--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Parents, preachers, and politicians think…" description: "\"“Parents, preachers, and politicians think rock music is the source of young people's despair. They don't understand it's just a reflection. They also ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/jeri-smith-ready-3642_despair_parents-preachers-and-politicians-think_2164163.png" --- # Parents, preachers, and politicians think rock music is… ![“Parents, preachers, and politicians think rock music is the source of young people's despair. They don't understand it's just a reflection. They also forget that music can be a source of hope, a reason to live.” quote by Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/jeri-smith-ready-3642_despair_parents-preachers-and-politicians-think_2164163.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/jeri-smith-ready-3642_despair_parents-preachers-and-politicians-think_2164163.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/jeri-smith-ready-3642_despair_parents-preachers-and-politicians-think_2164163.png) > ““Parents, preachers, and politicians think rock music is the source of young people's despair. They don't understand it's just a reflection. They also forget that music can be a source of hope, a reason to live.”” [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) ## 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 argues that rock music is often blamed for youth despair, but it actually mirrors society and can also inspire hope. **In simple terms:** Rock music reflects society and can inspire hope. Key Takeaway Music mirrors and uplifts. Themes culture media influence hope Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teen counseling - media literacy - community events - personal coping Key Concepts sociology music theory Questions to Reflect On - How does music reflect personal struggles? - In what ways can music foster resilience? A Different Perspective Blaming music oversimplifies complex social issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Hope Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-reason-1101030/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-is/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents Preachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-preachers-3914568/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason to live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-to-live/) [Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection/) [Rock music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-music/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Think Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-rock-300675/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [I got a family I got to answer to. I got kids... my older parents and my preachers and everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/i-got-a-family-i-got-to-answer-to-i-got-kids-my-older-parents-and-my/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [I think that's what it is with rock music. It helps you hang tough, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/i-think-that-s-what-it-is-with-rock-music-it-helps-you-hang-tough-i/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [I don't think rock music has any positive function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/i-don-t-think-rock-music-has-any-positive-function/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [I was raised to think that rock was music for ignorant people who didn't think for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/i-was-raised-to-think-that-rock-was-music-for-ignorant-people-who/) [Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/) > [See, to me, rock'n'roll doesn't have any point. It's just fun. It has a million different angles and they're all valid. But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/see-to-me-rock-n-roll-doesn-t-have-any-point-it-s-just-fun-it-has-a/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [I think the rock'n'roll myth of living on the edge is a pile of crap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-smith/i-think-the-rock-n-roll-myth-of-living-on-the-edge-is-a-pile-of-crap/) [Robert Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-smith/) > [When there are rock festivals where there are sometimes 120,000 people and they're all sold out and they're epic, I think rock is alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-shomo/when-there-are-rock-festivals-where-there-are-sometimes-120-000/) [Caleb Shomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-shomo/) > [I think rock records tend to be very expensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-summers/i-think-rock-records-tend-to-be-very-expensive/) [Andy Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-summers/) > [I don't think there should be a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-klinghoffer/i-don-t-think-there-should-be-a-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-period/) [Josh Klinghoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-klinghoffer/) > [I think the rock audience still likes to have a physical product. The demand for owning a physical copy is still there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wilson/i-think-the-rock-audience-still-likes-to-have-a-physical-product-the/) [Steven Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wilson/) > [I think rock should always stay a little bit outside the pale; I think it should remain a little bit dangerous - a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/i-think-rock-should-always-stay-a-little-bit-outside-the-pale-i-think/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) > [When you think about it, rock bottom is the best place to start. When you're down there, there's nowhere else to go but up !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/when-you-think-about-it-rock-bottom-is-the-best-place-to-start-when/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I've never supported this concept of going after Napster. I think the rock bands who fought this were wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-ve-never-supported-this-concept-of-going-after-napster-i-think-the/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [I have a saying, which is, 'Crazy is good for business.' I think rock and roll really is about being a bit crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-have-a-saying-which-is-crazy-is-good-for-business-i-think-rock-and/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [No, I don't think rock 'n' roll will ever fade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-clark/no-i-don-t-think-rock-n-roll-will-ever-fade/) [Dave Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-clark/) ## More by Jeri Smith-Ready > [“Hey, it’s not like I was saving myself for the day you had a body again, so don’t get excited.” “Too late.” He curved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/hey-it-s-not-like-i-was-saving-myself-for-the-day-you-had-a-body/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [It's not our ability to get forgiveness that saves us. It's out ability to grant forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/it-s-not-our-ability-to-get-forgiveness-that-saves-us-it-s-out/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“I suppressed another shiver - I did not want Zachary taking off any more clothes on my account.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/i-suppressed-another-shiver-i-did-not-want-zachary-taking-off-any/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“You obviously haven’t lived in D.C. very long if you think two and a half minutes is too soon to talk politics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/you-obviously-haven-t-lived-in-d-c-very-long-if-you-think-two-and-a/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“This one's for Aura. You all know who that is by now. The only girl I've ever loved. I wrote her a song, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/this-one-s-for-aura-you-all-know-who-that-is-by-now-the-only-girl-i/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“One of those times," he said, "I think I'd take a nap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/one-of-those-times-he-said-i-think-i-d-take-a-nap/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“Forever” by Logan Keeley October 18, 20xx Lying beside me in the failure of flesh, You wait for the words that will let your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/forever-by-logan-keeley-october-18-20xx-lying-beside-me-in-the/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“You can give your life meaning.' She stroked my forehead from the center to the temples, with just her fingertips. 'We all can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/you-can-give-your-life-meaning-she-stroked-my-forehead-from-the/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“This was Bad with a capital Hell No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/this-was-bad-with-a-capital-hell-no/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“Don’t tell me no this time, Aura. Please. Don’t make me stop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/don-t-tell-me-no-this-time-aura-please-don-t-make-me-stop/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“Aw, he’s shy. How loveable, huggable, stuff-in-a-bag-and-take-home-able.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/aw-he-s-shy-how-loveable-huggable-stuff-in-a-bag-and-take-home-able/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“I open my eyes. Yech, boyfriend thoughts, the kind I haven’t had since I was a teenager. It’s one thing to imagine Shane naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/i-open-my-eyes-yech-boyfriend-thoughts-the-kind-i-haven-t-had-since-i/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“The phone in my hand buzzed. Logan had just texted I Love You - so cute how he never abbreviated it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/the-phone-in-my-hand-buzzed-logan-had-just-texted-i-love-you-so-cute/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“But it was time to stop forgetting the world–and time to start changing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/but-it-was-time-to-stop-forgetting-the-world-and-time-to-start/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [“But in the depth of Zachary's weary, determined eyes, I saw more than a desperate longing. I saw a future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/but-in-the-depth-of-zachary-s-weary-determined-eyes-i-saw-more-than-a/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) [Explore all 123 Jeri Smith-Ready quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) [Louaiq8](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louaiq8/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Parents, preachers, and politicians think rock music is the source of young people's despair. They don't understand it's just a reflection. They also forget that music can be a source of hope, a reason to live.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeri Smith-Ready" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/parents-preachers-and-politicians-think-rock-music-is-the-source-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despair" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/parents-preachers-and-politicians-think-rock-music-is-the-source-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/jeri-smith-ready-3642_despair_parents-preachers-and-politicians-think_2164163.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/jeri-smith-ready-3642_despair_parents-preachers-and-politicians-think_2164163.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/jeri-smith-ready-3642_despair_parents-preachers-and-politicians-think_2164163.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Parents, preachers, and politicians think rock music is the source of young people's despair. They don't…” — Jeri Smith-Ready", "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": "Jeri Smith-Ready", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Parents, preachers, and politicians think rock...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/parents-preachers-and-politicians-think-rock-music-is-the-source-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/parents-preachers-and-politicians-think-rock-music-is-the-source-of/#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 } } ] } ```