---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I hear a great musician, I can feel…"
description: "\"When I hear a great musician, I can feel his life inside the music.\" — John McLaughlin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/john-mclaughlin-10405_feels_when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel_2935311.jpg"
---

#  When I hear a great musician, I can feel his life inside…

![“When I hear a great musician, I can feel his life inside the music.” quote by John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/john-mclaughlin-10405_feels_when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel_2935311.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/john-mclaughlin-10405_feels_when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel_2935311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/john-mclaughlin-10405_feels_when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel_2935311.jpg)

> “When I hear a great musician, I can feel his life inside the music.”

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Great musicians embed their life experiences into their music, allowing listeners to feel their story.

**In simple terms:** Music reflects the artist’s life.

Key Takeaway

Listen for personal narratives in art.

Themes

music emotion storytelling

Mood

inspirational introspective

Type

observational philosophical

When to use this quote

- concert listening
- music education
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

artistic expression empathy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does personal experience shape artistic output?
- Can listeners always perceive the intended story?

A Different Perspective

The claim may romanticize artistic creation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Great music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-music/) [Great musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-musician/) [Guitarist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitarist/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/)

## Related quotes

> [The problem is that the internet IS some kid in a basement with an opinion. The fact that David Bowie and Elton John told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/page-hamilton/the-problem-is-that-the-internet-is-some-kid-in-a-basement-with-an/)

[Page Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/page-hamilton/)

> [Jay Ashby is simply a great musician!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/jay-ashby-is-simply-a-great-musician/)

[Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/)

> [I think that what trips up a lot of great musicians is that they become involved with too many things that aren't where their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-oldham/i-think-that-what-trips-up-a-lot-of-great-musicians-is-that-they/)

[Will Oldham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-oldham/)

> [I've been collaborating with Ira Schickman on some songs, and there will be many other, great musicians involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-khan/i-ve-been-collaborating-with-ira-schickman-on-some-songs-and-there/)

[Chaka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-khan/)

> [When I lived in Seattle and Oregon, we partied, which is a large reason I don't know drugs or alcohol now because I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-brooks/when-i-lived-in-seattle-and-oregon-we-partied-which-is-a-large-reason/)

[Meredith Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-brooks/)

> [You can't make a great musician or a great photographer if the magic isn't there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/you-can-t-make-a-great-musician-or-a-great-photographer-if-the-magic/)

[Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/)

> [Man, there's no boundary line to art!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/man-there-s-no-boundary-line-to-art/)

[Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/)

> [They say that Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a homosexual. Truth be told, we don't love him because of that, but he was a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/they-say-that-pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky-was-a-homosexual-truth-be-told/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [It is not a dreamlike state, but the somehow insulated state, that a great musician achieves in a great performance. He's aware of where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/it-is-not-a-dreamlike-state-but-the-somehow-insulated-state-that-a/)

[Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/)

> [When kids look up to great scientists the way they do to great musicians and actors, civilization will jump to the next level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/when-kids-look-up-to-great-scientists-the-way-they-do-to-great/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [Jonathan Kreisberg is a great musician whose playing and writing always tell a story. His formidable technique and intellect never get in the way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-locke/jonathan-kreisberg-is-a-great-musician-whose-playing-and-writing/)

Joe Locke

> [We're not like a nostalgia act, or the normal classic rock act - we're a really good musical organization, ... You're going to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/we-re-not-like-a-nostalgia-act-or-the-normal-classic-rock-act-we-re-a/)

[Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/)

> [If parents are aiming at choosing children who will be good athletes, or great musicians, or who will get into Ivy League schools, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sandel/if-parents-are-aiming-at-choosing-children-who-will-be-good-athletes/)

[Michael Sandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sandel/)

> [I didn't want to be precious about things. Of course, the idea is to make great music, but if you have great musicians up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/i-didn-t-want-to-be-precious-about-things-of-course-the-idea-is-to/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [He wasn't a great father. He was a great musician. That's always been a touchy one, and it will be until I can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-lennon/he-wasn-t-a-great-father-he-was-a-great-musician-that-s-always-been-a/)

[Julian Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-lennon/)

## More by John McLaughlin

> [Every day, I discover something utterly unbelievable when I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/every-day-i-discover-something-utterly-unbelievable-when-i-play/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [Interplay and interaction are the integral parts of music - they're as important as the notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/interplay-and-interaction-are-the-integral-parts-of-music-they-re-as/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [Music is closer to poetry than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/music-is-closer-to-poetry-than-anything/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [Miles Davis himself, I discovered him when I was 15, and he rocked my world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/miles-davis-himself-i-discovered-him-when-i-was-15-and-he-rocked-my/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [One of the advantages of playing in a club is that even with bass and drums, the atmosphere remains intimate with the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/one-of-the-advantages-of-playing-in-a-club-is-that-even-with-bass-and/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [In a certain sense, these were lessons I learned by playing with Indian musicians. The rhythmic forms that they use are very complex, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/in-a-certain-sense-these-were-lessons-i-learned-by-playing-with/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [The day I stop making music would be the day I keel over, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/the-day-i-stop-making-music-would-be-the-day-i-keel-over-really/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [The Beatles, they brought a whole new dimension to pop music. Of course, the psychedelic period is much more interesting to me, starting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/the-beatles-they-brought-a-whole-new-dimension-to-pop-music-of-course/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [Absolutely, all guitars are different. You can go into a store and grab five guitars, all the same model, and even though they look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/absolutely-all-guitars-are-different-you-can-go-into-a-store-and-grab/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [To pay attention to flattery or criticism is a waste of time for artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/to-pay-attention-to-flattery-or-criticism-is-a-waste-of-time-for/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [The mathematics of rhythm are universal. They don't belong to any particular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/the-mathematics-of-rhythm-are-universal-they-don-t-belong-to-any/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [I practice all the scales. Everyone should know lots of scales. Actually, I feel there are only scales. What is a chord, if not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/i-practice-all-the-scales-everyone-should-know-lots-of-scales/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [Music speaks from spirit to spirit and in that sense you could call it a true spiritual language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/music-speaks-from-spirit-to-spirit-and-in-that-sense-you-could-call/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [Only in spontaneity can we be who we truly are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/only-in-spontaneity-can-we-be-who-we-truly-are/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [I was dealing with a lot of spiritual questions like "Who am I?" "What is God" "What is the meaning of life?" All of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/i-was-dealing-with-a-lot-of-spiritual-questions-like-who-am-i-what-is/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

[Explore all 66 John McLaughlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

## More Feels quotes

> [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/)

[Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/)

[Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/)

> [Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/pain-is-meant-to-wake-us-up-people-try-to-hide-their-pain-but-they-re/)

[Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/)

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

> [Most days, I go home and I feel rejuvenated. I feel ebullient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/most-days-i-go-home-and-i-feel-rejuvenated-i-feel-ebullient/)

[Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/)

> [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/)

[Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/)

> [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/)

[Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/)

> [Then come to realize that you're making mountains out of molehills. Realize how petty you've become. Sure, it may feel like you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/then-come-to-realize-that-you-re-making-mountains-out-of-molehills/)

[Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/)

> [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/)

[Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

Browse all 38,933 Feels quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I hear a great musician, I can feel his life inside the music.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John McLaughlin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel-his-life-inside-the-music/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Feels"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel-his-life-inside-the-music/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/john-mclaughlin-10405_feels_when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel_2935311.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/john-mclaughlin-10405_feels_when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel_2935311.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/john-mclaughlin-10405_feels_when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel_2935311.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I hear a great musician, I can feel his life inside the music.” — John McLaughlin",
                "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": "John McLaughlin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I hear a great musician,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel-his-life-inside-the-music/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/when-i-hear-a-great-musician-i-can-feel-his-life-inside-the-music/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
