of Montreal – I Was Never Young

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I was never young, even as a child.
Said, I was never young; I've always felt beguiled.
Oh, I just never smiled, but you have a glow, a glow from an inner sense I'll never know.

'Cause I was never young, even as a boy.
No, I was never young; kindness seemed no ploy to temper or annoy.
But you, you have a mind full of wonderment I'll never find 'cause I was never young.

I was never young

Ever since I was a kid, I've been a brooding basket case.
Ever since I was a kid, I've been a brooding basket case.
Ever since I was a kid, I've been a brooding basket case.

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Lyrics submitted by heartinasling

Track duration: 03:31

"I Was Never Young" as written by Kevin Barnes

Lyrics © BUG MUSIC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


I Was Never Young song meanings
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  • 0
    My Interpretation:What I gather from this song and several others that touch on subject of age is that Kevin views himself as an ageless person. It can be seen as some kind of coping mechanism for aging. By declaring that you were never young you can never be acused of aging. He probably also feels like he's an old soul so, even when he was a child [or a boy] he felt wiser and rejected the concept [or reality for others] of age. He constanstanly proclaims ambiguity in other aspects of his existence. He claims to be genderless and have no race all the time. He even lok at of Montreal as not fitting in any category of music. I can definetely relate to the song and to most of the autobiographical stuff Kevin writes about. That's why I love him so much.
    Flag IcelandSnow1on January 18, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always thought it was "But you, you have a glow. Glow from an innocence I'll never know. CUZ I WAS NEVAH YOUNG."
    Flag winters_loveon June 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think that the divorce and social problems while growing up is very dead on. It's about never really experiencing that fantasy of childhood innocense. Too many people are forced to grow up faster than they would like to. It's also about being aware of a lack of innocense during that time - and the depression surrounding it ("i just never smiled").
    I think it also relates to being with someone or rather wanting to be with someone who the writer knows is a great, but also an innocent person. He envies the other's innocense and wishes that he could be innocent in turn so that he could be with the other without being tainted by his personal experience. He recognizes that his history has made it impossible to be with someone who has had the luxury of feeling like a child for most of her life. The writer accepts that he grew up fast - but it's not without regret or sadness for not being able to really feel childhood and not being able to be right for this person that he loves because of the past. History always haunts.
    Flag Simkyon November 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Is anyone else reminded of more recent Robert Smith when he says, "I was never young?"
    Flag MoonArcher92on June 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i can relate to this song so much. brooding basket case = me as a child. so good.
    Flag fireplaceon June 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:so nice
    Flag supermariaaaaaon June 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:kevin barnes had a really good childhood... his brother talks about it on his website thebeewithwheels.com. check it, its miraculous. it inspired me to start drawing, writng, composing and singing.
    Flag bronze_birdgirlon May 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:kevin barnes had a really good childhood... his brother talks about it on his website thebeewithwheels.com. check it, its miraculous. it inspired me to start drawing.
    Flag bronze_birdgirlon May 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is amazing. when they played it live everyone couldnt help but dance. i think its how he had a rough childhood. sure their music is somewhat childlike and playful. but thats just cos theyre new and different and exactly what we need in todays music scene.
    and it seems like he's singing to a child. "but you, you have a mind full of wonderment i'll never find 'cause i was never young"
    almost like a release. he wants this child to experience what childhood is all about. the care-free innocense of doing nothing. and being happy and content.
    Flag WPSultanson May 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:wasn't this song the background music for a commercial, probably for like a car or phone company? i can swear hearing it while watching TV one day. i dunno, maybe i finally went insane.
    Flag auto_suggestionon February 21, 2007   Link

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