--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s one thing to play a Muddy Waters…" description: "\"It’s one thing to play a Muddy Waters song. It’s another thing to play with him.\" — Keith Richards" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/keith-richards-1996_inspirational_it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-so_2795267.png" --- # It’s one thing to play a Muddy Waters song. It’s another… ![“It’s one thing to play a Muddy Waters song. It’s another thing to play with him.” quote by Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/keith-richards-1996_inspirational_it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-so_2795267.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/keith-richards-1996_inspirational_it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-so_2795267.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/keith-richards-1996_inspirational_it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-so_2795267.png) > “It’s one thing to play a Muddy Waters song. It’s another thing to play with him.” [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing with a legendary musician offers a deeper, collaborative experience beyond simply covering their work. **In simple terms:** Collaboration deepens artistry. Key Takeaway Seek authentic partnership. Themes music collaboration legacy Mood inspired enthusiastic Type musical motivational When to use this quote - jam sessions - studio recordings - live performances Key Concepts music theory creative process Questions to Reflect On - How can you create meaningful collaborations? - What can you learn from working with masters? A Different Perspective Access to legends is rare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [“We were in Mississippi. We’d been playing this music, and it had all been very respectful, but then we were actually there sniffing it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/we-were-in-mississippi-we-d-been-playing-this-music-and-it-had-all/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I'd play whenever I could get my hands on an electric guitar; I was trying to pick up rock'n'roll riffs and electric blues -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-d-play-whenever-i-could-get-my-hands-on-an-electric-guitar-i-was/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Everybody starts by imitating their heroes. For me it was Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/everybody-starts-by-imitating-their-heroes-for-me-it-was-chuck-berry/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [What Muddy Waters did for us is what we should do for others. It's the old thing, what you want written on your tombstone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/what-muddy-waters-did-for-us-is-what-we-should-do-for-others-it-s-the/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [All the really great records or people who made them somehow came from Memphis or Louisiana or somewhere along the Mississippi River...And singers like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/all-the-really-great-records-or-people-who-made-them-somehow-came/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [Muddy Waters was, like, the king! He had a lot of adopted sons and daughters. I was just happy to be one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cray/muddy-waters-was-like-the-king-he-had-a-lot-of-adopted-sons-and/) [Robert Cray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cray/) > [I've always wanted the sound of Muddy Waters' early records - only louder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-ve-always-wanted-the-sound-of-muddy-waters-early-records-only-louder/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [When someone like Kurt Cobain or Jack White comes out, they didn't go, "He sounds just like Muddy Waters," did they? They just said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shingai-shoniwa/when-someone-like-kurt-cobain-or-jack-white-comes-out-they-didn-t-go/) [Shingai Shoniwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shingai-shoniwa/) > [I grew up listening to Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf and lots of blues, R&B and Motown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-wren-scott/i-grew-up-listening-to-muddy-waters-and-howlin-wolf-and-lots-of-blues/) [L'Wren Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-wren-scott/) > [For groups like the Rolling Stones names like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf were exotic inspirations. For Siegel-Schwall they were the guys that played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-brehmer/for-groups-like-the-rolling-stones-names-like-muddy-waters-and-howlin/) Lin Brehmer > [Muddy Waters, I suppose, was my first great hero. You know, every boy wants to be a guitar player, and Muddy Waters was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-laurie/muddy-waters-i-suppose-was-my-first-great-hero-you-know-every-boy/) [Hugh Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-laurie/) > [“There had to be the dark and muddy waters so that the sun could have something to background its flashing glory. a”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/there-had-to-be-the-dark-and-muddy-waters-so-that-the-sun-could-have/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [The lotus grows in muddy waters but this flower does not show any trace of it: So we have to live in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/the-lotus-grows-in-muddy-waters-but-this-flower-does-not-show-any/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [The Missouri is, perhaps, different in appearance and character from all other rivers in the world; there is a terror in its manner which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-catlin/the-missouri-is-perhaps-different-in-appearance-and-character-from/) [George Catlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-catlin/) > [Little Walter and Muddy Waters were incredible. And Bo Diddley was doing some great stuff, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/columbus-short/little-walter-and-muddy-waters-were-incredible-and-bo-diddley-was/) [Columbus Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/columbus-short/) ## More by Keith Richards > [“When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/when-you-are-growing-up-there-are-two-institutional-places-that/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“Wild Horses" started in a B-minor chord, and Stu didn't play minor chords, "fucking Chinese music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/wild-horses-started-in-a-b-minor-chord-and-stu-didn-t-play-minor/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“And you listen to some of that meticulous Mozart stuff and Vivaldi and you realize that they knew that too. They knew when to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/and-you-listen-to-some-of-that-meticulous-mozart-stuff-and-vivaldi/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Everybody's got a different way of telling a story - and has different stories to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/everybody-s-got-a-different-way-of-telling-a-story-and-has-different/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Let me be clear about this. I don't have a drug problem. I have a police problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/let-me-be-clear-about-this-i-don-t-have-a-drug-problem-i-have-a/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [It's called the mysterious rhythm of life, ... I can't quite account for it. It's probably an addiction, quite honestly. I need that shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/it-s-called-the-mysterious-rhythm-of-life-i-can-t-quite-account-for/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I never thought I was wasted, but I probably was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-never-thought-i-was-wasted-but-i-probably-was/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I don't encourage anybody to do what I do, you know? Why should you? More for me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-don-t-encourage-anybody-to-do-what-i-do-you-know-why-should-you/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [The idea of retiring is like killing yourself. It's almost like Hari Kari. I intend to live to a 100 and go down in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/the-idea-of-retiring-is-like-killing-yourself-it-s-almost-like-hari/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“La gente me pregunta "por qué no lo dejas?". El hecho es que no me puedo retirar hasta que no estire la pata. Creo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/la-gente-me-pregunta-por-qu-no-lo-dejas-el-hecho-es-que-no-me-puedo/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Before Elvis, everything was in black and white. Then came Elvis. Zoom, glorious Technicolor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/before-elvis-everything-was-in-black-and-white-then-came-elvis-zoom/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [There's no substitute for live work to keep a band together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/there-s-no-substitute-for-live-work-to-keep-a-band-together/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [But I've always felt very comfortable on stage, even if I screw up. It always felt like a dog, this is my turf, piss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/but-i-ve-always-felt-very-comfortable-on-stage-even-if-i-screw-up-it/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I'm not getting old I'm evolving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-m-not-getting-old-i-m-evolving/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I'm an unpure purist, something like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-m-an-unpure-purist-something-like-that/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) [Explore all 190 Keith Richards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It’s one thing to play a Muddy Waters song. It’s another thing to play with him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Keith Richards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-song-it-s-another-thing-to-play/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-song-it-s-another-thing-to-play/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/keith-richards-1996_inspirational_it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-so_2795267.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/keith-richards-1996_inspirational_it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-so_2795267.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/keith-richards-1996_inspirational_it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-so_2795267.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It’s one thing to play a Muddy Waters song. It’s another thing to play with him.” — Keith Richards", "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": "Keith Richards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It’s one thing to play a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-song-it-s-another-thing-to-play/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/it-s-one-thing-to-play-a-muddy-waters-song-it-s-another-thing-to-play/#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 } } ] } ```