--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to put a sheet in explaining…" description: "\"I wanted to put a sheet in explaining what all the songs are about, but they didn't do it.\" — Dick Dale" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/dick-dale-4450_explaining_i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-wh_604528.jpg" --- # I wanted to put a sheet in explaining what all the songs… ![“I wanted to put a sheet in explaining what all the songs are about, but they didn't do it.” quote by Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/dick-dale-4450_explaining_i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-wh_604528.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/dick-dale-4450_explaining_i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-wh_604528.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/dick-dale-4450_explaining_i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-wh_604528.jpg) > “I wanted to put a sheet in explaining what all the songs are about, but they didn't do it.” [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. The artist intended explanatory notes for songs, but the audience never received them. **In simple terms:** He wanted to explain songs, but it didn’t happen. Key Takeaway Clarify artistic intent when possible. Themes communication artistic intent misunderstanding Mood curious reflective nostalgic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - album liner notes - artist interviews - fan education Key Concepts music theory media studies Questions to Reflect On - Why are song meanings often left ambiguous? - How does mystery affect listener engagement? A Different Perspective Explanations may be lost or ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Explaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explaining/) [Explaining Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explaining-songs-1235746/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Sheet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheet/) [Sheet Explaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheet-explaining-4922214/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Songs Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-didn-1729918/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [I don't really like over-explaining the songs. Everyone constantly asks what the songs are about, and I think the thing is that the songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/i-don-t-really-like-over-explaining-the-songs-everyone-constantly/) [Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/) > [In the songs I can still be really really direct but in interviews when I'm explaining my songs I shouldn't be so direct about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/in-the-songs-i-can-still-be-really-really-direct-but-in-interviews/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [I was only a young whippersnapper at that point. I was in pubs playing Barry Manilow songs. I didn't know what to expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/i-was-only-a-young-whippersnapper-at-that-point-i-was-in-pubs-playing/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [It never really interested me in the past but, for the first time, I wanted to make a pop record. I thought a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bejar/it-never-really-interested-me-in-the-past-but-for-the-first-time-i/) [Dan Bejar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bejar/) > [There's only one reason why you write new songs: You get sick of the old songs. It's not that I didn't do anything during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/there-s-only-one-reason-why-you-write-new-songs-you-get-sick-of-the/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I think when I was younger I was not very good at writing love songs that didn't have a twist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-think-when-i-was-younger-i-was-not-very-good-at-writing-love-songs/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [The fact is, for the first 10 years I toured as a solo artist, I wasn't playing any of the songs I didn't write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/the-fact-is-for-the-first-10-years-i-toured-as-a-solo-artist-i-wasn-t/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [“On a bad day, he could only remember Justin Bieber songs, which didn't do anything except give me a headache.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/on-a-bad-day-he-could-only-remember-justin-bieber-songs-which-didn-t/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [ You can't outdo 'Street Songs' and I didn’t even try. \[It\] had that special magic that comes with timing and good vibrations and you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-james/you-can-t-outdo-street-songs-and-i-didn-t-even-try-it-had-that/) [Rick James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-james/) > [I didn't even know I could sing or write songs. I didn't have that education. But people shouldn't think they can look down on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-murs/i-didn-t-even-know-i-could-sing-or-write-songs-i-didn-t-have-that/) [Olly Murs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-murs/) > [My career was really odd, because I literally had a greatest hits album out and nobody knew who I was. They knew the songs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/my-career-was-really-odd-because-i-literally-had-a-greatest-hits/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [I had been told by a number of people that if you get half of what you want on your first album, you're doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-aiken/i-had-been-told-by-a-number-of-people-that-if-you-get-half-of-what/) [Clay Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-aiken/) > [The Washed Out thing happened really quickly, and I wasn't really actively promoting the songs. I didn't think of them as any more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washed-out/the-washed-out-thing-happened-really-quickly-and-i-wasn-t-really/) [Washed Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washed-out/) > [As a producer you can be more objective about the songs because you didn't write them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bachmann/as-a-producer-you-can-be-more-objective-about-the-songs-because-you/) [Eric Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bachmann/) > [I got really sick of playing just, like, 'Bop-bop-bop-bada-bop-bop-bada-rapa-pah.' Just playing that 190-beats-per-minute punk-rock songs, I didn't feel it anymore. And I always loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rzeznik/i-got-really-sick-of-playing-just-like-bop-bop-bop-bada-bop-bop-bada/) [John Rzeznik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rzeznik/) ## 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 Explaining quotes > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/) [Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/) > [ \[Barack Obama\] will spend long periods of time explaining to people why he won't use it. At the end of the explanation, nobody knows… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/barack-obama-will-spend-long-periods-of-time-explaining-to-people-why/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [When it comes to explaining human thought and behavior, the possibility that heredity plays any role at all still has the power to shock.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/when-it-comes-to-explaining-human-thought-and-behavior-the/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I like telling the story in a visual way. I don't like explaining a lot in dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-coppola/i-like-telling-the-story-in-a-visual-way-i-don-t-like-explaining-a/) [Sofia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-coppola/) > [I would make a genuinely terrible guide. I can't remember things. I would get half way through telling a story or explaining something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/i-would-make-a-genuinely-terrible-guide-i-can-t-remember-things-i/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [We are ultimately at home in the world not through dominating or explaining or appreciating, but through caring and being cared for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-mayeroff/we-are-ultimately-at-home-in-the-world-not-through-dominating-or/) [Milton Mayeroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-mayeroff/) > [It's very hard not to be condescending when you're explaining something to an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/it-s-very-hard-not-to-be-condescending-when-you-re-explaining/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [People have to find ways of explaining the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-serrano/people-have-to-find-ways-of-explaining-the-work/) [Andres Serrano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-serrano/) > [The Darwinian theory is in principle capable of explaining life. No other theory that has ever been suggested is in principle capable of explaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-darwinian-theory-is-in-principle-capable-of-explaining-life-no/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Judging someone before you have gotten to know them is like explaining the contents of a book youve never read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/judging-someone-before-you-have-gotten-to-know-them-is-like/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [Freud's fanciful pseudo-explanations (precisely because they are brilliant) perform a disservice. Now any ass has these pictures available to use in "explaining" symptoms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/freud-s-fanciful-pseudo-explanations-precisely-because-they-are/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [You don't want to spend your life explaining yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/you-don-t-want-to-spend-your-life-explaining-yourself/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [A garden full of sweet odours is a garden full of charm, a most precious kind of charm not to be implanted by mere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-wilder/a-garden-full-of-sweet-odours-is-a-garden-full-of-charm-a-most/) [Louise Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-wilder/) [Browse all 533 Explaining quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explaining/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to put a sheet in explaining what all the songs are about, but they didn't do it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dick Dale" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-what-all-the-songs-are-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Explaining" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-what-all-the-songs-are-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/dick-dale-4450_explaining_i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-wh_604528.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/dick-dale-4450_explaining_i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-wh_604528.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/dick-dale-4450_explaining_i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-wh_604528.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wanted to put a sheet in explaining what all the songs are about, but they didn't do it.” — 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 wanted to put a sheet...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-what-all-the-songs-are-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-what-all-the-songs-are-about/#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 } } ] } ```