--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's better when you don't understand the…" description: "\"It's better when you don't understand the words in music. Because when you don't understand the words, you have to listen to what somebody means, not w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ian-brennan-68315_mean_it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-th_92916.jpg" --- # It's better when you don't understand the words in music… ![“It's better when you don't understand the words in music. Because when you don't understand the words, you have to listen to what somebody means, not what they're saying. And if they mean it.” quote by Ian Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ian-brennan-68315_mean_it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-th_92916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ian-brennan-68315_mean_it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-th_92916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ian-brennan-68315_mean_it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-th_92916.jpg) > “It's better when you don't understand the words in music. Because when you don't understand the words, you have to listen to what somebody means, not what they're saying. And if they mean it.” Ian Brennan ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When lyrics are unintelligible, listeners attend to emotional tone, revealing the music’s deeper intent. **In simple terms:** Unclear words shift focus to feeling Key Takeaway Emotion transcends language Themes music communication emotion interpretation meaning Mood thoughtful introspective Type observation philosophical When to use this quote - song analysis class - therapy session - creative writing Key Concepts words understanding listening Practical Applications - lecture - blog post Questions to Reflect On - How does ambiguity affect emotional impact? - What does this suggest about universal music? A Different Perspective null ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [People don't understand, words can be the most deadliest weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malishia-m/people-don-t-understand-words-can-be-the-most-deadliest-weapons/) [Malishia M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malishia-m/) > [To listen fully means to pay close attention to what is being said beneath the words. You listen not only to the 'music,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/to-listen-fully-means-to-pay-close-attention-to-what-is-being-said/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [Listen, when somebody says, 'I take the fifth,' well, you know, they did something, OK? Why else would they take the fifth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-grace/listen-when-somebody-says-i-take-the-fifth-well-you-know-they-did/) [Nancy Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-grace/) > [I'm always willing to listen to somebody else's ideas...because we can always learn more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sailor-jerry/i-m-always-willing-to-listen-to-somebody-else-s-ideas-because-we-can/) [Sailor Jerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sailor-jerry/) > [I'm not gonna sit back and listen to somebody who listens to 3LW all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-ron/i-m-not-gonna-sit-back-and-listen-to-somebody-who-listens-to-3lw-all/) [Cam'ron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-ron/) > [Listen, I'm somebody that finds joy in being judgy and funny and ripping on someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stassi-schroeder/listen-i-m-somebody-that-finds-joy-in-being-judgy-and-funny-and/) [Stassi Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stassi-schroeder/) > [People have to listen to somebody speak, that the person that you're listening to is saying the right stuff, and that's all that really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-dash/people-have-to-listen-to-somebody-speak-that-the-person-that-you-re/) [Damon Dash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-dash/) > [The only way to fight nostalgia is to listen to somebody else's nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hamill/the-only-way-to-fight-nostalgia-is-to-listen-to-somebody-else-s/) [Pete Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hamill/) > [From alternative to Brazilian to hip-hop to old R&B, that's what we listen to. And we don't just listen to it only if somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taboo/from-alternative-to-brazilian-to-hip-hop-to-old-r-b-that-s-what-we/) [Taboo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taboo/) > [“listen, you a wonder. you a city of a woman. you got a geography of your own. listen, somebody need a map to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/listen-you-a-wonder-you-a-city-of-a-woman-you-got-a-geography-of-your/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [You should never be so high and mighty you can't listen to somebody else and learn something from them. Leadership is as much about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/you-should-never-be-so-high-and-mighty-you-can-t-listen-to-somebody/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [I think it does suggest that the American people really do want to listen to somebody who actually has some solutions, some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-moseley-braun/i-think-it-does-suggest-that-the-american-people-really-do-want-to/) [Carol Moseley Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-moseley-braun/) > [There are so many conditions to programming in America, where it's dominated by these people that own 800 radio stations that have no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/there-are-so-many-conditions-to-programming-in-america-where-it-s/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [I do what I do. You like it, great. You don't, go listen to somebody else. I'm stickin' with the people who stuck with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-do-what-i-do-you-like-it-great-you-don-t-go-listen-to-somebody-else/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Because we all need somebody to talk to, somebody that will listen somebody that understands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-we-all-need-somebody-to-talk-to-somebody-that-will-listen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ian Brennan > [Music and other forms of art are by far the most effective kind of social-work that exists. A single, nameless one-hit wonder brings more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brennan/music-and-other-forms-of-art-are-by-far-the-most-effective-kind-of/) Ian Brennan > [To fully appreciate the music, you have to see the misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brennan/to-fully-appreciate-the-music-you-have-to-see-the-misery/) Ian Brennan > [The thing we look for everywhere is, you know, music that resonates with us. This is what moves me. And hopefully my music will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brennan/the-thing-we-look-for-everywhere-is-you-know-music-that-resonates/) Ian Brennan Explore all 4 Ian Brennan quotes ## More Mean quotes > [That we have the vote means nothing. That we use it in the right way means everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-henry-hoover/that-we-have-the-vote-means-nothing-that-we-use-it-in-the-right-way/) [Lou Henry Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-henry-hoover/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Being blonde, for me, means never having to say: 'I'll have the honey-striped half-head of highlights for £200,' to a bored colourist in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-johnson/being-blonde-for-me-means-never-having-to-say-i-ll-have-the-honey/) [Rachel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-johnson/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) Browse all 33,959 Mean quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's better when you don't understand the words in music. Because when you don't understand the words, you have to listen to what somebody means, not what they're saying. And if they mean it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ian Brennan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brennan/it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-the-words-in-music-because-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mean" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brennan/it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-the-words-in-music-because-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ian-brennan-68315_mean_it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-th_92916.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ian-brennan-68315_mean_it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-th_92916.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ian-brennan-68315_mean_it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-th_92916.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's better when you don't understand the words in music. Because when you don't understand the words, you…” — Ian Brennan", "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": "Ian Brennan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-brennan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's better when you don't understand...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brennan/it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-the-words-in-music-because-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brennan/it-s-better-when-you-don-t-understand-the-words-in-music-because-when/#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 } } ] } ```