--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To me, John Lennon and Elvis Presley were…" description: "\"To me, John Lennon and Elvis Presley were punks, because they made music that evoked those emotions in people.\" — Joey Ramone" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/joey-ramone-16061_elvis_to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were_1558687.png" --- # To me, John Lennon and Elvis Presley were punks, because… ![“To me, John Lennon and Elvis Presley were punks, because they made music that evoked those emotions in people.” quote by Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/joey-ramone-16061_elvis_to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were_1558687.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/joey-ramone-16061_elvis_to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were_1558687.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/joey-ramone-16061_elvis_to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were_1558687.png) > “To me, John Lennon and Elvis Presley were punks, because they made music that evoked those emotions in people.” [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lennon and Presley were cultural rebels, evoking strong emotions through music. **In simple terms:** They were musical rebels. Key Takeaway Embrace music that moves you. Themes music rebellion emotion Mood energetic nostalgic Type cultural inspirational When to use this quote - concerts - personal playlists - creative work Key Concepts cultural impact genre iconography Questions to Reflect On - Which songs stir you most? - How does rebellion shape art? A Different Perspective Music taste is subjective; not everyone sees them as punks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punk/) [Punks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punks/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [If one could have a wish, or an alternative life, I would've liked to have been John Lennon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/if-one-could-have-a-wish-or-an-alternative-life-i-would-ve-liked-to/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [I just shot John Lennon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-david-chapman/i-just-shot-john-lennon/) [Mark David Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-david-chapman/) > [It's a cliche, but John Lennon is my hero. He was so rebellious, so outspoken and so publicly opinionated, and I'm someone who's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emun-elliott/it-s-a-cliche-but-john-lennon-is-my-hero-he-was-so-rebellious-so/) [Emun Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emun-elliott/) > [I think what made John Lennon so exciting as an artist is that, like Dylan and other musicians with a truly important musical legacy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-bachman/i-think-what-made-john-lennon-so-exciting-as-an-artist-is-that-like/) [Randy Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-bachman/) > [“John Lennon said life was what happened while you made other plans. So was death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-castle/john-lennon-said-life-was-what-happened-while-you-made-other-plans-so/) [Richard Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-castle/) > [Imagine? Yeah I can imagine John Lennon being dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/imagine-yeah-i-can-imagine-john-lennon-being-dead/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [The only good thing about America is that you killed John Lennon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-wire/the-only-good-thing-about-america-is-that-you-killed-john-lennon/) [Nicky Wire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-wire/) > [“I wouldn't like to interview John Lennon, no, because I'd ask him one question and it'd go to another thing and I'd end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/i-wouldn-t-like-to-interview-john-lennon-no-because-i-d-ask-him-one/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [Yoko Ono never deserved any of the hate she got. Paul McCartney and John Lennon weren't getting along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/yoko-ono-never-deserved-any-of-the-hate-she-got-paul-mccartney-and/) [Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/) > [He murmers into my hair, "Forget what I said earlier, let's stick with this, I might not survive anything more." I laugh. Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/he-murmers-into-my-hair-forget-what-i-said-earlier-let-s-stick-with/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [I met John Lennon and he was with his wife in Tokyo. I met him there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-ferry/i-met-john-lennon-and-he-was-with-his-wife-in-tokyo-i-met-him-there/) [Bryan Ferry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-ferry/) > [One of my great memories of John is from when we were having some argument. I was disagreeing and we were calling each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/one-of-my-great-memories-of-john-is-from-when-we-were-having-some/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I don't really have a lot of hip-hop and all of that, so I have a lot of John Lennon. That's one that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-robinson/i-don-t-really-have-a-lot-of-hip-hop-and-all-of-that-so-i-have-a-lot/) [Nick Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-robinson/) > [The thing you must remember is that I'm the Number One John Lennon fan. I love him to this day and I always did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/the-thing-you-must-remember-is-that-i-m-the-number-one-john-lennon/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [John Lennon was just one of us, another human just trying to get through the day, and help make tomorrow a little better. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-landes/john-lennon-was-just-one-of-us-another-human-just-trying-to-get/) [Steve Landes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-landes/) ## More by Joey Ramone > [The first record I bought may have been Del Shannon's 'Runaway.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/the-first-record-i-bought-may-have-been-del-shannon-s-runaway/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [The thing about school is that if you're forced into learning stuff, you're not going to be into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/the-thing-about-school-is-that-if-you-re-forced-into-learning-stuff/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [I'd just sit with Dee Dee on the corner off of Queens Boulevard and drink and insult people and stuff. That's when I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/i-d-just-sit-with-dee-dee-on-the-corner-off-of-queens-boulevard-and/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [Hang in there. If you believe what you're doing is unique. Otherwise give up or sound like Nirvana or Pearl Jam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/hang-in-there-if-you-believe-what-you-re-doing-is-unique-otherwise/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [Lack of skill dictates economy of style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/lack-of-skill-dictates-economy-of-style/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [If your not in it you're out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/if-your-not-in-it-you-re-out-of-it/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [I remember being turned on to The Beach Boys, hearing 'Surfin' U.S.A.,' I guess, in 1960. But The Beatles really did it to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/i-remember-being-turned-on-to-the-beach-boys-hearing-surfin-u-s-a-i/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [We always stayed true to what the Ramones are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/we-always-stayed-true-to-what-the-ramones-are/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [Forest Hills was a middle-class neighborhood filled with snobby rich people and their screaming brats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/forest-hills-was-a-middle-class-neighborhood-filled-with-snobby-rich/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [When Dee Dee would start singing, he would stop playing the guitar, because he couldn't sing and play at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/when-dee-dee-would-start-singing-he-would-stop-playing-the-guitar/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [Well, weight you can always lose, but hair you can't get back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/well-weight-you-can-always-lose-but-hair-you-can-t-get-back/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [The Eagles and the Captain and Tennille ruled the airwaves, and we were the answer to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/the-eagles-and-the-captain-and-tennille-ruled-the-airwaves-and-we/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [One day I got a phone call, and Johnny and Dee Dee asked me if I wanted to join their band. I said, 'Yeah.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/one-day-i-got-a-phone-call-and-johnny-and-dee-dee-asked-me-if-i/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [Life to me is an adventure and you've got to experience everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/life-to-me-is-an-adventure-and-you-ve-got-to-experience-everything/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [There's nobody as good as the Ramones, never will be. I mean everybody's just emulated us and now everybody just kinda takes our sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/there-s-nobody-as-good-as-the-ramones-never-will-be-i-mean-everybody/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) [Explore all 41 Joey Ramone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) ## More Elvis quotes > [Elvis was sincere, and he was - he was so loyal. And he was so homespun. He loved his mother, he loved America. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thompson/elvis-was-sincere-and-he-was-he-was-so-loyal-and-he-was-so-homespun/) [Linda Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thompson/) > [I can guarantee you one thing, we will never agree on anything as we agreed on Elvis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-can-guarantee-you-one-thing-we-will-never-agree-on-anything-as-we/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Elvis deserves a lot of credit for bringing the blues to middle America, not the Vegas stuff. The early stuff, The Sun records, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tork/elvis-deserves-a-lot-of-credit-for-bringing-the-blues-to-middle/) [Peter Tork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tork/) > [“If you threw Elvis and a scarecrow in a blender, topped the whole thing off with Seagram's 7 and pressed dice, you would make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/if-you-threw-elvis-and-a-scarecrow-in-a-blender-topped-the-whole/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [Oh, I think country has changed tremendously. I think country has totally changed. Country music when I was a kid was Hank Williams. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/oh-i-think-country-has-changed-tremendously-i-think-country-has/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Elvis Presley wore a Star of David and a cross around his neck and, when someone asked him about it, he said, "It makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/elvis-presley-wore-a-star-of-david-and-a-cross-around-his-neck-and/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Elvis a fight the dying light, Johnny Ray he's always crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-idol/elvis-a-fight-the-dying-light-johnny-ray-he-s-always-crying/) [Billy Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-idol/) > [Elvis was the firstest with the mostest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/elvis-was-the-firstest-with-the-mostest/) [Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/) > [Elvis' early music has drama because as he sang he was escaping limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greil-marcus/elvis-early-music-has-drama-because-as-he-sang-he-was-escaping-limits/) [Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greil-marcus/) > [I was very keen on people like Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-trower/i-was-very-keen-on-people-like-elvis-carl-perkins-jerry-lee-lewis-and/) [Robin Trower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-trower/) > [When I was a little kid, I was very impressed with Elvis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-trower/when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-was-very-impressed-with-elvis/) [Robin Trower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-trower/) > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Elvis helps Santa Clause make toys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honey-boo-boo-child/elvis-helps-santa-clause-make-toys/) [Honey Boo Boo Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honey-boo-boo-child/) > [It was very nerve-wracking for me. I had to be drunk and have a threesome. I'm not that guy. Bobby Cannavale is that guy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/it-was-very-nerve-wracking-for-me-i-had-to-be-drunk-and-have-a/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [“His body walks out onto the darkened stage , and a roar goes up from the crowd. He stands in front of the mic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-garraty/his-body-walks-out-onto-the-darkened-stage-and-a-roar-goes-up-from/) Joseph Garraty Browse all 508 Elvis quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To me, John Lennon and Elvis Presley were punks, because they made music that evoked those emotions in people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joey Ramone" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were-punks-because-they-made/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Elvis" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were-punks-because-they-made/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/joey-ramone-16061_elvis_to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were_1558687.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/joey-ramone-16061_elvis_to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were_1558687.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/joey-ramone-16061_elvis_to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were_1558687.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To me, John Lennon and Elvis Presley were punks, because they made music that evoked those emotions in people.” — Joey Ramone", "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": "Joey Ramone", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To me, John Lennon and Elvis...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were-punks-because-they-made/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/to-me-john-lennon-and-elvis-presley-were-punks-because-they-made/#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 } } ] } ```