--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life on the road is murder. It's as…" description: "\"Life on the road is murder. It's as though life begins and ends when you have your horn in your mouth.\" — Gerry Mulligan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/gerry-mulligan-18101_ends_life-on-the-road-is-murder-it-s-as-thoug_1386640.png" --- # Life on the road is murder. It's as though life begins and… ![“Life on the road is murder. It's as though life begins and ends when you have your horn in your mouth.” quote by Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/gerry-mulligan-18101_ends_life-on-the-road-is-murder-it-s-as-thoug_1386640.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/gerry-mulligan-18101_ends_life-on-the-road-is-murder-it-s-as-thoug_1386640.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/gerry-mulligan-18101_ends_life-on-the-road-is-murder-it-s-as-thoug_1386640.png) > “Life on the road is murder. It's as though life begins and ends when you have your horn in your mouth.” [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote likens the intense, risky lifestyle of a touring musician to a violent act, suggesting constant danger and pressure. **In simple terms:** Being on tour feels like a dangerous, relentless struggle. Key Takeaway Acknowledge the pressure and seek balance. Themes stress danger musician life touring risk Mood anxious intense Type cautionary reflective When to use this quote - musician life - road trips - high‑stress jobs - creative work Key Concepts existentialism performance anxiety Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect yourself while pursuing passion? - What support systems help mitigate touring stress? A Different Perspective The metaphor may romanticize hardship, ignoring practical safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Ends Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends-horn-4819584/) [Horns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horns/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Begins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-begins/) [Life On The Road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-on-the-road/) [Life Road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-road/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Murder Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder-life-1050969/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road/) [Road Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road-murder-3868064/) ## Related quotes > [My whole life was duality: Here's my life at home, here's my life on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hetfield/my-whole-life-was-duality-here-s-my-life-at-home-here-s-my-life-on/) [James Hetfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hetfield/) > [It is very hard leaving home for life on the road. The toll that it takes is actually immeasurable, and you can think all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/it-is-very-hard-leaving-home-for-life-on-the-road-the-toll-that-it/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [My rite of passage into my brave new world, life on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-loggins/my-rite-of-passage-into-my-brave-new-world-life-on-the-road/) [Kenny Loggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-loggins/) > [Life on the road can get a little one-dimensional. I didn't want to reach 40 and have to say all I'd done was look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/life-on-the-road-can-get-a-little-one-dimensional-i-didn-t-want-to/) [Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/) > [I had always loved life on the road. It was just something that appealed to me very deeply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-had-always-loved-life-on-the-road-it-was-just-something-that/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [Life on the road not easy. You live in the cold arena, hotel, airport day after day, you get tired, lonely very quick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-iron-sheik/life-on-the-road-not-easy-you-live-in-the-cold-arena-hotel-airport/) [The Iron Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-iron-sheik/) > [I love life on the road. I'm in a different city every night and it never gets old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-love-life-on-the-road-i-m-in-a-different-city-every-night-and-it/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I don't live my life on the road. I'm getting on a bit and there's a lot of other things in my life. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gilmour/i-don-t-live-my-life-on-the-road-i-m-getting-on-a-bit-and-there-s-a/) [David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gilmour/) > [If you really do live a life on the road it completely changes you as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-savoretti/if-you-really-do-live-a-life-on-the-road-it-completely-changes-you-as/) [Jack Savoretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-savoretti/) > [I think life on the road really suits very egotistical men. It's set up for kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-think-life-on-the-road-really-suits-very-egotistical-men-it-s-set/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [I like life on the road. It's a lot easier than civilian life. You kind of feel like you're in a motorcycle gang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-like-life-on-the-road-it-s-a-lot-easier-than-civilian-life-you-kind/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [If you hit a kangaroo in the street and you have to pull out on the side of the road, it can get back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-staples/if-you-hit-a-kangaroo-in-the-street-and-you-have-to-pull-out-on-the/) [Vince Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-staples/) > [“Secrets are what can ease or crush a soul, mend or destroy a heart, and rescue or murder a life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-hurley/secrets-are-what-can-ease-or-crush-a-soul-mend-or-destroy-a-heart-and/) [Alexis Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-hurley/) > [“Life on the road was just boring. They would land at an airport and take a taxi to the hotel. There they would sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-gilles-seidel/life-on-the-road-was-just-boring-they-would-land-at-an-airport-and/) [Kathleen Gilles Seidel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-gilles-seidel/) > [I've always eaten out a lot as I live life on the road, so I never conceived of eating anything healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-wallace/i-ve-always-eaten-out-a-lot-as-i-live-life-on-the-road-so-i-never/) [Gregg Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-wallace/) ## More by Gerry Mulligan > [I've appeared on some other people's albums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-ve-appeared-on-some-other-people-s-albums/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [ When \[Billy\] Strayhorn came on the scene, he just blew us away. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-he-just-blew-us-away/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I've always wanted a C trumpet on top, to have that same kind of facility without shouting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-ve-always-wanted-a-c-trumpet-on-top-to-have-that-same-kind-of/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [When we've finished the current tour I'm going to go back to Italy and see if I can do some more writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/when-we-ve-finished-the-current-tour-i-m-going-to-go-back-to-italy/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Miles Davis is one who writes songs when he plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/miles-davis-is-one-who-writes-songs-when-he-plays/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Only the French, I guess, really use tenor and alto to any great extent in the orchestra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/only-the-french-i-guess-really-use-tenor-and-alto-to-any-great-extent/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Because if you've got the wit, you can make anything into a melody, ultimately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/because-if-you-ve-got-the-wit-you-can-make-anything-into-a-melody/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Then, of course, I played alto and tenor, wherever there were jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/then-of-course-i-played-alto-and-tenor-wherever-there-were-jobs/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Now, the instrumentation in the jazz band and the jazz dance band has gone through many evolutions. For instance, in the 'twenties the tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/now-the-instrumentation-in-the-jazz-band-and-the-jazz-dance-band-has/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [So I played alto for quite a while until I saved up the money for the baritone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/so-i-played-alto-for-quite-a-while-until-i-saved-up-the-money-for-the/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [The other saxophones, except as solo instruments, really don't have much point in the orchestra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/the-other-saxophones-except-as-solo-instruments-really-don-t-have/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I'm fascinated with the electronic devices that we can mess around with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-m-fascinated-with-the-electronic-devices-that-we-can-mess-around/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I would think, of all the saxophones, the baritone would be the most logical instrument if anybody was adding a voice to the symphony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-would-think-of-all-the-saxophones-the-baritone-would-be-the-most/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I like what I hear other guys doing, but the thing that really attracts me is melodic playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-like-what-i-hear-other-guys-doing-but-the-thing-that-really/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [The first reason for starting to do the symphony concerts was to play this new piece of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/the-first-reason-for-starting-to-do-the-symphony-concerts-was-to-play/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) [Explore all 35 Gerry Mulligan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) ## More Ends quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [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/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) [Browse all 20,790 Ends quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life on the road is murder. 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