--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember doing \"As Cool As I Am\" and…" description: "\"I remember doing \"As Cool As I Am\" and Steve Miller, the producer, saying \"I really hear a drum loop here. I want to play it for you.\" When I wrote it,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/dar-williams-3902_banjos_i-remember-doing-as-cool-as-i-am-and-ste_150860.jpg" --- # I remember doing "As Cool As I Am" and Steve Miller, the… ![“I remember doing "As Cool As I Am" and Steve Miller, the producer, saying "I really hear a drum loop here. I want to play it for you." When I wrote it, I thought, "This isn't going to sound very folky. I don't think it's going to go with mandolins and banjos." Then he played the loop for me and it…” quote by Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/dar-williams-3902_banjos_i-remember-doing-as-cool-as-i-am-and-ste_150860.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/dar-williams-3902_banjos_i-remember-doing-as-cool-as-i-am-and-ste_150860.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/dar-williams-3902_banjos_i-remember-doing-as-cool-as-i-am-and-ste_150860.jpg) > “I remember doing "As Cool As I Am" and Steve Miller, the producer, saying "I really hear a drum loop here. I want to play it for you." When I wrote it, I thought, "This isn't going to sound very folky. I don't think it's going to go with mandolins and banjos." Then he played the loop for me and it sounded right.” [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A producer suggested a drum loop that seemed un‑folk, but the artist trusted the intuition and it worked. **In simple terms:** Trust intuition over genre expectations. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected ideas. Themes creativity collaboration genre musicproduction Mood curious optimistic Type inspirational musical When to use this quote - songwriting - studio sessions - genre blending Key Concepts intuition risktaking musicalarr Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance genre identity with innovation? - When have you trusted a surprising suggestion? A Different Perspective May not fit traditional expectations; risk of alienating core audience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Banjos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banjos/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [ It's a weird sound \[ "Animals"\] inspired by a hip hop drum loop. I listen to a lot of hip hop tracks and it's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-garrix/it-s-a-weird-sound-animals-inspired-by-a-hip-hop-drum-loop-i-listen/) [Martin Garrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-garrix/) > [“Our past is a movie I played in a loop round and round, we’re stuck in a pattern”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-natasha/our-past-is-a-movie-i-played-in-a-loop-round-and-round-we-re-stuck-in/) Helena Natasha > [There was a certain moment. I was about 61 - two, three or four, and I got a script. And I sent it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/there-was-a-certain-moment-i-was-about-61-two-three-or-four-and-i-got/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [Sometimes I hear a drum groove in my head and I rush down to my studio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sherwood/sometimes-i-hear-a-drum-groove-in-my-head-and-i-rush-down-to-my-studio/) [Billy Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sherwood/) > [I hear a drum in my soul's ear coming from the depth of the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-hear-a-drum-in-my-soul-s-ear-coming-from-the-depth-of-the-stars/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [The film 'The Queen' came about with a producer saying to me that he wanted me to write about the circumstances behind Diana's death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/the-film-the-queen-came-about-with-a-producer-saying-to-me-that-he/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [I mean if it wasn't for Earl Scruggs, guys like me wouldn't be doing what we're doing. I mean, he's changed so many people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-scruggs/i-mean-if-it-wasn-t-for-earl-scruggs-guys-like-me-wouldn-t-be-doing/) [Earl Scruggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-scruggs/) > [A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the banjo and doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-gentleman-is-someone-who-knows-how-to-play-the-banjo-and-doesn-t/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Nothing says 'dropping out of society' like learning the banjo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-roth/nothing-says-dropping-out-of-society-like-learning-the-banjo/) Daniel Roth > [There are tons of people in the West who love fiddles, banjos and mandolins. If you got to any cowboy poetry and music gathering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martin-murphey/there-are-tons-of-people-in-the-west-who-love-fiddles-banjos-and/) [Michael Martin Murphey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martin-murphey/) > [Earl Scruggs had this thing that it wasn't just the technique or even the instrument. It was him. There was this soulful quality that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-scruggs/earl-scruggs-had-this-thing-that-it-wasn-t-just-the-technique-or-even/) [Earl Scruggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-scruggs/) > [I was about 16 years old years when my father took me to a square dance festival in North Carolina. For the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/i-was-about-16-years-old-years-when-my-father-took-me-to-a-square/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [When we moved back to the US, folk music was all the rage. So I traded in my banjo for a guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/when-we-moved-back-to-the-us-folk-music-was-all-the-rage-so-i-traded/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [When I was very young my mother sang to me at bedtime and my dad would often play the banjo or fiddle in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-block/when-i-was-very-young-my-mother-sang-to-me-at-bedtime-and-my-dad/) Rory Block > [Id be happiest standing at the back, strumming my little banjo where no one could see me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-grint/id-be-happiest-standing-at-the-back-strumming-my-little-banjo-where/) [Rupert Grint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-grint/) ## More by Dar Williams > [“So I'll keep you wondering what time I'm arriving And you'll drive me crazy with your backseat driving And I'll talk in my sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/so-i-ll-keep-you-wondering-what-time-i-m-arriving-and-you-ll-drive-me/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [There's a marketing scheme that tells you that pregnancy and child rearing will make you into a moron, that your kids are only happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/there-s-a-marketing-scheme-that-tells-you-that-pregnancy-and-child/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [I went to Canada and played in this tiny bar where the windows were steaming up and everybody was so animated and singing along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/i-went-to-canada-and-played-in-this-tiny-bar-where-the-windows-were/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [The only word for love is everybody's name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/the-only-word-for-love-is-everybody-s-name/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [Everyone has to decide how they're going to appear in their lives, how they're going to put themselves out there to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/everyone-has-to-decide-how-they-re-going-to-appear-in-their-lives-how/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [ For my 50th birthday I just want to make it all make sense \[being exactly half introvert\], and then a couple of weeks later… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/for-my-50th-birthday-i-just-want-to-make-it-all-make-sense-being/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [All the things you treasure most will be the hardest won I will watch you struggle long before the answers come But I won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/all-the-things-you-treasure-most-will-be-the-hardest-won-i-will-watch/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [She who loves last loves best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/she-who-loves-last-loves-best/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [But I benefit from the taxes I pay because I know how to access the benefits of the taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/but-i-benefit-from-the-taxes-i-pay-because-i-know-how-to-access-the/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [The only I would say is a little different is when I know my parents are in the audience. That's never going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/the-only-i-would-say-is-a-little-different-is-when-i-know-my-parents/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [It's just that you don't have to bring it to every stage. You can do a fundraiser for people that you support. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/it-s-just-that-you-don-t-have-to-bring-it-to-every-stage-you-can-do-a/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [ I really lucked out with that song \["As Cool As I Am"\]. Men were becoming much more comfortable with all the different facets and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/i-really-lucked-out-with-that-song-as-cool-as-i-am-men-were-becoming/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [“Well, my friends give me purple flowers and orange tea and goosedown spinning quilts and torquoise chairs we greet one another in a wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/well-my-friends-give-me-purple-flowers-and-orange-tea-and-goosedown/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [Every time you opt in to kindness Make one connection, used to divide us It echoes all over the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/every-time-you-opt-in-to-kindness-make-one-connection-used-to-divide/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [I try to be careful not to do single concerts where I fly out, do my show, turn around and go home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/i-try-to-be-careful-not-to-do-single-concerts-where-i-fly-out-do-my/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) [Explore all 119 Dar Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) ## More Banjos quotes > [Id be happiest standing at the back, strumming my little banjo where no one could see me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-grint/id-be-happiest-standing-at-the-back-strumming-my-little-banjo-where/) [Rupert Grint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-grint/) > [When I was very young my mother sang to me at bedtime and my dad would often play the banjo or fiddle in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-block/when-i-was-very-young-my-mother-sang-to-me-at-bedtime-and-my-dad/) Rory Block > [When we moved back to the US, folk music was all the rage. So I traded in my banjo for a guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/when-we-moved-back-to-the-us-folk-music-was-all-the-rage-so-i-traded/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I was about 16 years old years when my father took me to a square dance festival in North Carolina. For the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/i-was-about-16-years-old-years-when-my-father-took-me-to-a-square/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [Earl Scruggs had this thing that it wasn't just the technique or even the instrument. It was him. There was this soulful quality that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-scruggs/earl-scruggs-had-this-thing-that-it-wasn-t-just-the-technique-or-even/) [Earl Scruggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-scruggs/) > [There are tons of people in the West who love fiddles, banjos and mandolins. If you got to any cowboy poetry and music gathering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martin-murphey/there-are-tons-of-people-in-the-west-who-love-fiddles-banjos-and/) [Michael Martin Murphey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martin-murphey/) > [Nothing says 'dropping out of society' like learning the banjo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-roth/nothing-says-dropping-out-of-society-like-learning-the-banjo/) Daniel Roth > [A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the banjo and doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-gentleman-is-someone-who-knows-how-to-play-the-banjo-and-doesn-t/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I mean if it wasn't for Earl Scruggs, guys like me wouldn't be doing what we're doing. I mean, he's changed so many people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-scruggs/i-mean-if-it-wasn-t-for-earl-scruggs-guys-like-me-wouldn-t-be-doing/) [Earl Scruggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-scruggs/) > [You look at the instrumentation, and you can't really argue that we set out with commercial aspirations. Banjos and things like that are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dwane/you-look-at-the-instrumentation-and-you-can-t-really-argue-that-we/) [Ted Dwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dwane/) > [I've heard of people stopping their cars, having car wrecks, all kinds of things. But most of the banjo players I know had that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-scruggs/i-ve-heard-of-people-stopping-their-cars-having-car-wrecks-all-kinds/) [Earl Scruggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-scruggs/) > [There are a lot of chapters to the banjo's history. Part of it are the roots in Africa, where it's a more primitive instrument.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-fleck/there-are-a-lot-of-chapters-to-the-banjo-s-history-part-of-it-are-the/) [Bela Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-fleck/) > [My dad also plays a little banjo and guitar, my mom plays the mandolin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/page-mcconnell/my-dad-also-plays-a-little-banjo-and-guitar-my-mom-plays-the-mandolin/) [Page McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/page-mcconnell/) > [Whenever a big white man picks up a banjo, my cheeks tighten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/whenever-a-big-white-man-picks-up-a-banjo-my-cheeks-tighten/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Being a part of the crowd with incredible musicians onstage summoning the muse and delivering that to us - doesn't matter if it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-fabian/being-a-part-of-the-crowd-with-incredible-musicians-onstage-summoning/) [Patrick Fabian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-fabian/) [Browse all 92 Banjos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banjos/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I remember doing \"As Cool As I Am\" and Steve Miller, the producer, saying \"I really hear a drum loop here. 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