--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started with rock n' roll and...then…" description: "\"I started with rock n' roll and...then you start to take it apart like a child with a toy and you see there's blues and there's country...Then you go b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/elvis-costello-1931_american-music_i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you_1743848.jpg" --- # I started with rock n' roll and...then you start to take… ![“I started with rock n' roll and...then you start to take it apart like a child with a toy and you see there's blues and there's country...Then you go back from country into American music...and you end up in Scotland and Ireland eventually.” quote by Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/elvis-costello-1931_american-music_i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you_1743848.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/elvis-costello-1931_american-music_i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you_1743848.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/elvis-costello-1931_american-music_i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you_1743848.jpg) > “I started with rock n' roll and...then you start to take it apart like a child with a toy and you see there's blues and there's country...Then you go back from country into American music...and you end up in Scotland and Ireland eventually.” [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Exploring music reveals its interconnected roots across genres and cultures, showing a fluid, evolving tapestry. **In simple terms:** Music genres blend and influence each other across cultures. Key Takeaway Explore diverse musical influences. Themes creativity culture genre blending history Mood enthusiastic curious Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - education - music festivals - cross‑genre collaborations Key Concepts musicology cultural exchange artistic evolution Questions to Reflect On - How does cultural exchange shape your art? - What new genre could you create? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on origins may overlook originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-music/) [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ireland/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Rock n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-n-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Scotland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scotland/) [Toys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toys/) ## Related quotes > [Being raise in England, we were all raised on blues and country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/being-raise-in-england-we-were-all-raised-on-blues-and-country/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [Well, I wouldn't want to say that I started it (rock 'n' roll), but I don't remember anyone else before me playing that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/well-i-wouldn-t-want-to-say-that-i-started-it-rock-n-roll-but-i-don-t/) [Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/) > [I grew up in the South with my father; blues and country, that's always been my core. But I had it in me not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-marie-presley/i-grew-up-in-the-south-with-my-father-blues-and-country-that-s-always/) [Lisa Marie Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-marie-presley/) > [I wanna show that gospel, country, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll are all just really one thing. Those are the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/i-wanna-show-that-gospel-country-blues-rhythm-and-blues-jazz-rock-n/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [With AC/DC, we've always started with rock, and we've just kept it going. The critic's view is always , 'They just made an album…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/with-ac-dc-we-ve-always-started-with-rock-and-we-ve-just-kept-it/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [We started the 'Rock and Bust' tour without Phil, and it went from there. So it was a slow process for me in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-williams/we-started-the-rock-and-bust-tour-without-phil-and-it-went-from-there/) [Cliff Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-williams/) > [When I started, rock and roll itself was the basic revolution to people of my age and situation. We needed something loud and clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/when-i-started-rock-and-roll-itself-was-the-basic-revolution-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I started out in rock, but I didn't want to stay there, and haven't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-started-out-in-rock-but-i-didn-t-want-to-stay-there-and-haven-t/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [I got my first real job, one that didn't involve wearing a hairnet or bending over the hood of a wet car with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/i-got-my-first-real-job-one-that-didn-t-involve-wearing-a-hairnet-or/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [When I first started in rock, I had a big guy's audience for my early records. I had a very straight image, particularly through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-i-first-started-in-rock-i-had-a-big-guy-s-audience-for-my-early/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [It is from the blues that all that may be called American music derives it most distinctive characteristics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/it-is-from-the-blues-that-all-that-may-be-called-american-music/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [The blues has been the foundation of all other American music since the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-dixon/the-blues-has-been-the-foundation-of-all-other-american-music-since/) [Willie Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-dixon/) > [Blues and jazz is our American music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/blues-and-jazz-is-our-american-music/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [“The Bluesis the roots of all American music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-dixon/the-bluesis-the-roots-of-all-american-music/) [Willie Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-dixon/) > [Since I was a kid, I've had an absolute obsession with particular kinds of American music. Mississippi Delta blues of the Thirties, Chicago blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-had-an-absolute-obsession-with-particular/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) ## More by Elvis Costello > [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [History repeats the old conceits, the glib replies, the same defeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/history-repeats-the-old-conceits-the-glib-replies-the-same-defeats/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [People think it is all about country music, and I know a lot of country music has come out of there, but like Blonde…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/people-think-it-is-all-about-country-music-and-i-know-a-lot-of/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-get-very-frustrated-by-this-term-genre-exercise-i-mean-what-exactly/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal. I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/even-in-a-perfect-world-where-everyone-was-equal-i-d-still-own-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Somebody should clip Sting around the head and tell him to stop using that ridiculous Jamaican accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/somebody-should-clip-sting-around-the-head-and-tell-him-to-stop-using/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [There is something wrong with you if you don't get angry about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/there-is-something-wrong-with-you-if-you-don-t-get-angry-about/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“Was it a millionaire who said "imagine no possessions?" A poor little schoolboy who said "we don't need no lessons?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/was-it-a-millionaire-who-said-imagine-no-possessions-a-poor-little/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Though the passion still flutters and flickers, it never got into our knickers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/though-the-passion-still-flutters-and-flickers-it-never-got-into-our/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [My dad's father was a White Star Line trumpet player in the '20s. It shaped the way that I think about music. My grandfather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/my-dad-s-father-was-a-white-star-line-trumpet-player-in-the-20s-it/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Life for me is about movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/life-for-me-is-about-movement/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Maybe I just never learned my harmony part, because what everybody says sounds odd to them sounds perfectly natural to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/maybe-i-just-never-learned-my-harmony-part-because-what-everybody/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [There are a lot of things that you can like at a distance without spending a huge amount of time pondering. It's not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-you-can-like-at-a-distance-without/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Don't wear your heart on your sleeve when your remarks are off the cuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/don-t-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-when-your-remarks-are-off-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [I'm just the mere shadow of my former selfishness. I crave the silhouette of your kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-m-just-the-mere-shadow-of-my-former-selfishness-i-crave-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) [Explore all 197 Elvis Costello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) ## More American music quotes > [Since I was a kid, I've had an absolute obsession with particular kinds of American music. Mississippi Delta blues of the Thirties, Chicago blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-had-an-absolute-obsession-with-particular/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [ Britney and I wore matching denim outfits \[to the 2001 American Music Awards\]. Yeah, another bad choice. I’d probably pay good money to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/britney-and-i-wore-matching-denim-outfits-to-the-2001-american-music/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) > [Of course when you are a kid you listen to what your parents had around. A lot of gospel, jazz. Now when I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorma-kaukonen/of-course-when-you-are-a-kid-you-listen-to-what-your-parents-had/) [Jorma Kaukonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorma-kaukonen/) > [It's a really unfair world because life is, where I am; all day long we listen to American music. So I don't see why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-makeba/it-s-a-really-unfair-world-because-life-is-where-i-am-all-day-long-we/) [Miriam Makeba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-makeba/) > [“The Bluesis the roots of all American music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-dixon/the-bluesis-the-roots-of-all-american-music/) [Willie Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-dixon/) > [I started playing piano with a little band in high school. I was terrible. I thought I had absolutely no talent. I couldn't keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-bacharach/i-started-playing-piano-with-a-little-band-in-high-school-i-was/) [Burt Bacharach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-bacharach/) > [I'm more American than anything else. I grew up in China, but I was fulfilled at a young age by American music. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-max/i-m-more-american-than-anything-else-i-grew-up-in-china-but-i-was/) [Peter Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-max/) > [You know, jazz is the mother of all American music. R&B and pop and rap and everything are the branches on the main tree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-burdon/you-know-jazz-is-the-mother-of-all-american-music-r-b-and-pop-and-rap/) [Eric Burdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-burdon/) > [I'm weird - I don't really listen to American music while I'm writing. I do occasionally get an anthem song, but generally speaking, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-duke/i-m-weird-i-don-t-really-listen-to-american-music-while-i-m-writing-i/) [Violet Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-duke/) > [You certainly don't hear any country music on pop radio today. But for a while you did, and it was a lovely thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-webb/you-certainly-don-t-hear-any-country-music-on-pop-radio-today-but-for/) [Jimmy Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-webb/) > [I'm still trying to make it. I'm still trying to get this over and do it and hopefully leave some kind of a mark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/i-m-still-trying-to-make-it-i-m-still-trying-to-get-this-over-and-do/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) > [Louis Armstrong is quite simply the most important person in American music. He is to 20th century music (I did not say jazz) what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/louis-armstrong-is-quite-simply-the-most-important-person-in-american/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) > [Blues and jazz is our American music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/blues-and-jazz-is-our-american-music/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Sun Studios was where so much of American music exploded from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/sun-studios-was-where-so-much-of-american-music-exploded-from/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [What appeals to me about an American music directorship is the involvement of the conductor with the orchestra and the community. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tate/what-appeals-to-me-about-an-american-music-directorship-is-the/) [Jeffrey Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tate/) [Browse all 132 American music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started with rock n' roll and...then you start to take it apart like a child with a toy and you see there's blues and there's country...Then you go back from country into American music...and you end up in Scotland and Ireland eventually.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elvis Costello" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you-start-to-take-it-apart-like-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you-start-to-take-it-apart-like-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/elvis-costello-1931_american-music_i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you_1743848.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/elvis-costello-1931_american-music_i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you_1743848.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/elvis-costello-1931_american-music_i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you_1743848.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started with rock n' roll and...then you start to take it apart like a child with a toy and you see…” — Elvis Costello", "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": "Elvis Costello", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started with rock n' roll...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you-start-to-take-it-apart-like-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-started-with-rock-n-roll-and-then-you-start-to-take-it-apart-like-a/#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 } } ] } ```