--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was obsessed with what a song was and…" description: "\"I was obsessed with what a song was and what the possibilities of language in a song are.\" — David Longstreth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/david-longstreth-8561_language_i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and_2212059.jpg" --- # I was obsessed with what a song was and what the… ![“I was obsessed with what a song was and what the possibilities of language in a song are.” quote by David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/david-longstreth-8561_language_i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and_2212059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/david-longstreth-8561_language_i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and_2212059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/david-longstreth-8561_language_i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and_2212059.jpg) > “I was obsessed with what a song was and what the possibilities of language in a song are.” [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He explores how a song’s form and language intertwine, expanding creative possibilities. **In simple terms:** Song structure and lyrics shape meaning. Key Takeaway Experiment with lyrical form. Themes creativity music language Mood curious inspired Type analytical creative When to use this quote - composing - teaching music - writing lyrics Key Concepts songwriting semiotics artistic exploration Questions to Reflect On - How can you break lyrical conventions? - What does language add to melody? A Different Perspective Music can be constrained by genre expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Possibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibilities/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [somebody/ anybody sing a black girl's song bring her out to know herself to know you but sing her rhythms carin/ struggle/ hard times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/somebody-anybody-sing-a-black-girl-s-song-bring-her-out-to-know/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [You hear sounds and orchestration, it's ... the fastest way, I think, to your emotions, even if you don't understand the language of the song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/you-hear-sounds-and-orchestration-it-s-the-fastest-way-i-think-to/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I think maybe the vehicle for me was 'Sam Cooke's Greatest Hits.' It has a song called, 'Touch the Hem of His Garment.' Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-james/i-think-maybe-the-vehicle-for-me-was-sam-cooke-s-greatest-hits-it-has/) [Jim James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-james/) > [When I was maybe three years old, I was obsessed with this song 'Leader of the Band' by Dan Fogelberg. My mom took me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-james/when-i-was-maybe-three-years-old-i-was-obsessed-with-this-song-leader/) [Jim James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-james/) > [We learn a language through its song, and even if you don't have music you have the song of people you love's voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/we-learn-a-language-through-its-song-and-even-if-you-don-t-have-music/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Italian is the language of song. German is good for philosophy and English for poetry. French is best at precision; it has a rigour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/italian-is-the-language-of-song-german-is-good-for-philosophy-and/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [Film is the only language I speak, and I have been lucky to be involved in some great stories. You don't want to preach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-johnson/film-is-the-only-language-i-speak-and-i-have-been-lucky-to-be/) [Clark Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-johnson/) > [My favourite words are possibilities, opportunities and curiosity,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-testino/my-favourite-words-are-possibilities-opportunities-and-curiosity/) [Mario Testino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-testino/) > [“Here you are, obsessed with romantic language-a language invented for expression between lovers-and you use it to spread animosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-diffenbaugh/here-you-are-obsessed-with-romantic-language-a-language-invented-for/) [Vanessa Diffenbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-diffenbaugh/) > [Unbounded awareness is the reservoir of possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/unbounded-awareness-is-the-reservoir-of-possibilities/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [If you allow for the possibilities of something better, you move toward it instinctively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/if-you-allow-for-the-possibilities-of-something-better-you-move/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [“There is no limitation, to where God can take you. Think of all the possibilities of what he could give you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colishia-s-benjamin/there-is-no-limitation-to-where-god-can-take-you-think-of-all-the/) [Colishia S. Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colishia-s-benjamin/) > [For products with revision possibilities, there is no better source available than a company going out of business!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-joseph-cossman/for-products-with-revision-possibilities-there-is-no-better-source/) [E. Joseph Cossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-joseph-cossman/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) ## More by David Longstreth > [I think, for Solange, it was important to make a super-strong direct statement with 'A Seat at the Table,' and she thought 'Cool Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/i-think-for-solange-it-was-important-to-make-a-super-strong-direct/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) > [Ninety percent of touring is a logistical maneuver, moving your body and everyone else's from one city to the next. You're like a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/ninety-percent-of-touring-is-a-logistical-maneuver-moving-your-body/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) > [I used to feel that musical knowledge and emotional truth-telling were antagonistic. But I was too curious about chords and instruments and recording to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/i-used-to-feel-that-musical-knowledge-and-emotional-truth-telling/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) > [You have to figure out as a band how a band becomes a business, and then you have to keep that business mentality separate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/you-have-to-figure-out-as-a-band-how-a-band-becomes-a-business-and/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) > [One of the things I really like about West African guitar playing is the way it makes harmony linear. They're really spelling things out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/one-of-the-things-i-really-like-about-west-african-guitar-playing-is/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) > [What genres are good for is being like, 'Here are the parameters. 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Just this idea - the grain of it, the rawness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/what-appeals-to-me-about-blind-willie-is-just-how-sparse-that-music/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) > [The thing that transforms something from being an idea to being a physical reality is work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/the-thing-that-transforms-something-from-being-an-idea-to-being-a/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) > [The idea of letting a recording be a moment in time appealed to me. 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Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) TimBur > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The words for what I want to say right now don't exist. Everything sounds…so cliché.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/the-words-for-what-i-want-to-say-right-now-don-t-exist-everything/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Words can kill you trust towards someone, mind you language people, every reaction had its consequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-can-kill-you-trust-towards-someone-mind-you-language-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Finxerunt animi, raro et perpauca loquentis. (To action little, less to words inclinded.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/finxerunt-animi-raro-et-perpauca-loquentis-to-action-little-less-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) [Browse all 21,951 Language quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was obsessed with what a song was and what the possibilities of language in a song are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Longstreth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and-what-the-possibilities-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Language" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and-what-the-possibilities-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/david-longstreth-8561_language_i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and_2212059.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/david-longstreth-8561_language_i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and_2212059.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/david-longstreth-8561_language_i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and_2212059.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was obsessed with what a song was and what the possibilities of language in a song are.” — David Longstreth", "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": "David Longstreth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was obsessed with what a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and-what-the-possibilities-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/i-was-obsessed-with-what-a-song-was-and-what-the-possibilities-of/#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 } } ] } ```