"There's a fine line between character building and soul destroying."
About Colin Hay
Colin Hay — Life and Legacy
Colin Hay is a Scottish-Australian singer-songwriter, best known as the frontman of the band Men at Work, which gained international fame in the 1980s. His distinctive voice and poignant lyrics have continued to resonate with audiences, particularly in his solo work, where he delves into themes of love, identity, and resilience. Hay’s song 'Waiting for My Real Life to Begin' encapsulates his quest for authenticity, reflecting a deep yearning for personal fulfillment amidst life's complexities. His lyrics often reveal a profound understanding of human emotions, as seen in 'Overkill,' where he articulates feelings of anxiety and introspection. This ability to express vulnerability sets him apart, allowing listeners to connect with his experiences on a personal level. Hay challenges the notion of success by emphasizing the importance of being true to oneself, as highlighted in his quote, 'I just want to be myself,' which resonates with many who struggle with societal expectations. Today, Colin Hay's quotes and music continue to inspire, reminding us of the power of love and resilience in navigating life's challenges. His work encourages a deeper exploration of self-identity and the emotional landscapes we all traverse.
Quote collection
Colin Hay quotes (page 1 of 2)
34 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"It strikes me there's a bunch of people in power who have really strong intentions of running the world and adjusting the world to exactly how they see it."
"I had a very erratic career. I got very famous for a minute and then it just all went away, you know?"
"In certain ways I still feel like I'm finding my way. I feel pretty comfortable playing acoustic guitar and singing, but then I feel pretty good sitting on a reggae groove as well."
"I'd love to have a hit record. I don't believe anyone that says they wouldn't like that."
"Sometimes there's a general arc that you want to try and get better the longer you do something."
"I used to drink a lot. I had to stop drinking because it was getting the better of me, and I replaced that with really doing shows."
"I do like writing songs in a band. When it's rock, it's such a different kind of dynamic, obviously."
"I like to let the songs speak so that they can go through some kind of rebirth as you play them."
"It's frustrating to do albums that you think are worth listening to, but it's just so difficult to cut through."
"I got very famous for a minute and then it just all went away, you know? And for the last 20 years - you've got to pick yourself up and dust yourself off and then go on your merry way and start again, in a sense, and that's what I've been doing."
"I tend to write, either myself, or I sometimes write with a co-writer, my friend that lives up the road. It's usually a relatively solitary thing, but I do like coming up with ideas."
"As you get older you don't want to just do the same thing, otherwise there's not much point. I think it's more or less trying to write things that, perhaps, say more by doing less, or you're always trying to refine things, make things a little simpler, a little more essential."
"I find that, rather than the cities, I'm very lucky because the audiences that come and see me are very, generally speaking, truly kind, so I have a great time playing everywhere."
"I love going up the West Coast of the U. S. because it's one of my favorite parts of the world to tour."
"I suppose ever since I was about 14, I remember listening to "Sgt. Pepper's," and I remember thinking, "how do you possibly write songs like that?" I remember starting to try and write songs around that age, but just sitting around with an acoustic guitar, and try to come up with ideas for songs, and that's just what I've done ever since. I just never really stopped doing that, I suppose."
"I sit around and play acoustic guitar - usually acoustic, sometimes electric, occasionally piano, but more often guitar, just trying to come up with tunes. Ideas kind of pop into your head."
"In Scotland, beautiful as it is, it was always raining. Even when it wasn't raining, it was about to rain, or had just rained. It's a very angry sky."
"The thing with playing live is, most of the audience is in their 20s and 30s. If you're older than that, you don't tend to go out to shows anymore. So it's good if you can attract a younger audience because they've got the energy to get up off the sofa and go out."
"The Men at Work thing is always there, it's always going to be there. It's not something I consciously think that much about anymore. The thing that stays with you is the songs, which is a good thing for me, because the songs are the things that stand the test of time."