---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know how long it has been since…"
description: "\"I don't know how long it has been since my ear has been free from the roll of a drum. It is the music I sleep by, and I love it… I shall remain here wh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/clara-barton-16924_civil-war_i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since_994197.png"
---

#  I don't know how long it has been since my ear has been…

![“I don't know how long it has been since my ear has been free from the roll of a drum. It is the music I sleep by, and I love it… I shall remain here while anyone remains, and do whatever comes to my hand. I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and…” quote by Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/clara-barton-16924_civil-war_i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since_994197.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/clara-barton-16924_civil-war_i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since_994197.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/clara-barton-16924_civil-war_i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since_994197.png)

> “I don't know how long it has been since my ear has been free from the roll of a drum. It is the music I sleep by, and I love it… I shall remain here while anyone remains, and do whatever comes to my hand. I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them.”

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She expresses dedication to caring for soldiers, finding solace in music, and willingness to face danger without fear.

**In simple terms:** Dedicated caregiver finds comfort in music and faces danger bravely.

Key Takeaway

Serve others despite fear.

Themes

service courage compassion music war healing

Mood

determined empathetic

Type

inspirational reflective

When to use this quote

- battlefield nursing
- civil war hospitals
- post‑war relief
- personal coping strategies

Key Concepts

Humanitarianism resilience psychological comfort

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance duty with self‑care?
- What role does music play in your resilience?

A Different Perspective

Her resolve may overlook personal safety and burnout risk.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Compelled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compelled/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drum/) [Drum Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drum-music-2054976/) [Ear Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ear-free-2054975/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-sleep-369677/) [Never fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-fear/) [Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nurse/) [Nursing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursing/) [Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains/) [Shall Remain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-remain-625923/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't know how long it has been since my ear has been free from the roll of a drum. It is the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since-my-ear-has-been-free-from-the/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [What's really good is African drum music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/what-s-really-good-is-african-drum-music/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [Music and sleep are two of the greatest ways to escape from everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/music-and-sleep-are-two-of-the-greatest-ways-to-escape-from-everything/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im in the studio from 9am to 5pm. I make music more than I sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-twist/im-in-the-studio-from-9am-to-5pm-i-make-music-more-than-i-sleep/)

[Lil Twist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-twist/)

> [In the beginning, I took on every opportunity because I was so determined to get my name and music out there. You can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/in-the-beginning-i-took-on-every-opportunity-because-i-was-so/)

[Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/)

> [Music is really everything I know. To be honest every experience I've ever had has been brought up from music and everything I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vincent-mcmorrow/music-is-really-everything-i-know-to-be-honest-every-experience-i-ve/)

[James Vincent McMorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vincent-mcmorrow/)

> [Music, Sleep, Sex, and video games are the most effective stress relievers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/music-sleep-sex-and-video-games-are-the-most-effective-stress/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I go out, but not too much. When I'm on tour, I just write a lot of music and sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/i-go-out-but-not-too-much-when-i-m-on-tour-i-just-write-a-lot-of/)

[Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/)

> [Music and sleep are the best escape root in a world of hurt and pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/music-and-sleep-are-the-best-escape-root-in-a-world-of-hurt-and-pain/)

[Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/)

> [I love music, I make films with music, I eat with music, I sleep with music, I think with music. Music makes me dream;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bahman-ghobadi/i-love-music-i-make-films-with-music-i-eat-with-music-i-sleep-with/)

[Bahman Ghobadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bahman-ghobadi/)

> [Sometimes, I make music in my sleep. So I get up, put on my headphones, and compose it on the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adnan-sami/sometimes-i-make-music-in-my-sleep-so-i-get-up-put-on-my-headphones/)

[Adnan Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adnan-sami/)

> [There's different ways to approach music for sleeping. Things like white noise are functional, like a lullaby. This is more like an inquiry, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-richter/there-s-different-ways-to-approach-music-for-sleeping-things-like/)

[Max Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-richter/)

> [When we have become free, we need not go mad and throw up society and rush off to die in the forest or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/when-we-have-become-free-we-need-not-go-mad-and-throw-up-society-and/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [“FROM ONCE YOU CAME YOU SHALL REMAIN UNTIL YOUR COMEPLETE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenacious-d/from-once-you-came-you-shall-remain-until-your-comeplete/)

[Tenacious D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenacious-d/)

> [“I have always been by your side, poppet, and so shall I always remain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-mallory/i-have-always-been-by-your-side-poppet-and-so-shall-i-always-remain/)

[H.P. Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-mallory/)

## More by Clara Barton

> [I founded the American Red Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-founded-the-american-red-cross/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [“The surest test of discipline is it's absence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/the-surest-test-of-discipline-is-it-s-absence/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [I don't know how long it has been since my ear has been free from the roll of a drum. It is the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since-my-ear-has-been-free-from-the/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [The Red Cross in its nature, it aims and purposes, and consequently, its methods, is unlike any other organization in the country.It is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/the-red-cross-in-its-nature-it-aims-and-purposes-and-consequently-its/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [People should not say that this or that is not worth learning, giving as their reason that it will not be put to use.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/people-should-not-say-that-this-or-that-is-not-worth-learning-giving/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [You must never so much think as whether you like it or not, whether it is bearable or not; you must never think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/you-must-never-so-much-think-as-whether-you-like-it-or-not-whether-it/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [It is wise statesmanship which suggests that in time of peace we must prepare for war, and it is no less a wise benevolence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/it-is-wise-statesmanship-which-suggests-that-in-time-of-peace-we-must/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [I may sometimes be willing to teach for nothing, but if paid at all, I shall never do a man's work for less than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-may-sometimes-be-willing-to-teach-for-nothing-but-if-paid-at-all-i/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-may-be-compelled-to-face-danger-but-never-fear-it-and-while-our/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [What could I do but go with them Civil War soldiers, or work for them and my country? The patriot blood of my father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/what-could-i-do-but-go-with-them-civil-war-soldiers-or-work-for-them/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [The patriot blood of my father was warm in my veins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/the-patriot-blood-of-my-father-was-warm-in-my-veins/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [A ball had passed between my body and the right arm which supported him, cutting through the sleeve and passing through his chest from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/a-ball-had-passed-between-my-body-and-the-right-arm-which-supported/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [Although its growth may seem to have been slow, it is to be remembered that it is not a shrub, or plant, to shoot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/although-its-growth-may-seem-to-have-been-slow-it-is-to-be-remembered/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [Economy, prudence, and a simple life are the sure masters of need, and will often accomplish that which, their opposites, with a fortune at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/economy-prudence-and-a-simple-life-are-the-sure-masters-of-need-and/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

> [Others are writing my biography, and let it rest as they elect to make it. I have lived my life, well and ill, always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/others-are-writing-my-biography-and-let-it-rest-as-they-elect-to-make/)

[Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

[Explore all 38 Clara Barton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/)

## More Civil war quotes

> [“Time overlaps itself. A breath breathed from a passing breeze is not the whole wind, neither is it just the last of what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/time-overlaps-itself-a-breath-breathed-from-a-passing-breeze-is-not/)

[Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/)

> [“Whatever happened in those more than one hundred years, from the time my great-great-great grandfather studied law to the time when my own father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenn-wright/whatever-happened-in-those-more-than-one-hundred-years-from-the-time/)

[Gwenn Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenn-wright/)

> [“AUSTRALIA, LIKE THE UNITED STATES, experienced a different path to inclusive institutions than the one taken by England. The same revolutions that shook England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/australia-like-the-united-states-experienced-a-different-path-to/)

[Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/)

> [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/)

[Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/)

> [“Thinking about the weather was one way of shutting out of his mind the appalling bloody human mess sprawled out over the bed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ellis/thinking-about-the-weather-was-one-way-of-shutting-out-of-his-mind/)

[Mark Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ellis/)

> [It cost about 75 cents to kill a man in Ceasar's time. The price rose to about $3,000 per man during the Napoleonic wars;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-bone/it-cost-about-75-cents-to-kill-a-man-in-ceasar-s-time-the-price-rose/)

[Homer Bone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-bone/)

> [Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/alabama-soldiers-all-i-ask-of-you-is-to-keep-up-with-the-texans/)

[Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/)

> [“ “In the South, football is confused with religion, chivalry, the Civil War, and women.” -Diane Roberts, The Quotable South ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/in-the-south-football-is-confused-with-religion-chivalry-the-civil/)

[Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/)

> [“By the following morning, September 15, Jackson had positioned nearly fifty guns on Maryland Heights and at the base of Loudoun Heights.  Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/by-the-following-morning-september-15-jackson-had-positioned-nearly/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [Strange, (is it not?) that battles, martyrs, blood, even assassination should so condense - perhaps only really lastingly condense - a Nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/strange-is-it-not-that-battles-martyrs-blood-even-assassination/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/)

[Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/)

> [“Civil wars...are the best wars for the writer...because they have a way of continuing long afterwl wars between nations are resolved; because, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/civil-wars-are-the-best-wars-for-the-writer-because-they-have-a-way/)

[Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/)

> [I am out of money,we are all out of money,but we dont need money down here- Dont need anything but Men , Muskets, Ammunition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-connolly/i-am-out-of-money-we-are-all-out-of-money-but-we-dont-need-money-down/)

[James A. Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-connolly/)

> [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/)

[Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/)

> [“Only twenty - nine years in the entire human history had been without warfare, and now here he was too, travelling between the episodes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadeem-aslam/only-twenty-nine-years-in-the-entire-human-history-had-been-without/)

[Nadeem Aslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadeem-aslam/)

[Browse all 1,714 Civil war quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't know how long it has been since my ear has been free from the roll of a drum. It is the music I sleep by, and I love it… I shall remain here while anyone remains, and do whatever comes to my hand. I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Clara Barton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since-my-ear-has-been-free-from-the-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Civil war"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since-my-ear-has-been-free-from-the-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/clara-barton-16924_civil-war_i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since_994197.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/clara-barton-16924_civil-war_i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since_994197.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/clara-barton-16924_civil-war_i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since_994197.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't know how long it has been since my ear has been free from the roll of a drum. It is the music I…” — Clara Barton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Clara Barton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't know how long it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since-my-ear-has-been-free-from-the-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since-my-ear-has-been-free-from-the-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
