Accepting Quote by John Lennon
“We've learned over the years that if we wanted we could write anything that just felt good or sounded good and it didn't necessarily have to have any particular meaning to us. As odd as it seemed to us, reviewers would take it upon themselves to interject their own meanings on our lyrics. Sometimes we sit and read other people's interpretations of our lyrics and think, 'Hey, that's pretty good.' If we liked it, we would keep our mouths shut and just accept the credit as if it was what we meant all along.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1970s music magazine, 1971
Artists may create works without explicit meaning, allowing listeners to project their own interpretations, which can be accepted as the work’s intent.
In simple terms: Music can be open to personal meaning.
Key Takeaway
Allow space for listener interpretation.
Themes
creativity
interpretation
artistic freedom
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
artistic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- songwriting
- music criticism
- fan discussions
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
meaning‑making
subjectivity
authorial intent
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance personal interpretation with artist intent?
- When is it okay to claim a meaning you didn’t intend?
A Different Perspective
Risk of misrepresenting artist’s purpose.
![“We went to America a few times and [Brian] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there came a time when George [Harrison] and I said 'Listen, when they ask next time, we're going to say we don't like that war and we think they should get right out.' That's…” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/512/john-lennon-322_america_we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian_12070.jpg)
