---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hear in the distance, yet as if it were…"
description: "\"I hear in the distance, yet as if it were right beside me, a Symphony. Equal parts dreadful scream, and lovely song. I scream and sing back, smiling, a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/eric-nickel-934_love_i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were_96835.jpg"
---

#  I hear in the distance, yet as if it were right beside me…

![“I hear in the distance, yet as if it were right beside me, a Symphony. Equal parts dreadful scream, and lovely song. I scream and sing back, smiling, as I cry.” quote by Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/eric-nickel-934_love_i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were_96835.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/eric-nickel-934_love_i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were_96835.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/eric-nickel-934_love_i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were_96835.jpg)

> “I hear in the distance, yet as if it were right beside me, a Symphony. Equal parts dreadful scream, and lovely song. I scream and sing back, smiling, as I cry.”

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The distant symphony of dread and beauty compels an emotional response that blends anguish with joy, illustrating the human capacity to create harmony from conflict.

**In simple terms:** Duality of fear and beauty

Key Takeaway

Scream and sing together

Themes

dual emotions inner conflict artistic expression resilience synthesis

Mood

intense cathartic

Type

metaphor poetic

When to use this quote

- creative writing
- music therapy
- psychotherapy
- performance art
- meditative practice

Key Concepts

symphony scream song cry smile

Practical Applications

- expressive arts workshops
- sound‑healing sessions

Questions to Reflect On

- What does it mean to embrace both terror and wonder?
- How can we channel conflict into creativity?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't think anyone can listen to a Smiths song and not scream your lungs out in recognition of what it's like to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-don-t-think-anyone-can-listen-to-a-smiths-song-and-not-scream-your/)

[Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/)

> [Each time, I hear your lovely song, It makes me smile. Every time, I hear you scream, It breaks my heart. Any time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/each-time-i-hear-your-lovely-song-it-makes-me-smile-every-time-i-hear/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [She sat beside me, To feel safe, Loved, At peace, Never understanding, It was her, That allowed me, To radiate, Those exquisite things. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/she-sat-beside-me-to-feel-safe-loved-at-peace-never-understanding-it/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [“I now wondered if the lullaby of death was not a lovely song, but the droning of flies. If flies and maggots were all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-now-wondered-if-the-lullaby-of-death-was-not-a-lovely-song-but-the/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [I have struggled for decades now with the fear of and resistance to change - mostly in the realms of technology, transportation, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/i-have-struggled-for-decades-now-with-the-fear-of-and-resistance-to/)

[Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/)

> [You are the promised kiss of springtime that makes the lonely winter seem long. You are the breathless hush of evening that trembles on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/you-are-the-promised-kiss-of-springtime-that-makes-the-lonely-winter/)

[Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/)

> [Rhythm, that's an essential part of cooking. The sound of a lovely song and the smell of some dish in the oven are equally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/rhythm-that-s-an-essential-part-of-cooking-the-sound-of-a-lovely-song/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [I think that I originally became an actor because I was super, super dramatic. Over the top, all the time. I was the kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanna-masterson/i-think-that-i-originally-became-an-actor-because-i-was-super-super/)

Alanna Masterson

> [which pisses her off and makes her scream and i look around my room and miss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-johnson/which-pisses-her-off-and-makes-her-scream-and-i-look-around-my-room/)

[Angela Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-johnson/)

> [I'd rather not deal with such questions, because anyway it's like shearing a pig - lots of screams but little wool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/i-d-rather-not-deal-with-such-questions-because-anyway-it-s-like/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [You cannot just scream and yell unless you feel it in your whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esha-gupta/you-cannot-just-scream-and-yell-unless-you-feel-it-in-your-whole-body/)

[Esha Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esha-gupta/)

> [Language just gradually came in, one or two stressed words a time. Before then, I would just scream. I couldn't talk. I couldn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/language-just-gradually-came-in-one-or-two-stressed-words-a-time/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [Being able to scream at the top of my lungs in front of people is very therapeutic. It is a great gift for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/being-able-to-scream-at-the-top-of-my-lungs-in-front-of-people-is/)

[Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/)

> [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

## More by Eric Nickel

> [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Each time, I hear your lovely song, It makes me smile. Every time, I hear you scream, It breaks my heart. Any time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/each-time-i-hear-your-lovely-song-it-makes-me-smile-every-time-i-hear/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Impassioned Lovers… Prelude to the Dance... Trembling... Crying... Lost... Found... Free… First touch... Electric… Terrifying... Liberating… Beautiful Anticipation... Exquisite Realization... Eyes Locked... Hearts pounding……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/impassioned-lovers-prelude-to-the-dance-trembling-crying-lost-found/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Here he is, best picture I could get at the moment. He will watch over you, and keep you safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/here-he-is-best-picture-i-could-get-at-the-moment-he-will-watch-over/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [The moment I lost you, the Sun simply went out. For a time, I wandered in Darkness absolute, understanding truly, the bottomless depths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/the-moment-i-lost-you-the-sun-simply-went-out-for-a-time-i-wandered/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Each day, I awaken sad, tiny fragments once more; but than I remember, and gathering those beautiful little pieces, I smile, and giggle; waiting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/each-day-i-awaken-sad-tiny-fragments-once-more-but-than-i-remember/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [I have noticed, Within myself, A terrible design flaw. I will have to look into this further, When the Monster returns, For Maintenance. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/i-have-noticed-within-myself-a-terrible-design-flaw-i-will-have-to/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [There are many, that reside within, some masters of love, others, of sin. A symphony of voices, inside my mind, Yet a collection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/there-are-many-that-reside-within-some-masters-of-love-others-of-sin/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [That sad and grotesque moment of realization, where you come to understand, see, others are far to lost inside themselves, to care about you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/that-sad-and-grotesque-moment-of-realization-where-you-come-to/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [More thread, more blood, more parts. Frantically sewing, giggling, insane. Need more lightning, Heart is running low. When did I become the Doctor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/more-thread-more-blood-more-parts-frantically-sewing-giggling-insane/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [The Last of my kind, standing on the edge of extinction. This hollow World, will notice not, my passing, nor care. As my exquisite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/the-last-of-my-kind-standing-on-the-edge-of-extinction-this-hollow/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [When we allow our Joy, to be determined by others, we are surely Doomed...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/when-we-allow-our-joy-to-be-determined-by-others-we-are-surely-doomed/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [The Soul of a Warrior. Cries out for Battle. The Soul of a Poet, Screams out for Love. I stand between them, Wishing, They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/the-soul-of-a-warrior-cries-out-for-battle-the-soul-of-a-poet-screams/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [OMG! Which one of you stole my Lego's? How the Hell am I supposed to build my rocket ship and get the hell off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/omg-which-one-of-you-stole-my-lego-s-how-the-hell-am-i-supposed-to/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [To Me, the sky is not filled with stars and planets, It is a endlessly flowing vita, Of letters, and words. The Art. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/to-me-the-sky-is-not-filled-with-stars-and-planets-it-is-a-endlessly/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

[Explore all 326 Eric Nickel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

## More Love quotes

> [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/)

[John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/)

[Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“To be loved by a man, truly loved, made a woman feel as if she could burst. Of course, Lia was strong and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-anne/to-be-loved-by-a-man-truly-loved-made-a-woman-feel-as-if-she-could/)

[Melody Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-anne/)

> [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/)

[George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/)

[Browse all 233,035 Love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I hear in the distance, yet as if it were right beside me, a Symphony. Equal parts dreadful scream, and lovely song. I scream and sing back, smiling, as I cry.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eric Nickel"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were-right-beside-me-a-symphony/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Love"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were-right-beside-me-a-symphony/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/eric-nickel-934_love_i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were_96835.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/eric-nickel-934_love_i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were_96835.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/eric-nickel-934_love_i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were_96835.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I hear in the distance, yet as if it were right beside me, a Symphony. Equal parts dreadful scream, and…” — Eric Nickel",
                "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": "Eric Nickel",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I hear in the distance, yet...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were-right-beside-me-a-symphony/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were-right-beside-me-a-symphony/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
