Young Man is Colin Caulfield from Chicago. Regarding his music, "It’s enoug… Read Full Bio ↴Young Man is Colin Caulfield from Chicago. Regarding his music, "It’s enough to make you stop and say, “What is that?” It being the gorgeous melodies and lean, spellbound guitar lines of Colin Caulfield, an English/French lit major who’s about to change what it means to be a shape-shifting singer-songwriter in the YouTube age.

Just ask Bradford Cox. He knows. Why, just a year ago, the Deerhunter frontman stumbled upon Caulfield’s organ-grinding rendition of “Rainwater Cassette Exchange” and said it’s “fantastically superior to the original. It actually sent shivers up my spine, especially during the second verse.”

Believe it or not, that chilling cover was just a warmup session. As killer as he is at capturing the very essence of everything from Animal Collective to Ariel Pink, Caulfied’s true talent is in telling his own Young Man stories. The first chapter of which goes by the name Boy, a deceivingly-simple suite of songs about wanting to grow up without having the slightest idea of what ‘being a man’ actually means.

Now that’s a reason to hit rewind, from the tone-setting tenderness and psych-infused harmonies of “Five” to the restless rhythms (Caulfield was a drummer well before he became a singer/guitarist) and room-engulfing intimacy of “Up So Fast.” Both of which feature some of the most hopeful/haunting choruses you’ll hear all year.

And that’s just the beginning, of course. Since Young Man was conceived as a concept project about the passing of time, love, and loss, Caulfield already has two loosely- linked LPs on tap—a faceless collection of fragile characters that could be any one of us, really.

“A lot of it’s autobiographical,” explains Caulfield, “but it’s universal at the same time, because everyone goes through these things.”

Listen closely. It’ll all make sense soon enough. Trust us."

Five
Young Man Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Daddy won't you come down here
Won't you just lend me your ear
My life has changed forever
Now that I've grown a year
Why do i find that I'm feeling quite the same
Now that I'm all grown up
When can we leave
Cuz I'm feeling quite ashamed

Now that I'm all grown up
Mommy when will you listen
I don't have much to say
Mom when will you come down here
Cuz people are getting in my way
Why did i find that I'm feeling quite the same
Now that I'm all grown up
When can we leave cuz I'm feeling quite ashamed
Now that I'm grown
Want to go home
When i get there i will say
Now I'm just five years old
Now
Now I'm just five years old
Now

Will I want to live want to live
Would I want to live

Overall Meaning

These lyrics by Young Man in the song "Five" convey the feelings of a child who has just turned five years old and is questioning the changes in his life. He calls out to both his parents for their attention and guidance, feeling lost and unsure in the face of growing up. Despite his new age, the child has not experienced the transformation that he expected and is frustrated that he still feels the same. The child also expresses a desire to go home, indicating that he longs for the comfort and security of childhood.

The repetition of "Now that I'm all grown up" throughout the song emphasizes the irony of the child's situation - he has aged, but perhaps not matured in the way he had hoped. The closing line, "Would I want to live," suggests a deeper questioning of the value of growing up if it means losing the innocence and simplicity of childhood.

Line by Line Meaning

Daddy won't you come down here
Asking for attention and support

Won't you just lend me your ear
Requesting to be heard and listened to

My life has changed forever
Realizing a significant transformation has taken place

Now that I've grown a year
Acknowledging the passage of time and personal growth

Why do i find that I'm feeling quite the same
Questioning why certain emotions persist despite growing older

Now that I'm all grown up
Reflecting on the expectations and responsibilities that come with adulthood

When can we leave
Expressing a desire to escape the current situation

Cuz I'm feeling quite ashamed
Feeling embarrassed or self-conscious about something

Mommy when will you listen
Seeking maternal attention and understanding

I don't have much to say
Preferring to listen rather than speak

Mom when will you come down here
Asking for motherly presence and support