Only The Young
Scandal Lyrics


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Another night in any town
You can hear the thunder of their cry
Ahead of their time
They wonder why

In the shadows of a golden age
A generation waits for dawn
Brave carry on
Bold and the strong

Only the young can say
They're free to fly away
Sharing the same desires
Burnin like wildfire

They're seein' through the promises
And all the lies they dare to tell
Is it heaven or hell?
They know very well

Only the young can say
They're free to fly away
Sharing the same desires
Burnin like wildfire

Only the young can say
They're free to fly away
Sharing the same desires
Burnin like wildfire

Only the young can say
Only the young can say
Only the young can say




Only the young can say
Only the young can say

Overall Meaning

Scandal's song "Only The Young" is an anthemic ode to the youth and the spirit that comes with it. The song speaks to the restlessness and longing for freedom that many young people experience, especially in the face of a world that can feel restrictive and oppressively stale. The repeated refrain of "only the young can say they're free to fly away" speaks to the unique perspective and experience of youth, with all its hope and potential.


The lyrics also touch on the skepticism and cynicism that many young people feel towards adults and authority figures. The line "seeing through the promises and all the lies they dare to tell" speaks to the disillusionment and mistrust that can come with growing up and realizing that the world is not always as it seems.


Line by Line Meaning

Another night in any town
Just another typical night in an ordinary town


You can hear the thunder of their cry
You can hear the passionate voices of young people who feel strongly about something


Ahead of their time
They are progressive and have ideas beyond their years


They wonder why
They question the status quo and wonder why things are the way they are


In the shadows of a golden age
Living in the shadow of a past era of greatness


A generation waits for dawn
A new generation of young people is waiting for their chance to shine


Brave carry on
The brave and courageous continue to move forward despite challenges


Bold and the strong
The confident and resilient are the ones who persevere


Only the young can say
Only young people have the perspective and freedom to speak up and take action


They're free to fly away
They have the ability to break free from societal expectations and explore their own path


Sharing the same desires
They all have similar hopes and dreams for their future


Burnin like wildfire
Passionate and intense emotions that spread rapidly


They're seein' through the promises
They can see beyond the false promises and are not easily fooled


And all the lies they dare to tell
People in power are not being truthful and are willing to deceive to maintain their status


Is it heaven or hell?
They are questioning if the system they live in is a blessing or a curse


They know very well
They are fully aware of the situation they are in


Only the young can say
Only young people have the courage and perspective to speak up and make a change


Only the young can say
Young people have a unique voice that needs to be heard and respected


Only the young can say
The future belongs to the young and they are the ones who will shape it


Only the young can say
It's time for young people to take action and make a difference


Only the young can say
Their perspective and ideas are invaluable and should not be ignored




Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@99scobey

As a guy born in 1967, graduating in high school in middle america in 1985 - raised on Vision Quest, Journey, and Scandal - how the HELL did I not know this version existed and CAME OUT FIRST?????

@steves2248

I know what you mean! Hell, I just now found out about this version! And me, a Patty fan since "Love's Gotta Line On You" first came out!

@donnaowens7456

they sold the song to Scandal and then released it themselves. it cause a scandal and Scandal was paid a settlement. I like this version and vaguely recall hearing it.

@robertwest3093

So it was Scandal who was involved in the Scandal scandal?

@99scobey

@@robertwest3093 Scandalous I tell you!

@raycoutu9554

I hear this song in Walmart, thought I was tripping, you sure suck Steve Perry .

6 More Replies...

@weezza80

A duet of Patty & Steve with Journey would have been cool.

@davelongradiopersonality1270

absolutely. Can't believe THEY didn't think of that.

@spacewalk001

@@davelongradiopersonality1270 They did, sort of! I'm trying to find the source, but reportedly there was a show or two in California where Patty joined Journey to sing this song. Not the same as a studio duet, though...

@maverickcuellar7737

@@spacewalk001 if you find, could you please share the link, thanks...

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