Customs Quote by John Elder Robison
““When we pulled in, the customs officer looked in the back. The back of the wagon was filled with cases stenciled PINK FLOYD--LONDON. 'Got Pink Floyd in the back of the car, do you?' he asked. 'Righto, mate. We shrunk 'em and stuck 'em in fookin' boxes, we did,' said Nigel. Amazingly, the customs officer laughed and waved us through.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The World According to John Elder Robison, 2012
A customs officer discovers hidden Pink Floyd records, but the absurdity of smuggling leads to a humorous, harmless encounter.
In simple terms: A funny story about smuggling music that ends with a laugh.
Key Takeaway
Don’t take illegal smuggling seriously; humor can defuse tension.
Themes
humor
music
law enforcement
unexpected
Mood
playful
light‑hearted
anecdotal
Type
anecdotal
humorous
When to use this quote
- touring musicians
- customs checks
- creative smuggling
- light‑hearted crime
Key Concepts
culture
absurdity
subversion
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you do if caught with illegal goods?
- How can humor change a tense situation?
A Different Perspective
The story glosses over legal risks and the seriousness of customs violations.
![“I haven't watched it [the film 'Pink Floyd at Pompeii'] in years. I find it excruciating.” quote by David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/166/david-gilmour-3970_excruciating_i-haven-t-watched-it-the-film-pink-floyd_355798.jpg)
![“Adrian Maben came to us with the idea. And we just thought, "Well, why not?" I don't think any of us thought it would be as well received and last in people's minds for as long as it did. All credit to him. It's his idea [Pink Floyd at Pompeii] and it was great.” quote by David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c6a/david-gilmour-3970_credit_adrian-maben-came-to-us-with-the-idea-an_166391.jpg)
