--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a weird life because I live on…" description: "\"I have a weird life because I live on songwriting royalties, which are a strange income. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn't. ... I want to grow u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/joe-strummer-8825_audience_i-have-a-weird-life-because-i-live-on-so_117112.jpg" --- # I have a weird life because I live on songwriting… ![“I have a weird life because I live on songwriting royalties, which are a strange income. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn't. ... I want to grow up with my audience. I don't expect to be getting through to the younger pop crowd. I learned that from Paul Simon. ... When you blame yourself, you…” quote by Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/joe-strummer-8825_audience_i-have-a-weird-life-because-i-live-on-so_117112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/joe-strummer-8825_audience_i-have-a-weird-life-because-i-live-on-so_117112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/joe-strummer-8825_audience_i-have-a-weird-life-because-i-live-on-so_117112.jpg) > “I have a weird life because I live on songwriting royalties, which are a strange income. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn't. ... I want to grow up with my audience. I don't expect to be getting through to the younger pop crowd. I learned that from Paul Simon. ... When you blame yourself, you learn from it. If you blame someone else, you don't learn nothing, cause hey, it's not your fault, it's his fault, over there. ... People have told me songs I've written have changed their life. That's remarkable. That keeps your faith.” [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work yields unpredictable income; resilience and learning from personal responsibility sustain artistic growth and audience connection. **In simple terms:** Accept uncertainty, own mistakes, stay connected. Key Takeaway Responsibility fuels artistic perseverance. Themes creativity financial volatility personal growth audience Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - songwriting - freelance design - independent publishing - live performance Key Concepts self‑accountability artistic integrity Practical Applications - Track royalty streams - Cultivate direct fan engagement Questions to Reflect On - How does personal accountability shape artistic evolution? - What strategies mitigate income unpredictability? A Different Perspective Financial instability can limit creative freedom for many artists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Blame someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame-someone/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/) [Royalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/royalty/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting/) [Weird life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weird-life/) ## Related quotes > [When you blame yourself, you learn from it. If you blame someone else, you don't learn nothing, cause hey, it's not your fault, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/when-you-blame-yourself-you-learn-from-it-if-you-blame-someone-else/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [I remember seeing the song in some diners on the selection gadget that plays records at the table while you were eating. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-harris/i-remember-seeing-the-song-in-some-diners-on-the-selection-gadget/) [Phil Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-harris/) > [Its SO much easier to place the blame on others, but we must learn to be 100% accountable for ourselves. We have a personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/its-so-much-easier-to-place-the-blame-on-others-but-we-must-learn-to/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [For what is faith unless it is to believe what you do not see?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-what-is-faith-unless-it-is-to-believe-what-you-do-not-see/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Faith is like electricity. You can't see it, but you can see its light shining on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoni-zygmund/faith-is-like-electricity-you-can-t-see-it-but-you-can-see-its-light/) Antoni Zygmund > [“Dear Daughter, If God created you, why would He fail to look after you? Just as He takes care of the lilies in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/dear-daughter-if-god-created-you-why-would-he-fail-to-look-after-you/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Keep your faith in God, but keep your powder dry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/keep-your-faith-in-god-but-keep-your-powder-dry/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-believe-if-you-keep-your-faith-you-keep-your-trust-you-keep-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [A man can fail, but he isn't a failure until he blames someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/a-man-can-fail-but-he-isn-t-a-failure-until-he-blames-someone-else/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [Losing does not make you a failure; it is when you blame someone for losing when you become a failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/losing-does-not-make-you-a-failure-it-is-when-you-blame-someone-for/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [We're taught as young kids Acknowledge your mistakes, admit your lies, ... It's cathartic. That's what I think the speech did. He didn't just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foley/we-re-taught-as-young-kids-acknowledge-your-mistakes-admit-your-lies/) [Mark Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-foley/) > [Few people will turn to themselves to take responsibility for their results until they have exhausted all opportunities to blame someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/few-people-will-turn-to-themselves-to-take-responsibility-for-their/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [You guys just here to blame someone. You never look yourselves in the mirror, eh? You're always good. You never make the mistakes. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-bryzgalov/you-guys-just-here-to-blame-someone-you-never-look-yourselves-in-the/) [Ilya Bryzgalov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-bryzgalov/) > [I used to kind of blame someone for not being able to get through that - I'm talking about the addiction part - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-used-to-kind-of-blame-someone-for-not-being-able-to-get-through/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [The word 'hate' is a very carefully chosen word. There's got to be a real sense of revulsion and disgust. People are looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-sugarmann/the-word-hate-is-a-very-carefully-chosen-word-there-s-got-to-be-a/) [Josh Sugarmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-sugarmann/) ## More by Joe Strummer > [everybody has a story to tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/everybody-has-a-story-to-tell/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [Nonsmokers should be banned from buying any product a smoker created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/nonsmokers-should-be-banned-from-buying-any-product-a-smoker-created/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [Everyone has got to realise you can't hold onto the past if you want any future. Each second should lead to the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/everyone-has-got-to-realise-you-can-t-hold-onto-the-past-if-you-want/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [I'd like to say that people... people can change anything they want to; and that means everything in the world. Show me any country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/i-d-like-to-say-that-people-people-can-change-anything-they-want-to/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [I'm kind of like one of those people that picks up small and interesting bits of wood and doesn't want to let go of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/i-m-kind-of-like-one-of-those-people-that-picks-up-small-and/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [There isn't a town in the world I haven't run amok in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/there-isn-t-a-town-in-the-world-i-haven-t-run-amok-in/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [When I started, they told me I only needed 3 chords and the truth... It turned out I could manage with 2 and some vague ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/when-i-started-they-told-me-i-only-needed-3-chords-and-the-truth-it/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [“As the floods of God Wash away sin city They say it was written In the page of the Lord But I was looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/as-the-floods-of-god-wash-away-sin-city-they-say-it-was-written-in/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [I'm far more dangerous now, because I don't care at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/i-m-far-more-dangerous-now-because-i-don-t-care-at-all/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [The hippy movement was a failure. All hippies around now just represent complete apathy. There's a million good reasons why the thing failed, OK.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/the-hippy-movement-was-a-failure-all-hippies-around-now-just/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [I don't want to look back. I want to keep going forward, I still have something to say to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/i-don-t-want-to-look-back-i-want-to-keep-going-forward-i-still-have/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [A lot of people... use a calculator!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/a-lot-of-people-use-a-calculator/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [I'm proud of all our records. Even the crap ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/i-m-proud-of-all-our-records-even-the-crap-ones/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [In fact, punk rock means exemplary manners to your fellow human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/in-fact-punk-rock-means-exemplary-manners-to-your-fellow-human-beings/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [I only saw my father twice a year. If I'd seen him all the time I'd probably have murdered him by now. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/i-only-saw-my-father-twice-a-year-if-i-d-seen-him-all-the-time-i-d/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) [Explore all 77 Joe Strummer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) ## 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. 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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": "I have a weird life because I live on songwriting royalties, which are a strange income. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn't. ... I want to grow up with my audience. I don't expect to be getting through to the younger pop crowd. I learned that from Paul Simon. ... When you blame yourself, you learn from it. If you blame someone else, you don't learn nothing, cause hey, it's not your fault, it's his fault, over there. ... People have told me songs I've written have changed their life. That's remarkable. 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