--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do what we want to do. We write songs…" description: "\"We do what we want to do. We write songs. We try not to repeat ourselves too much. We have our own sound and our own way of doing things. Up until now ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/keith-richards-1996_audience_we-do-what-we-want-to-do-we-write-songs_2394563.jpg" --- # We do what we want to do. We write songs. We try not to… ![“We do what we want to do. We write songs. We try not to repeat ourselves too much. We have our own sound and our own way of doing things. Up until now it has always been enjoyable. None of the members have ever got to the point where they don't want to be involved in it ... It's not entirely…” quote by Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/keith-richards-1996_audience_we-do-what-we-want-to-do-we-write-songs_2394563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/keith-richards-1996_audience_we-do-what-we-want-to-do-we-write-songs_2394563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/keith-richards-1996_audience_we-do-what-we-want-to-do-we-write-songs_2394563.jpg) > “We do what we want to do. We write songs. We try not to repeat ourselves too much. We have our own sound and our own way of doing things. Up until now it has always been enjoyable. None of the members have ever got to the point where they don't want to be involved in it ... It's not entirely possible for me to stand back and look at the Rolling Stones because being a part of it you can't. I wish that I could just sit in the audience for one night and see the show. Everyone in the band has said that at some point. But then you wouldn't be seeing the whole band. And that's the problem with that.” [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. Artists strive for originality and enjoyment, yet become so immersed they lose the ability to view their work objectively. **In simple terms:** Create freely but stay aware of your role. Key Takeaway Balance creation with occasional detachment. Themes creativity self‑reflection identity Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - band dynamics - live shows Key Concepts artistic integrity fan perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can you step back without losing enthusiasm? - What moments help you reconnect as a fan of your own art? A Different Perspective Too much detachment may erode passion and connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Rolling stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rolling-stones/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I always find live shows on film kind of boring. Even my favorite ones, I kinda zone out for most of it. It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/i-always-find-live-shows-on-film-kind-of-boring-even-my-favorite-ones/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [I came out here to do the acting, and then after a year of auditions and not getting anything, I met these Italian guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/i-came-out-here-to-do-the-acting-and-then-after-a-year-of-auditions/) [Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/) > [I started playing guitar and when we formed the band; we all said, 'Who's the worst at guitar?' It was obviously me, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calum-hood/i-started-playing-guitar-and-when-we-formed-the-band-we-all-said-who/) [Calum Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calum-hood/) > [When I left the band I said Look, I am ready to move on. I was interested in playing with some of the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sebastian/when-i-left-the-band-i-said-look-i-am-ready-to-move-on-i-was/) [John Sebastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sebastian/) > [ “ ‘And what about a \[band\] name?’ said Tony \[Iommi\]. The three of us looked at each other. ‘We should all take a couple… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/and-what-about-a-band-name-said-tony-iommi-the-three-of-us-looked-at/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [I'm the one in the band that said I'm not going on tour unless we do a record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/i-m-the-one-in-the-band-that-said-i-m-not-going-on-tour-unless-we-do/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [The most disappointing thing to me after 'Tusk' was the politics in the band. They said, 'We're not going to do that again.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/the-most-disappointing-thing-to-me-after-tusk-was-the-politics-in-the/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [People think I left The Band and spoiled this whole thing, and that's not what happened. Nobody broke up The Band. Nobody ever said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-robertson/people-think-i-left-the-band-and-spoiled-this-whole-thing-and-that-s/) [Robbie Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-robertson/) > [One day I got a phone call, and Johnny and Dee Dee asked me if I wanted to join their band. I said, 'Yeah.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/one-day-i-got-a-phone-call-and-johnny-and-dee-dee-asked-me-if-i/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [I brought the music out to L.A., and the producer Tommy LaPuma heard it and he said - "Man, I love it. Let's do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-miller/i-brought-the-music-out-to-l-a-and-the-producer-tommy-lapuma-heard-it/) [Marcus Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-miller/) > [I spent a good amount of time with David Bowie, and I was talking about getting the band back together. He said, 'Does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-spent-a-good-amount-of-time-with-david-bowie-and-i-was-talking/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [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-2/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [ \[joking about the length of the Rolling Stones' career\] You have the sun, you have the moon, you have the air that you breathe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/joking-about-the-length-of-the-rolling-stones-career-you-have-the-sun/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [You have the sun, you have the moon, you have the air that you breathe - and you have the Rolling Stones!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/you-have-the-sun-you-have-the-moon-you-have-the-air-that-you-breathe/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [There was a knock on our dressing-room door. Our manager shouted, 'Keith! Ron! The Police are here!' Oh, man, we panicked, flushed everything down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/there-was-a-knock-on-our-dressing-room-door-our-manager-shouted-keith/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) ## 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 Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We do what we want to do. We write songs. We try not to repeat ourselves too much. We have our own sound and our own way of doing things. Up until now it has always been enjoyable. None of the members have ever got to the point where they don't want to be involved in it ... It's not entirely possible for me to stand back and look at the Rolling Stones because being a part of it you can't. I wish that I could just sit in the audience for one night and see the show. Everyone in the band has said that at some point. But then you wouldn't be seeing the whole band. 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