of-your-lips-dear-but-much-more-for-the-touch-of/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [When someone makes a move Of which we don't approve, Who is it that always intervenes? U.N. and O.A.S., They have their place, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/when-someone-makes-a-move-of-which-we-don-t-approve-who-is-it-that/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-m-not-tempted-to-write-a-song-about-george-w-bush-i-couldn-t-figure/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [Don't solicit for your sister, it's not nice. Unless you get a good percentage of her price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/don-t-solicit-for-your-sister-it-s-not-nice-unless-you-get-a-good/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [It is a sobering thought that when Mozart was my age, he had been dead for two years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/it-is-a-sobering-thought-that-when-mozart-was-my-age-he-had-been-dead/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [“I am never forget the day I first meet the great Lobachevsky. In one word he told me secret of success in mathematics: Plagiarize!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-am-never-forget-the-day-i-first-meet-the-great-lobachevsky-in-one/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [Counting in octal is just likst counting in decimal--if you don't use your thumbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/counting-in-octal-is-just-likst-counting-in-decimal-if-you-don-t-use/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [Disclaimer: If anyone disagrees with anything I say, I am quite prepared to not only retract it, but also to deny under oath I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/disclaimer-if-anyone-disagrees-with-anything-i-say-i-am-quite/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [Don't write naughty words on the wall if you can't spell!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/don-t-write-naughty-words-on-the-wall-if-you-can-t-spell/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [I don't want to satirise George Bush and his puppeteers, I want to vaporise them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-don-t-want-to-satirise-george-bush-and-his-puppeteers-i-want-to/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [San Francisco is a city of twenty-something millionaire white kids named Doug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/san-francisco-is-a-city-of-twenty-something-millionaire-white-kids/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [On Christmas day you can't get sore, Your fellow man you must adore, There's time to cheat him all the more The other three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/on-christmas-day-you-can-t-get-sore-your-fellow-man-you-must-adore/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [Be prepared, and be careful not to do your good deeds when there's no one watching you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/be-prepared-and-be-careful-not-to-do-your-good-deeds-when-there-s-no/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [There's something mathematically satisfying about music: notes fit together and harmony and all that. And mathematics has to do with abstractions and making connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/there-s-something-mathematically-satisfying-about-music-notes-fit/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

[Explore all 130 Tom Lehrer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

## More Blades quotes

> [A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-lie-always-needs-a-truth-for-a-handle-to-it-the-worst-lies-are/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [The Kabbalah describes angels as bundles of light, meaning intelligence, consciousness. Kabbalists believe that above every blade of grass is an angel crying "Grow!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-kabbalah-describes-angels-as-bundles-of-light-meaning/)

[Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/)

> [Our past is the forge upon which we are hardened and tempered, to prepare us for the present. We are like a fine blade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-atchley-jr/our-past-is-the-forge-upon-which-we-are-hardened-and-tempered-to/)

[Larry Atchley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-atchley-jr/)

> [When a buddha is painted, not only a clay altar or lump of earth is used, but the thirty-two marks, a blade of grass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/when-a-buddha-is-painted-not-only-a-clay-altar-or-lump-of-earth-is/)

[Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/)

> [I felt freed to please myself, to find my way as I would, in a world that was much vaster than I had realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-lanagan/i-felt-freed-to-please-myself-to-find-my-way-as-i-would-in-a-world/)

[Margo Lanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-lanagan/)

> [I would like to see a fierce Fantasia mixed with Blade Runner, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars all in one. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rodriguez/i-would-like-to-see-a-fierce-fantasia-mixed-with-blade-runner-lord-of/)

[Michelle Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rodriguez/)

> [Paper or razor blade, never give up And just remember just to hold out more A couple years ago I couldn't just control that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/paper-or-razor-blade-never-give-up-and-just-remember-just-to-hold-out/)

[Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/)

> [There are those who say that trees shade the garden too much, and interfere with the growth of the vegetables. There may be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/there-are-those-who-say-that-trees-shade-the-garden-too-much-and/)

[Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/)

> [Heavy role in the movies that I've done that I have loved and fit my soul; A Simple Plan, Monster's Ball, Sling Blade, One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/heavy-role-in-the-movies-that-i-ve-done-that-i-have-loved-and-fit-my/)

[Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/)

> [Staring at her face, she began to fancy her outer layer had begun to melt away while she wasn't paying attention, and something --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/staring-at-her-face-she-began-to-fancy-her-outer-layer-had-begun-to/)

[Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/)

> [You need flawless balance on the recovery. You need white hot focus and the concentration to row square blades cleanly for seven miles. Smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-alan-lewis/you-need-flawless-balance-on-the-recovery-you-need-white-hot-focus/)

[Brad Alan Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-alan-lewis/)

> [If you look at 'Blade Runner,' it's been cut sixteen ways from Sunday, and there are all kinds of different versions of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-you-look-at-blade-runner-it-s-been-cut-sixteen-ways-from-sunday/)

[George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/)

> [Here's an example: someone says, "Master, please hand me the knife," and he hands them the knife, blade first. "Please give me the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/here-s-an-example-someone-says-master-please-hand-me-the-knife-and-he/)

[Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/)

> [It's ninety-six degrees in the shade... Before I catch blood on my blade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-murray/it-s-ninety-six-degrees-in-the-shade-before-i-catch-blood-on-my-blade/)

[Keith Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-murray/)

> ["Lay the knife at the tips of your fingers," Rob commanded. "So close youcan feel the blade against your skins. Then cut the shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/lay-the-knife-at-the-tips-of-your-fingers-rob-commanded-so-close/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

[Browse all 490 Blades quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blades/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Soon we'll be out amid the cold world's strife. Soon we'll be sliding down the razor blade of life. But as we go our sordid sep'rate ways, We shall ne'er forget thee, thou golden college days. Hearts full of youth, Hearts full of truth, Six parts gin to one part vermouth.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tom Lehrer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s-strife-soon-we-ll-be-sliding/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Blades"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s-strife-soon-we-ll-be-sliding/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/tom-lehrer-3442_blades_soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s_464400.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/tom-lehrer-3442_blades_soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s_464400.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/tom-lehrer-3442_blades_soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s_464400.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Soon we'll be out amid the cold world's strife. Soon we'll be sliding down the razor blade of life. But as…” — Tom Lehrer",
                "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": "Tom Lehrer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Soon we'll be out amid the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s-strife-soon-we-ll-be-sliding/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s-strife-soon-we-ll-be-sliding/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
