--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I called it Rockabilly 'cause I was…" description: "\"I called it Rockabilly 'cause I was rocking the strums, which you're not supposed to do.\" — Dick Dale" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/dick-dale-4450_cause_i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocki_641332.jpg" --- # I called it Rockabilly 'cause I was rocking the strums… ![“I called it Rockabilly 'cause I was rocking the strums, which you're not supposed to do.” quote by Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/dick-dale-4450_cause_i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocki_641332.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/dick-dale-4450_cause_i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocki_641332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/dick-dale-4450_cause_i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocki_641332.jpg) > “I called it Rockabilly 'cause I was rocking the strums, which you're not supposed to do.” [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He coined “Rockabilly” to describe his unconventional guitar style, defying norms. **In simple terms:** He named his music rockabilly because he broke the rules. Key Takeaway Embrace originality despite expectations. Themes creativity music rebellion Mood defiant playful Type musical cultural When to use this quote - performing live - songwriting - musical experimentation Key Concepts rockabilly genre innovation musical expression Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance innovation with audience expectations? - What risks are worth taking for artistic integrity? A Different Perspective May alienate traditionalists or confuse audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Rockabilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rockabilly/) ## Related quotes > [I've been performing since 1955. I'm going to have to keep performing till I die because I'm not going to die in some rocking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-ve-been-performing-since-1955-i-m-going-to-have-to-keep-performing/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I'm not God's gift to rockabilly. There's great players out there, and some of them deserve a lot more than they've gotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-setzer/i-m-not-god-s-gift-to-rockabilly-there-s-great-players-out-there-and/) [Brian Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-setzer/) > [...the blues appealed to me, but so did rock. The early rockabilly guitarists like Cliff Gallup and Scotty Moore were just as important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/the-blues-appealed-to-me-but-so-did-rock-the-early-rockabilly/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Music is music; you can't change rock and say well this is punk rock and this is acid rock or rockabilly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/music-is-music-you-can-t-change-rock-and-say-well-this-is-punk-rock/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [I didn't realize how many true Rockabilly fans there were here in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-jackson/i-didn-t-realize-how-many-true-rockabilly-fans-there-were-here-in/) [Wanda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-jackson/) > [If you went to school in Nashville, you were aware of all those '60s rockabilly people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dickens/if-you-went-to-school-in-nashville-you-were-aware-of-all-those-60s/) [Kim Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dickens/) > [“I ain’t never had me a single round in a professional, boxin’ ring. I’m whatcha call a street fighter, a knuckle brawler. Knives, beer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-nelsen/i-ain-t-never-had-me-a-single-round-in-a-professional-boxin-ring-i-m/) Todd Nelsen > [McCartney! Haven't met him and haven't played with him. I would LOVE to. He needs to make a kick-ass rockabilly record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-setzer/mccartney-haven-t-met-him-and-haven-t-played-with-him-i-would-love-to/) [Brian Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-setzer/) > [With the Stray Cats at least, we really took the music somewhere else. First, we wrote our own songs. That's a real weak point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-setzer/with-the-stray-cats-at-least-we-really-took-the-music-somewhere-else/) [Brian Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-setzer/) > [If you ask me, rockabilly has had a raw deal for far too long. People never shunned the blues or jazz the way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/if-you-ask-me-rockabilly-has-had-a-raw-deal-for-far-too-long-people/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [“rockabilly, solos, which used very few notes, mainly double stops (that is two notes at once) and were primarily”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-peters/rockabilly-solos-which-used-very-few-notes-mainly-double-stops-that/) Damien Peters > [We weren't afraid to mix some crazy styles into the standard rockabilly look. We also took a lot of different musical influences that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-setzer/we-weren-t-afraid-to-mix-some-crazy-styles-into-the-standard/) [Brian Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-setzer/) > [I like old rockabilly style. I always wear denim on denim with suspenders and slicked back hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sung-jin-park/i-like-old-rockabilly-style-i-always-wear-denim-on-denim-with/) [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) > [I was a hop-around. I hung out with the rockabilly crew, the guys who were trying to be rappers, the funny kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-was-a-hop-around-i-hung-out-with-the-rockabilly-crew-the-guys-who/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [ \[Country Music\] is the final destination for many punk rockers \[...\] Rockabilly is the mid-point and then \[they\] end up at Country \[...\] There's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/country-music-is-the-final-destination-for-many-punk-rockers/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) ## More by Dick Dale > [Surf music is actually just the sound of the waves played on a guitar: that wet, splashy sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/surf-music-is-actually-just-the-sound-of-the-waves-played-on-a-guitar/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I used to be a mean maniac. Someone once threw a firecracker at a show and I jumped off the side of the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-used-to-be-a-mean-maniac-someone-once-threw-a-firecracker-at-a-show/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I live like in the days of Daniel Boone, hauling water by hand. I used to have two Rolls-Royces. Now I got one. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-live-like-in-the-days-of-daniel-boone-hauling-water-by-hand-i-used/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I'd rather be a Jack-of-all-trades than master of one. If I became an icon, where my whole life was music, I would probably have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-d-rather-be-a-jack-of-all-trades-than-master-of-one-if-i-became-an/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [Every time I went into the studio some engineer tried to impress me with how they're going to capture my sound with all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/every-time-i-went-into-the-studio-some-engineer-tried-to-impress-me/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [Surfers were the ones who named all my songs. They'd yell out the names, and we just kept 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/surfers-were-the-ones-who-named-all-my-songs-they-d-yell-out-the/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [...I enjoyed it (Dr.Ducks Ax Wax) .. in fact I'm all out...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-enjoyed-it-dr-ducks-ax-wax-in-fact-i-m-all-out/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I always wanted a guitar. I always wanted to be a cowboy singer because I also listened to Hank Williams, and he would always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-always-wanted-a-guitar-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-cowboy-singer/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I make my guitar scream with pain or pleasure or sensuality. It makes people move their feet and shake their bodies. That's what music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-make-my-guitar-scream-with-pain-or-pleasure-or-sensuality-it-makes/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I've never followed a list in my life, and that's probably what has created so much nervous energy in my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-ve-never-followed-a-list-in-my-life-and-that-s-probably-what-has/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [Jimi was a good guy 'til he got into drugs. That's the way it is. I just tell it like it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/jimi-was-a-good-guy-til-he-got-into-drugs-that-s-the-way-it-is-i-just/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [The kids called me King of the Surf Guitar. I surfed sunup to sundown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/the-kids-called-me-king-of-the-surf-guitar-i-surfed-sunup-to-sundown/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I enjoy living like a hermit, but I cannot live like a hermit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-enjoy-living-like-a-hermit-but-i-cannot-live-like-a-hermit/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [That's what my music does for me. It makes people happy. When I play, I thank the Lord I've never seen someone walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/that-s-what-my-music-does-for-me-it-makes-people-happy-when-i-play-i/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [Nothing could capture the sound of Dick Dale - he was too loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/nothing-could-capture-the-sound-of-dick-dale-he-was-too-loud/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) [Explore all 110 Dick Dale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) ## More Cause quotes > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Take the L out of Lover 'cause we're Over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-the-l-out-of-lover-cause-we-re-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Must whales and dolphins be subjected to deafening noise that will cause more than 3.5 million instances of temporary and/or permanent hearing loss? For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/must-whales-and-dolphins-be-subjected-to-deafening-noise-that-will/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Knowing the cause of something is not going to help you to be free of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/knowing-the-cause-of-something-is-not-going-to-help-you-to-be-free-of/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [You miss me and tease me 'cause in the end you're gonna please me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-isaacs/you-miss-me-and-tease-me-cause-in-the-end-you-re-gonna-please-me/) [Gregory Isaacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-isaacs/) > [If I lose the ball I cause the team a problem. I am here to provide solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-busquets/if-i-lose-the-ball-i-cause-the-team-a-problem-i-am-here-to-provide/) [Sergio Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-busquets/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Until you find a cause you can die for, you are not worthy to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/until-you-find-a-cause-you-can-die-for-you-are-not-worthy-to-live/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [Pacifism as a mass movement aims to avoid suffering; pacifists often say that no cause is worth suffering or dying for. The ethos of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/pacifism-as-a-mass-movement-aims-to-avoid-suffering-pacifists-often/) [Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/) > [“...There are so many paths you can follow. So much effect from one simple cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-allen/there-are-so-many-paths-you-can-follow-so-much-effect-from-one-simple/) Lee Allen > [War can be prevented only by broad-minded statesmanship - a statesmanship that understands how to enlist people's interests in a leading cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-key/war-can-be-prevented-only-by-broad-minded-statesmanship-a/) [Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-key/) > [I think the other misconceptions when the film came out, he was very upset that it was so widely released and so widely seen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-zwigoff/i-think-the-other-misconceptions-when-the-film-came-out-he-was-very/) [Terry Zwigoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-zwigoff/) Browse all 1,323 Cause quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I called it Rockabilly 'cause I was rocking the strums, which you're not supposed to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dick Dale" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocking-the-strums-which-you-re/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cause" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocking-the-strums-which-you-re/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/dick-dale-4450_cause_i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocki_641332.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/dick-dale-4450_cause_i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocki_641332.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/dick-dale-4450_cause_i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocki_641332.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I called it Rockabilly 'cause I was rocking the strums, which you're not supposed to do.” — Dick Dale", "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": "Dick Dale", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I called it Rockabilly 'cause I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocking-the-strums-which-you-re/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-called-it-rockabilly-cause-i-was-rocking-the-strums-which-you-re/#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 } } ] } ```