--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Music is everybody's possession. It's…" description: "\"Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it. If you were going to give Rock 'n' Roll another name you might as w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/john-lennon-322_berries_music-is-everybody-s-possession-it-s-onl_2921676.jpg" --- # Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who… ![“Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it. If you were going to give Rock 'n' Roll another name you might as well call it Chuck Berry. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - Rock and Roll or Christianity.” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/john-lennon-322_berries_music-is-everybody-s-possession-it-s-onl_2921676.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/john-lennon-322_berries_music-is-everybody-s-possession-it-s-onl_2921676.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/john-lennon-322_berries_music-is-everybody-s-possession-it-s-onl_2921676.jpg) > “Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it. If you were going to give Rock 'n' Roll another name you might as well call it Chuck Berry. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - Rock and Roll or Christianity.” [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that music belongs to everyone, not publishers, and likens rock 'n' roll to a cultural force as influential as religion. **In simple terms:** Music is a shared cultural property, not owned by anyone. Key Takeaway Support open access to music and cultural expression. Themes art culture property freedom religion Mood inspirational thoughtful optimistic Type philosophical musical cultural When to use this quote - music distribution - copyright law - cultural movements - public policy - education Key Concepts Intellectual property cultural ownership social influence Questions to Reflect On - How should we balance creators' rights with public access? - What role does music play in shaping society? A Different Perspective The analogy may exaggerate rock's influence compared to religion and overlook creators' rights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Publishers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishers/) [Rock and roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-and-roll/) [Rock n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-n-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/christianity-will-go-it-will-vanish-and-shrink-i-needn-t-argue-with/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“…Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I don't know what will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity. We're more popular than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/christianity-will-go-it-will-vanish-and-shrink-i-don-t-know-what-will/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-re-more-popular-than-jesus-now-i-don-t-know-which-will-go-first/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Music is everybody's possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/music-is-everybody-s-possession/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/music-is-everybody-s-possession-it-s-only-publishers-who-think-that/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-don-t-know-which-will-go-first-rock-n-roll-or-christianity/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [We're more popular than Jesus Christ now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-re-more-popular-than-jesus-christ-now/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Of all the early breakthrough rock and roll artists, none is more important to the development of the music than Chuck Berry. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cub-koda/of-all-the-early-breakthrough-rock-and-roll-artists-none-is-more/) Cub Koda > [Berry's On Top is probably my favorite record of all time; it defines rock and roll. A lot of people have done Chuck Berry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/berry-s-on-top-is-probably-my-favorite-record-of-all-time-it-defines/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [When I started reaching teenage years, I listened to everything that was on the radio like everyone else did, which was Chuck Berry, Beach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-montrose/when-i-started-reaching-teenage-years-i-listened-to-everything-that/) [Ronnie Montrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-montrose/) > [My momma always said, 'You and Elvis are pretty good, but y'all ain't no Chuck Berry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lee-lewis/my-momma-always-said-you-and-elvis-are-pretty-good-but-y-all-ain-t-no/) [Jerry Lee Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lee-lewis/) > [The best musicians in the world were raised on the same kind of music I was raised on and that is black, soulful, authoritative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/the-best-musicians-in-the-world-were-raised-on-the-same-kind-of-music/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [People always talk about good time rock and roll, Chuck Berry or whatever, like this liberating force for feeling good. But what I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/people-always-talk-about-good-time-rock-and-roll-chuck-berry-or/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [I never liked blues music, and I really didn't like jazz. I liked Chuck Berry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-ramone/i-never-liked-blues-music-and-i-really-didn-t-like-jazz-i-liked-chuck/) [Johnny Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-ramone/) > [If you're going to do Chuck Berry, you got to, you know, go all out, and the duck walk is just kind of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/if-you-re-going-to-do-chuck-berry-you-got-to-you-know-go-all-out-and/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) ## More by John Lennon > [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/as-someone-from-the-working-class-i-was-always-interested-in-russia/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I never went to high school reunions. My thing is, out of sight, out of mind. That's my attitude toward life. So I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-never-went-to-high-school-reunions-my-thing-is-out-of-sight-out-of/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Today's folk song is rock and roll. Although it happened to emanate from America, that's not really important in the end because we wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/today-s-folk-song-is-rock-and-roll-although-it-happened-to-emanate/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [If you want to get peace, you can get it as soon as you like if we all pull together. ... Think peace, live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/if-you-want-to-get-peace-you-can-get-it-as-soon-as-you-like-if-we-all/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The reason why kids are crazy is because nobody can face the responsibility of bringing them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-reason-why-kids-are-crazy-is-because-nobody-can-face-the/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [In my case I've never not been political, though religion tended to overshadow it in my acid days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/in-my-case-i-ve-never-not-been-political-though-religion-tended-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Imagine there's no heaven... it's easy if you try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/imagine-there-s-no-heaven-it-s-easy-if-you-try/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/man-you-should-have-seen-them-kicking-edgar-allan-poe/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Love is like a flower - you've got to let it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/love-is-like-a-flower-you-ve-got-to-let-it-grow/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-don-t-know-which-will-go-first-rock-n-roll-or-christianity/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The main hangup in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can't face up to the fact of other people being naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-main-hangup-in-the-world-today-is-hypocrisy-and-insecurity-if/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) [Explore all 681 John Lennon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## More Berries quotes > [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [I’ve blamed her for all of this, for leaving, for ruining me. And maybe that was the seed of it, but from that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/i-ve-blamed-her-for-all-of-this-for-leaving-for-ruining-me-and-maybe/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Even as a kid, I was a businessman. I figured out that if you plucked all the berries off my neighbor's tree and smashed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/even-as-a-kid-i-was-a-businessman-i-figured-out-that-if-you-plucked/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [Grey cloth coaxes the lime trees of friends shadowing berries dropped by the grateful earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-chicho/grey-cloth-coaxes-the-lime-trees-of-friends-shadowing-berries-dropped/) [Bradley Chicho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-chicho/) > [They’ll be black because that’s the way they’re seen. Barack Obama, Tiger Woods, Halle Berry, have all known that. Will that change? Don’t hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hacker/they-ll-be-black-because-that-s-the-way-they-re-seen-barack-obama/) [Andrew Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hacker/) > [A solitary American monk named Thomas Berry writes that in our relationship to nature, we have been autistic for centuries. Wrapped tightly in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/a-solitary-american-monk-named-thomas-berry-writes-that-in-our/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [If you're going to do Chuck Berry, you got to, you know, go all out, and the duck walk is just kind of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/if-you-re-going-to-do-chuck-berry-you-got-to-you-know-go-all-out-and/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [After Halle Berry does her films and Queen Latifah does her films, it's left to all the black, Latino and Asian actresses to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/after-halle-berry-does-her-films-and-queen-latifah-does-her-films-it/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I see what I want of Love... I see horses making the meadow dance, fifty guitars sighing, and a swarm of bees suckling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/i-see-what-i-want-of-love-i-see-horses-making-the-meadow-dance-fifty/) [Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/) > [For a long time, no village girl would dress her hair or bosom with the sweetest flower from that field of death: and after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/for-a-long-time-no-village-girl-would-dress-her-hair-or-bosom-with/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I love dried mangoes, walnuts, and goji berries. The mix provides iron, antioxidants, and omega-3s and really kicks up my energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/i-love-dried-mangoes-walnuts-and-goji-berries-the-mix-provides-iron/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [I've always had a thing for Catwoman. Michelle Pfeiffer or Halle Berry in tight leather pants, with the boots - I'm pretty good with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-ve-always-had-a-thing-for-catwoman-michelle-pfeiffer-or-halle-berry/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-darker-the-berry-the-sweeter-the-juice/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I never liked blues music, and I really didn't like jazz. I liked Chuck Berry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-ramone/i-never-liked-blues-music-and-i-really-didn-t-like-jazz-i-liked-chuck/) [Johnny Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-ramone/) > [No one had ever called her wild before. She wanted to be wild now, for him. Wild seemed more enticing then a bowl of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/no-one-had-ever-called-her-wild-before-she-wanted-to-be-wild-now-for/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) Browse all 222 Berries quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it. If you were going to give Rock 'n' Roll another name you might as well call it Chuck Berry. 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