--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can understand why it takes some people…" description: "\"I can understand why it takes some people a long time to really be a singer. You have to find out, 'Why am I singing? What am I doing this for?' I do i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/harry-dean-stanton-4043_find_i-can-understand-why-it-takes-some-peopl_2575990.jpg" --- # I can understand why it takes some people a long time to… ![“I can understand why it takes some people a long time to really be a singer. You have to find out, 'Why am I singing? What am I doing this for?' I do it because I enjoy it, and philosophically, music is a catalyst. It's a refining agent.” quote by Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/harry-dean-stanton-4043_find_i-can-understand-why-it-takes-some-peopl_2575990.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/harry-dean-stanton-4043_find_i-can-understand-why-it-takes-some-peopl_2575990.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/harry-dean-stanton-4043_find_i-can-understand-why-it-takes-some-peopl_2575990.jpg) > “I can understand why it takes some people a long time to really be a singer. You have to find out, 'Why am I singing? What am I doing this for?' I do it because I enjoy it, and philosophically, music is a catalyst. It's a refining agent.” [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on finding personal meaning in singing, viewing music as a transformative catalyst. **In simple terms:** Music transforms and refines. Key Takeaway Seek purpose in creative expression. Themes creativity purpose transformation Mood inspirational reflective Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - music therapy - career counseling - personal branding Key Concepts artistic philosophy self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - Why does music feel catalytic to you? - How can you find purpose in other arts? A Different Perspective May not apply to non‑musicians. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Philosophically Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophically-music-1734502/) [Really Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-singer-597275/) [Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singer/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Singing Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing-doing-1734500/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a musician at heart. I know I'm not really a singer. I couldn't compete with real singers. But I sing because the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/i-m-a-musician-at-heart-i-know-i-m-not-really-a-singer-i-couldn-t/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [Sometimes I write the song lyrics on facebook and say singing so that people won't notice that I'm actualy not singing but doing or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe/sometimes-i-write-the-song-lyrics-on-facebook-and-say-singing-so-that/) [Simphiwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe/) > [All I'm really good at is making music and singing and doing this. I'm not good at fashion, so I don't see a point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessia-cara/all-i-m-really-good-at-is-making-music-and-singing-and-doing-this-i-m/) [Alessia Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessia-cara/) > [Things are such that someone lifting a cup, or watching the rain, petting a dog, or singing, just singing - could be doing as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/things-are-such-that-someone-lifting-a-cup-or-watching-the-rain/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [After the first album, I spent a lot of time being like, 'I'm not really a singer.' That kind of mentality doesn't help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mayberry/after-the-first-album-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-being-like-i-m-not-really/) [Lauren Mayberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mayberry/) > [I'm really a singer, so I love songs and I love singing. I like rap music, but I didn't grow up freestyling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-idol/i-m-really-a-singer-so-i-love-songs-and-i-love-singing-i-like-rap/) [Billy Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-idol/) > [I'm not really a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-landry/i-m-not-really-a-singer/) [Jarvis Landry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-landry/) > [I could have made it as a singer, but I went with acting - surrendered to it, in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-could-have-made-it-as-a-singer-but-i-went-with-acting-surrendered/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [It all started when I was 11 months old, singing a song by Jodeci in the back seat of the car. My mother turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/it-all-started-when-i-was-11-months-old-singing-a-song-by-jodeci-in/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [“No man sings as beautifully as when his song is accompanied by a woman’s voice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/no-man-sings-as-beautifully-as-when-his-song-is-accompanied-by-a/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [My dad sung and played piano. But he was also a man of God. He was a minister. So when Sam Cooke would come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/my-dad-sung-and-played-piano-but-he-was-also-a-man-of-god-he-was-a/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [I love singing live, actually. And I'm dying to sing in a role, whether it's in a musical or a biographical film about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dockery/i-love-singing-live-actually-and-i-m-dying-to-sing-in-a-role-whether/) [Michelle Dockery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dockery/) > [We of the soft-crooning radio type of singer are giving the people what they want. The American public as a whole does not care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-vallee/we-of-the-soft-crooning-radio-type-of-singer-are-giving-the-people/) [Rudy Vallee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-vallee/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I was singing the blues when I was six. Kind of sad, eh?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-was-singing-the-blues-when-i-was-six-kind-of-sad-eh/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) ## More by Harry Dean Stanton > [Fame in itself is, you know... It involves a whole discussion on just that word, 'fame.' It's a power; it's another degree of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/fame-in-itself-is-you-know-it-involves-a-whole-discussion-on-just/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I watch television. Game shows - I hate the hosts and the people on them, and I love the questions and the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-watch-television-game-shows-i-hate-the-hosts-and-the-people-on-them/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I was singing the blues when I was six. Kind of sad, eh?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-was-singing-the-blues-when-i-was-six-kind-of-sad-eh/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I never liked being ordered around - which, of course, was an overreaction. I eventually found out that I didn't mind being ordered around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-never-liked-being-ordered-around-which-of-course-was-an/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I've never been ambitious about recording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-ve-never-been-ambitious-about-recording/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I know little stories that happen to people around me, and I can repeat that in a way that has some color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-know-little-stories-that-happen-to-people-around-me-and-i-can/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I worked with the best directors - Martin Scorsese, John Huston, David Lynch, Alfred Hitchcock. Alfred Hitchcock was great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-worked-with-the-best-directors-martin-scorsese-john-huston-david/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [The first film I ever remember - I think my mother took me to it - was called 'She Married Her Boss' with Melvyn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/the-first-film-i-ever-remember-i-think-my-mother-took-me-to-it-was/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [The band I've played with for 10 or 12 years now, we've been all over, but we mostly play in LA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/the-band-i-ve-played-with-for-10-or-12-years-now-we-ve-been-all-over/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [When man began to think he was a separate person with a separate soul, it created a violent situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/when-man-began-to-think-he-was-a-separate-person-with-a-separate-soul/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I was the classic killer. I always played an angry man. I think it was because I used to really be like that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-was-the-classic-killer-i-always-played-an-angry-man-i-think-it-was/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I like to watch 'Paris, Texas,' but I have no desire to see it. I did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-like-to-watch-paris-texas-but-i-have-no-desire-to-see-it-i-did-it/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I would've preferred to blossom earlier in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-would-ve-preferred-to-blossom-earlier-in-life/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I do the same series of five exercises 21 times each day - an ancient Tibetan practice that stimulates your chakras.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-do-the-same-series-of-five-exercises-21-times-each-day-an-ancient/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I've never seen a Western that was really truthful. Most are just morality plays. 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In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Consumers can choose organic cotton grown without pesticides, but it uses more water and requires more land than conventional crops. Organic cotton can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/consumers-can-choose-organic-cotton-grown-without-pesticides-but-it/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) > [You will find that the more successful the individual, the less inclined he is to make excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-joseph-schwartz/you-will-find-that-the-more-successful-the-individual-the-less/) [David Joseph Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-joseph-schwartz/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [They will find somebody younger, somebody funnier, somebody more engaged. As long as the court genre is viable, people are going to be looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/they-will-find-somebody-younger-somebody-funnier-somebody-more/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [I'm very fond of classical music, especially Mozart. I find it relaxes me and helps me concentrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guler-sabanci/i-m-very-fond-of-classical-music-especially-mozart-i-find-it-relaxes/) [Guler Sabanci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guler-sabanci/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [Reading counts as partying, even if you're not enjoying it! Even if someone's forcing you to read, you can find a way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/reading-counts-as-partying-even-if-you-re-not-enjoying-it-even-if/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [George Roy Hill, Redford, and I have been looking for a script to do together for 13 years. 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