--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started with music, all I was…" description: "\"When I started with music, all I was looking for was to ensure I never had to live the life I grew up with. I wanted a foolproof exemption from pain an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/josh-tillman-24011_amusement_when-i-started-with-music-all-i-was-look_768569.jpg" --- # When I started with music, all I was looking for was to… ![“When I started with music, all I was looking for was to ensure I never had to live the life I grew up with. I wanted a foolproof exemption from pain and boredom. I wanted a life of constant amusement and leisure.” quote by Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/josh-tillman-24011_amusement_when-i-started-with-music-all-i-was-look_768569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/josh-tillman-24011_amusement_when-i-started-with-music-all-i-was-look_768569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/josh-tillman-24011_amusement_when-i-started-with-music-all-i-was-look_768569.jpg) > “When I started with music, all I was looking for was to ensure I never had to live the life I grew up with. I wanted a foolproof exemption from pain and boredom. I wanted a life of constant amusement and leisure.” [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He pursued music to avoid repeating his past life, seeking endless amusement and freedom from pain. **In simple terms:** Music was a way to escape a boring past. Key Takeaway Use art to break old patterns. Themes escape music freedom pain avoidance Mood introspective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - live performances - personal reinvention Key Concepts creative expression psychological escape identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What does constant amusement hide? - Can you find meaning beyond distraction? A Different Perspective Art may not solve deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Boredom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boredom/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) ## Related quotes > [Somewhere between 'living a life' and 'surviving a life ' we all grew up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/somewhere-between-living-a-life-and-surviving-a-life-we-all-grew-up/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) > [I just live life. I grew up in a Christian family, but, you know, the way Mom brought me up is to, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-the-creator-2/i-just-live-life-i-grew-up-in-a-christian-family-but-you-know-the-way/) [Tyler, The Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-the-creator-2/) > [Then marble, soften'd into life, grew warm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-marble-soften-d-into-life-grew-warm/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Earlier, even I used to think that I would be doing theatre all my life, but as I grew, I understood that it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himani-shivpuri/earlier-even-i-used-to-think-that-i-would-be-doing-theatre-all-my/) [Himani Shivpuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himani-shivpuri/) > [I like gifts. Suprises. And as life grew on I started to like suprises less and less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/i-like-gifts-suprises-and-as-life-grew-on-i-started-to-like-suprises/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [For the first five years of my life, I grew up in a log cabin in coastal British Columbia in a very small town,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-butterfield/for-the-first-five-years-of-my-life-i-grew-up-in-a-log-cabin-in/) [Stewart Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-butterfield/) > [My parents taught me what life is about, so I grew up the type they warned me about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-thorogood/my-parents-taught-me-what-life-is-about-so-i-grew-up-the-type-they/) [George Thorogood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-thorogood/) > [With Neptune City, I could have been singing about anybody's life that grew up where I did. The town I live in it isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-atkins/with-neptune-city-i-could-have-been-singing-about-anybody-s-life-that/) [Nicole Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-atkins/) > [I think you get to a certain point in your life and where you grew up stops reminding you of when you grew up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-think-you-get-to-a-certain-point-in-your-life-and-where-you-grew-up/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [“Because suffering was a part of life, and without it you grew prideful and full of ego.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-mayer/because-suffering-was-a-part-of-life-and-without-it-you-grew-prideful/) [Shannon Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-mayer/) > [I dreaded having a boring life when I grew up. And I certainly can't complain about being bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-may-gaskin/i-dreaded-having-a-boring-life-when-i-grew-up-and-i-certainly-can-t/) [Ina May Gaskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-may-gaskin/) > [I had a very simple, unremarkable and happy life. And I grew up in a very small town. And so my life was made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-beah/i-had-a-very-simple-unremarkable-and-happy-life-and-i-grew-up-in-a/) [Ishmael Beah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-beah/) > [Amusement is a way of boredom-avoidance through external stimulation that fails to exercise our minds. It's mere diversion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/amusement-is-a-way-of-boredom-avoidance-through-external-stimulation/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow & people started to listen so thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-was-only-until-i-started-to-be-myself-that-the-music-started-to-2/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen. So, thank you guys...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-was-only-until-i-started-to-be-myself-that-the-music-started-to/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) ## More by Josh Tillman > [I get sick pleasure out of going on the Internet and reading about how much people hate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/i-get-sick-pleasure-out-of-going-on-the-internet-and-reading-about/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [Music is chaos. When I write songs, I'm opening the door to madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/music-is-chaos-when-i-write-songs-i-m-opening-the-door-to-madness/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [Love is the substance of human survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/love-is-the-substance-of-human-survival/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [I love the exhilaration of feeling a pull quote come out of your mouth. The words just taste better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/i-love-the-exhilaration-of-feeling-a-pull-quote-come-out-of-your/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [You can choose to live in love or choose to live in fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/you-can-choose-to-live-in-love-or-choose-to-live-in-fear/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [I've engineered my life so that my only value in this world is in my writing, which is really dangerous, because if it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/i-ve-engineered-my-life-so-that-my-only-value-in-this-world-is-in-my/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [People think the world of music is so great, and it's just not. It's so boring, the way music is conceived and then declawed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/people-think-the-world-of-music-is-so-great-and-it-s-just-not-it-s-so/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [I think you only have to pull stunts if the content of your music is meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/i-think-you-only-have-to-pull-stunts-if-the-content-of-your-music-is/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [J. Tillman was kind of an alter ego. There was a lot I didn't want people to know about my real life. With Father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/j-tillman-was-kind-of-an-alter-ego-there-was-a-lot-i-didn-t-want/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [The main criticism people have of me is, 'Why are you trying so hard? This guy's exhausting.' Yeah, I am! That's my way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/the-main-criticism-people-have-of-me-is-why-are-you-trying-so-hard/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [I think that life is messy and that human beings are insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/i-think-that-life-is-messy-and-that-human-beings-are-insane/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [People who want to see things in stark dualities are not going to get much out of my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/people-who-want-to-see-things-in-stark-dualities-are-not-going-to-get/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [I'm not bamboozled by the fact that people are disgusted by me. I'm not my biggest fan either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/i-m-not-bamboozled-by-the-fact-that-people-are-disgusted-by-me-i-m/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [I was asked to audition for the second season of 'Stranger Things.' I didn't want that level of exposure. I don't want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/i-was-asked-to-audition-for-the-second-season-of-stranger-things-i/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [What a crazy coincidence that the teaching of Christ sees to be so compatible with late-era capitalism, suburban isolation, rampant consumerism. And so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/what-a-crazy-coincidence-that-the-teaching-of-christ-sees-to-be-so/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) [Explore all 25 Josh Tillman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) ## More Amusement quotes > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started with music, all I was looking for was to ensure I never had to live the life I grew up with. I wanted a foolproof exemption from pain and boredom. 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