While studying traffic management at Tamkang University, he honed his musical talents. In 1992, while only a university freshman, Lin entered his song "Guanyin's Hometown," which describes the views of Tanshui and Mt. Kuanyin, in a university song contest. He won first prize and a prize for best lyrics.
有了媽媽的默默支持，大學就讀淡江大學交通管理系的林生祥，逐漸發揮自己的音樂天份；1992 年，才大一的林生祥，帶著他第一首描寫淡水和觀音山景色的創作歌曲〈觀音的故鄉〉，參加第十屆大學城歌唱比賽，獲得第一名及最佳作詞獎。