--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always thought I was singing American…" description: "\"I always thought I was singing American folk music.\" — Lonnie Donegan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lonnie-donegan-58975_folk-music_i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american_1545262.jpg" --- # I always thought I was singing American folk music. ![“I always thought I was singing American folk music.” quote by Lonnie Donegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lonnie-donegan-58975_folk-music_i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american_1545262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lonnie-donegan-58975_folk-music_i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american_1545262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lonnie-donegan-58975_folk-music_i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american_1545262.jpg) > “I always thought I was singing American folk music.” [Lonnie Donegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-donegan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He mistakenly believed his music was American folk, highlighting misidentification of cultural roots. **In simple terms:** Misread his genre. Key Takeaway Explore true musical influences. Themes identity culture misconception Mood curious thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - music education - heritage festivals - personal branding Key Concepts Musicology cultural heritage Questions to Reflect On - What cultural roots shape your work? - How can you honor them? A Different Perspective Assuming identity can limit authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American Folk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-folk-654891/) [Folk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folk/) [Folk music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folk-music/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Singing American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing-american-5763994/) [Thought Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-singing-2711792/) ## Related quotes > [When you listen to the Anthology of American Folk Music, or anything like that - a compilation of garage bands from the Northeast in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/when-you-listen-to-the-anthology-of-american-folk-music-or-anything/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I read a lot - surveys of vernacular music. A lot of it is the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music, which I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-read-a-lot-surveys-of-vernacular-music-a-lot-of-it-is-the-harry/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I knew Bobby Dylan back in the days when he lived in the village. He used to come and see me and sing songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/i-knew-bobby-dylan-back-in-the-days-when-he-lived-in-the-village-he/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [Skiffle was a name that was attached to what was, in essence, American folk music with a beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/skiffle-was-a-name-that-was-attached-to-what-was-in-essence-american/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I'm not a fan of Dylan's music, per se, but I'm not a hater. I like the American folk music tradition, and I'll listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/i-m-not-a-fan-of-dylan-s-music-per-se-but-i-m-not-a-hater-i-like-the/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [ He \[Alan Lomax\] started right off trying to find people who could introduce folk songs to city people. He found a young actor named… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/he-alan-lomax-started-right-off-trying-to-find-people-who-could/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [The big turning point, really, was the Beatles' influence on American folk music, and then Roger took it to the next step, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcguire/the-big-turning-point-really-was-the-beatles-influence-on-american/) [Barry McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcguire/) > [Jazz I regard as an American folk music; not the only one, but a very powerful one which is probably in the blood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/jazz-i-regard-as-an-american-folk-music-not-the-only-one-but-a-very/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [It seems to me that the American popular song, growing out of American folk music, is the basis of the American musical theater… it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-weill/it-seems-to-me-that-the-american-popular-song-growing-out-of-american/) [Kurt Weill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-weill/) > [One thing that I love about country music, probably more so than any other culture - maybe the blues rivals it - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/one-thing-that-i-love-about-country-music-probably-more-so-than-any/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [When I sang my American folk melodies in Budapest, Prague, Tiflis, Moscow, Oslo, or the Hebrides or on the Spanish front, the people understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-robeson/when-i-sang-my-american-folk-melodies-in-budapest-prague-tiflis/) [Paul Robeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-robeson/) > [I absolutely love American folk art, can't get enough of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-spencer/i-absolutely-love-american-folk-art-can-t-get-enough-of-it/) [Lara Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-spencer/) > [Traditional folk music is about survival of the fittest song just like evolution is about survival of the fittest organism and generally the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spiers/traditional-folk-music-is-about-survival-of-the-fittest-song-just/) [John Spiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spiers/) > [I was very engaged by the folk music movement.Bob Dylan; Joan Baez; Peter, Paul and Mary. And then I sort of discovered world music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-was-very-engaged-by-the-folk-music-movement-bob-dylan-joan-baez/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [The Urban Literate Southern California Sub-Group of the Early Atomic Period has not yet produced a distinct body of folk music of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hinton/the-urban-literate-southern-california-sub-group-of-the-early-atomic/) [Sam Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hinton/) ## More by Lonnie Donegan > [Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedposts overnight. If your mother said don't chew it, do you swallow it in spite?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-donegan/does-your-chewing-gum-lose-its-flavor-on-the-bedposts-overnight-if/) [Lonnie Donegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-donegan/) > [My original opinion still stands. I don't think he should have put it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-donegan/my-original-opinion-still-stands-i-don-t-think-he-should-have-put-it/) [Lonnie Donegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-donegan/) > [I fooled you. I fooled you. I got pig iron. I got pig iron. I got all pig iron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-donegan/i-fooled-you-i-fooled-you-i-got-pig-iron-i-got-pig-iron-i-got-all-pig/) [Lonnie Donegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-donegan/) > [The shows weren't organized at all. They just happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-donegan/the-shows-weren-t-organized-at-all-they-just-happened/) [Lonnie Donegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-donegan/) [Explore all 5 Lonnie Donegan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-donegan/) ## More Folk quotes > [I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [The Urban Literate Southern California Sub-Group of the Early Atomic Period has not yet produced a distinct body of folk music of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hinton/the-urban-literate-southern-california-sub-group-of-the-early-atomic/) [Sam Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hinton/) > [Only two to three per cent of an audience is interested in words and pays attention to lyrics; most of the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/only-two-to-three-per-cent-of-an-audience-is-interested-in-words-and/) [Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I was very engaged by the folk music movement.Bob Dylan; Joan Baez; Peter, Paul and Mary. And then I sort of discovered world music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-was-very-engaged-by-the-folk-music-movement-bob-dylan-joan-baez/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [What do folk always say about Arsenal? They can pass you to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-adam/what-do-folk-always-say-about-arsenal-they-can-pass-you-to-death/) [Charlie Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-adam/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [We Brits are law abiding folk. We pride ourselves on our natural tendency to form an orderly queue rather than a scrum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/we-brits-are-law-abiding-folk-we-pride-ourselves-on-our-natural/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [“They change what they do not like,’ said Jessold, referring to the singers. ‘And they do not like what they cannot remember. That accounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-stace/they-change-what-they-do-not-like-said-jessold-referring-to-the/) [Wesley Stace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-stace/) > [I'm really sick of anthems. Every song has to be a very big singalong thing - it feels very Eighties. There are a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-m-really-sick-of-anthems-every-song-has-to-be-a-very-big-singalong/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [I think the perception of audiences that love folk and country is they're perceived to be more closed-minded than they really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trixie-mattel/i-think-the-perception-of-audiences-that-love-folk-and-country-is/) [Trixie Mattel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trixie-mattel/) > [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/) > [In my early life, I was a professional folk singer. I used to sing on the national television and radio in Canada. Nobody knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gordon/in-my-early-life-i-was-a-professional-folk-singer-i-used-to-sing-on/) [Mary Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gordon/) > [I love the U.K. folk scene. In the States, nobody knows what to do with me. There's still a very narrow definition of Americana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhiannon-giddens/i-love-the-u-k-folk-scene-in-the-states-nobody-knows-what-to-do-with/) [Rhiannon Giddens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhiannon-giddens/) > [I've always thought about myself as somewhat of a folk musician. I just write words. I don't think I'm even a musician. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-ve-always-thought-about-myself-as-somewhat-of-a-folk-musician-i/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) [Browse all 441 Folk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folk/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always thought I was singing American folk music.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lonnie Donegan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-donegan/i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american-folk-music/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Folk" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-donegan/i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american-folk-music/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lonnie-donegan-58975_folk-music_i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american_1545262.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lonnie-donegan-58975_folk-music_i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american_1545262.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lonnie-donegan-58975_folk-music_i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american_1545262.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always thought I was singing American folk music.” — Lonnie Donegan", "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": "Lonnie Donegan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-donegan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always thought I was singing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-donegan/i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american-folk-music/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-donegan/i-always-thought-i-was-singing-american-folk-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 } } ] } ```