Sixteen
Hugh Coltman Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Get it while you can.
It' s time for this man to become sophisticated,
Become all I hated
When I was Sixteen years old.

On the street tonight,
See the colours shining bright and complicated,
Everything I hated
When I was Sixteen years old.

Everyday,
See my innocence
Just fading away.
All the black and white,
It turns into grey
Oh what more can I say?

Say just what you mean.
Mean just what you say.
For a day
It's not the same thing for
A hermit or king
Who's no longer Sixteen years old.

Everyday
See my innocence
Just fading away,
All the black and white,
It turns into grey.
Oh what more can I say?

She was an only child,
I was a lonely child.
My god strike me blind!
Cut out my tongue,
So i can't say what I've done.

Just like Leonard used to say
"I ache in all the places
That I used to play in",




And my patience is thin,
Now I' m not Sixteen years old

Overall Meaning

The song "Sixteen" by Hugh Coltman tells the story about a man who is reflecting on his past when he was sixteen years old. The lyrics "Get it while you can. It's time for this man to become sophisticated, become all I hated when I was Sixteen years old" indicate that the singer feels like he needs to catch up and become more refined. This implies that he regrets some of the actions he took when he was younger.


As he walks down the street, he sees everything he used to hate when he was sixteen years old. The bright and complicated colors represent the complexity of the world that the singer is now trying to understand. He acknowledges that his innocence is fading away and everything that was once black and white is now turning into gray. He becomes more aware of the complexities of life with every passing day, and this causes him to reflect on how life was simpler when he was still a teenager.


The line "She was an only child, I was a lonely child" implies that the singer had a challenging family life during his childhood, and finding companionship was difficult. He acknowledges that he has made mistakes in his past, and he wishes to undo his past mistakes. The line "Just like Leonard used to say, 'I ache in all the places that I used to play in' " draws from Leonard Cohen's "Tower of Song." It suggests that the singer has become disillusioned with his current life and is longing for a simpler time. The final line "Now I'm not Sixteen years old" encapsulates the singer's realization that he has grown up and that he can no longer go back to his simpler life.


Line by Line Meaning

Get it while you can.
Time is limited, so take advantage of opportunities while they last.


It' s time for this man to become sophisticated,
The singer feels that it's time to mature and become more refined.


Become all I hated When I was Sixteen years old.
The singer realizes that he used to dislike individuals who were mature and put-together - now he recognizes the value in that.


On the street tonight,
The artist is currently walking on the streets.


See the colours shining bright and complicated,
The artist sees the world in a more complex and intricate way than he did when he was younger.


Everything I hated When I was Sixteen years old.
The singer used to dislike things that he now sees as valuable or interesting.


Everyday,
On a daily basis.


See my innocence Just fading away.
The artist recognizes that he is growing up and losing his childlike qualities.


All the black and white,
Things used to be more clear and straightforward for the artist.


It turns into grey
Things are now more complicated, with less straightforward answers.


Oh what more can I say?
The singer doesn't know what else to say about this realization.


Say just what you mean.
Communicate clearly and honestly.


Mean just what you say.
When you speak, your words should be truthful and sincere.


For a day
For a brief period of time.


It's not the same thing for A hermit or king
Different people have different experiences and perceptions.


Who's no longer Sixteen years old.
The artist is no longer as naive as he was when he was sixteen.


She was an only child,
Referring to a specific past relationship.


I was a lonely child.
The singer was alone and struggling.


My god strike me blind!
The singer is expressing his frustration or regret.


Cut out my tongue,
This phrase refers to the common saying, 'I wish I hadn't said that.'


So i can't say what I've done.
The artist wishes he could take back or hide certain actions or words.


Just like Leonard used to say
Referring to the musician Leonard Cohen and one of his lyrics.


"I ache in all the places That I used to play in",
The singer misses the way things used to be.


And my patience is thin,
The artist is frustrated or impatient.


Now I' m not Sixteen years old
The singer has gained wisdom and experience since he was sixteen years old.




Writer(s): Hugh Coltman

Contributed by Kaitlyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Carlos Augusto Decupero

Hugh Coltman é raridade nos dias de hoje, onde a inspiração e a criatividade andam raleadas. Sua música é consistente, cheia de poesia e lirismo, além de ter o talento indubitável de um intérprete.

carlos augusto decupero

Uma canção bela e interpretação marcante! Lovely!

shawn straiko

LOVE IT!!!!!! one of my all time favourite songs ever.....I wish it was longer so I didn't have to hit repeat so much :)

Alkibeach29

I've just now discovered your music!! What joy there is in finding new artists that you like! Thanks for being you and authentic!! Please come play in Seattle!!!

Karim Fatimi

Get it while you can.
It' s time for this man to become sophisticated,
Become all I hated
When I was Sixteen years old.
On the street tonight,
See the colours shining bright and complicated,
Everything I hated
When I was Sixteen years old.
Everyday,
See my innocence
Just fading away.
All the black and white,
It turns into grey
Oh what more can I say?
Say just what you mean.
Mean just what you say.
For a day
It's not the same thing for
A hermit or king
Who's no longer Sixteen years old.
Everyday
See my innocence
Just fading away,
All the black and white,
It turns into grey.
Oh what more can I say?
She was an only child,
I was a lonely child.
My god strike me blind!
Cut out my tongue,
So i can't say what I've done.
Just like Leonard used to say
"I ache in all the places
That I used to play in",
And my patience is thin,
Now I' m not Sixteen years old

Gertrude Dodart

merveilleux concert Jazz à la Villette, musiciens d'exception, beaucoup plus énergique que ce morceau...

Orchidée Noire

Excellent j'adore.

Caroline letigre

j'adore

Maxime LEFEVRE

un tel artiste mérite un clip un peu moi dégueulasse ! on dirait que ça été tourné en 5min avec un iphone. Hugh j'ai quelqu'un sur aix qui te ferai quelque chose de super.

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