--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It sounds like I'm joking when I say it…" description: "\"It sounds like I'm joking when I say it, but when I wrote 'Take Me To Church' and a lot of these things, I didn't think they would be hits. I thought I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/hozier-2856_audience_it-sounds-like-i-m-joking-when-i-say-it_1756936.png" --- # It sounds like I'm joking when I say it, but when I wrote… ![“It sounds like I'm joking when I say it, but when I wrote 'Take Me To Church' and a lot of these things, I didn't think they would be hits. I thought I was writing for a potentially smaller audience.” quote by Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/hozier-2856_audience_it-sounds-like-i-m-joking-when-i-say-it_1756936.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/hozier-2856_audience_it-sounds-like-i-m-joking-when-i-say-it_1756936.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/hozier-2856_audience_it-sounds-like-i-m-joking-when-i-say-it_1756936.png) > “It sounds like I'm joking when I say it, but when I wrote 'Take Me To Church' and a lot of these things, I didn't think they would be hits. I thought I was writing for a potentially smaller audience.” [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) ## 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 underestimated his work's impact, revealing how creators often misjudge audience reception. **In simple terms:** Artists may misjudge their work's success. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty in creative expectations. Themes creativity expectation humility success Mood thoughtful hopeful Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - songwriting - album releases - marketing strategies - career planning Key Concepts artistic process audience perception Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do you make about your work's reception? - How can you stay grounded amid unexpected success? A Different Perspective Success can be unpredictable despite careful planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Today, let us be mindful of what we say to other. Sometimes while we joking with them we say things that we think are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/today-let-us-be-mindful-of-what-we-say-to-other-sometimes-while-we/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [People think I am joking when I say my favourite actors are Shammi Kapoor and Dara Singh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/people-think-i-am-joking-when-i-say-my-favourite-actors-are-shammi/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [Humor and absurdism are inevitable. If you look at our current massive flow of consumer products and digital communication and related media from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-belz/humor-and-absurdism-are-inevitable-if-you-look-at-our-current-massive/) [Aaron Belz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-belz/) > [I like joking around and being a little mischievous. Once an audience or even a group of friends realizes that you're being benevolent about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-like-joking-around-and-being-a-little-mischievous-once-an-audience/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [I'm not one of those people who are, like, always joking in person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-m-not-one-of-those-people-who-are-like-always-joking-in-person/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [The way I did the first album... the way I wrote 'Church'... was just to trust my instincts with the music and let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/the-way-i-did-the-first-album-the-way-i-wrote-church-was-just-to/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [I think in work like 'Passion According to St Luke,' which I wrote when the Church was being persecuted by the Communist regime, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-penderecki/i-think-in-work-like-passion-according-to-st-luke-which-i-wrote-when/) [Krzysztof Penderecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-penderecki/) > [“I'm joking when I say I'm the grand-pop of those claiming to be an avatar-messiah or god. But if they're serious, then, I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fakeer-ishavardas/i-m-joking-when-i-say-i-m-the-grand-pop-of-those-claiming-to-be-an/) [Fakeer Ishavardas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fakeer-ishavardas/) > [I was feeling really, really good about myself and then I was papped and this picture went online and I remember seeing a comment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-higgins/i-was-feeling-really-really-good-about-myself-and-then-i-was-papped/) [Maura Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-higgins/) > [We are being entertained all the time - in the bathroom, on the train, in our beds. Sure, there is a smaller audience for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/we-are-being-entertained-all-the-time-in-the-bathroom-on-the-train-in/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [Those who turn against the Church do so to play to their own private gallery, but when, one day, the applause has died down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/those-who-turn-against-the-church-do-so-to-play-to-their-own-private/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > ['Community' gets to be the indie movie, while a 'Modern Family' gets to be the big blockbuster release. They service that big massive audience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/community-gets-to-be-the-indie-movie-while-a-modern-family-gets-to-be/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [Art has a smaller audience than, say, movies or other forms of mass consumption. But that doesn't mean the work doesn't have an impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/art-has-a-smaller-audience-than-say-movies-or-other-forms-of-mass/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [American actresses have more problems than I do; I'm lucky to be able to play what I want for a smaller audience, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carice-van-houten/american-actresses-have-more-problems-than-i-do-i-m-lucky-to-be-able/) [Carice van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carice-van-houten/) > [The choice or decision to take on a film certainly isn't calculated as far as doing something that will be successful against something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/the-choice-or-decision-to-take-on-a-film-certainly-isn-t-calculated/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) ## More by Hozier > [If I don't think something's worth saying, I don't think it's quite there, I'd rather just not say it, to be honest. In that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/if-i-don-t-think-something-s-worth-saying-i-don-t-think-it-s-quite/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [You grow up and recognize that in any educated secular society, there's no excuse for ignorance. You have to recognize in yourself, and challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/you-grow-up-and-recognize-that-in-any-educated-secular-society-there/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [I find lyrics can come at any time during the day, as can music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/i-find-lyrics-can-come-at-any-time-during-the-day-as-can-music/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [I didn't know what to expect of real America. What shocked me was the diversity of it and how different every city is. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/i-didn-t-know-what-to-expect-of-real-america-what-shocked-me-was-the/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/there-is-no-sweeter-innocence-than-our-gentle-sin/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [By the time I was in my teens, I was listening to Delta blues and jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/by-the-time-i-was-in-my-teens-i-was-listening-to-delta-blues-and-jazz/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [I remember writing lyrics for 'Take Me to Church' for a long time before I even had a song in mind for. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/i-remember-writing-lyrics-for-take-me-to-church-for-a-long-time/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [Blues is a very physical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/blues-is-a-very-physical-music/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [The public discourse online is not done through the polite language of debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/the-public-discourse-online-is-not-done-through-the-polite-language/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [I am absolutely behind equal rights but I am also bridging the gap between cultural mentality and society's mindset as there are huge amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/i-am-absolutely-behind-equal-rights-but-i-am-also-bridging-the-gap/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [I think all that we would know of America back home is foreign policy, and maybe the snippets of the madness of political culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/i-think-all-that-we-would-know-of-america-back-home-is-foreign-policy/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [I think it's very hard to write things about being joyful. I find that quite difficult. I think when you're happy, you don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/i-think-it-s-very-hard-to-write-things-about-being-joyful-i-find-that/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [I love a lot of Irish folk music and Irish folk songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/i-love-a-lot-of-irish-folk-music-and-irish-folk-songs/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [The first time I heard Tom Waits, it was like everything just flipped. It was just this fascination with him. My cousin showed me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/the-first-time-i-heard-tom-waits-it-was-like-everything-just-flipped/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [It's kind of strange to hear your songs sung back to you! You get a big insight into what people connect to, what's moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/it-s-kind-of-strange-to-hear-your-songs-sung-back-to-you-you-get-a/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) [Explore all 147 Hozier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It sounds like I'm joking when I say it, but when I wrote 'Take Me To Church' and a lot of these things, I didn't think they would be hits. 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