--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I had five minutes to live, I don't…" description: "\"If I had five minutes to live, I don't think I'd be bothered singing a song. I'd be dead, so it won't really matter. I'd have a glass of wine and a cig..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/loudon-wainwright-iii-14383_bothered_if-i-had-five-minutes-to-live-i-don-t-th_2173384.jpg" --- # If I had five minutes to live, I don't think I'd be… ![“If I had five minutes to live, I don't think I'd be bothered singing a song. I'd be dead, so it won't really matter. I'd have a glass of wine and a cigarette.” quote by Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/loudon-wainwright-iii-14383_bothered_if-i-had-five-minutes-to-live-i-don-t-th_2173384.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/loudon-wainwright-iii-14383_bothered_if-i-had-five-minutes-to-live-i-don-t-th_2173384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/loudon-wainwright-iii-14383_bothered_if-i-had-five-minutes-to-live-i-don-t-th_2173384.jpg) > “If I had five minutes to live, I don't think I'd be bothered singing a song. I'd be dead, so it won't really matter. I'd have a glass of wine and a cigarette.” [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing death, trivialities feel meaningless. **In simple terms:** Death makes trivial things irrelevant. Key Takeaway Focus on what truly matters. Themes mortality triviality existence Mood melancholic contemplative Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - final wishes - legacy planning - personal reflection Key Concepts Philosophy of meaning existentialism life priorities Questions to Reflect On - What truly matters to you? - How would you spend your final minutes? A Different Perspective May overlook joy in small moments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [People were saying that Southern folk song was dead, that the land that had produced American jazz, the blues, the spirituals, the mountain ballads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/people-were-saying-that-southern-folk-song-was-dead-that-the-land/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [I've been singing this song now for twenty five minutes. I could sing it for another twenty five minutes. I'm not proud... or tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-guthrie/i-ve-been-singing-this-song-now-for-twenty-five-minutes-i-could-sing/) [Arlo Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-guthrie/) > [Girl, I know I don't know you. But your pretty little eyes so blue, Are pulling me in like the moon on your skin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/girl-i-know-i-don-t-know-you-but-your-pretty-little-eyes-so-blue-are/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [When I sing a song, I want someone to recognize 'Now that's Dianne singing that song.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-reeves/when-i-sing-a-song-i-want-someone-to-recognize-now-that-s-dianne/) [Dianne Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-reeves/) > [I can't see myself singing the same song twice in a row. That's terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-can-t-see-myself-singing-the-same-song-twice-in-a-row-that-s/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Singing a song like 'Your Love Is Killing Me,' people are worried about me. My mother called me, like, 'What's going on with you?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/singing-a-song-like-your-love-is-killing-me-people-are-worried-about/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) > [I hate it when I'm singing a song and someone joins in... I'm like Bitch , this isn't high school musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/every-teenage/i-hate-it-when-i-m-singing-a-song-and-someone-joins-in-i-m-like-bitch/) [Every Teenage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/every-teenage/) > [As the day gives way to night...I miss you having by my side...My heart is singing song to say...I miss you more than words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-day-gives-way-to-night-i-miss-you-having-by-my-side-my-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That moment when you're singing a song and realize you've been singing the wrong words the whole time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-williamson/that-moment-when-you-re-singing-a-song-and-realize-you-ve-been/) Jordan Williamson > [“I loved the different voices all singing one song, the various tones and qualities, the passing lifts of feeling, rising up and going out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-loved-the-different-voices-all-singing-one-song-the-various-tones/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [It all started when I was 11 months old, singing a song by Jodeci in the back seat of the car. My mother turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/it-all-started-when-i-was-11-months-old-singing-a-song-by-jodeci-in/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [It's such a good feeling today when I can hear them from across the ocean singing this song. That the whole world should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucky-dube/it-s-such-a-good-feeling-today-when-i-can-hear-them-from-across-the/) [Lucky Dube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucky-dube/) > [You try to stay in the moment and act like you're singing the song for the first time. You try to have a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-wilson/you-try-to-stay-in-the-moment-and-act-like-you-re-singing-the-song/) [Cindy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-wilson/) > [It sometimes takes 6 months or more after you've written and recorded it before you can start to enjoy the experience of singing the song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shultz/it-sometimes-takes-6-months-or-more-after-you-ve-written-and-recorded/) [Matt Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shultz/) > [When I'm on a stage, it's just me, singing a song with words that I wrote and I believe in. And if I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-dacus/when-i-m-on-a-stage-it-s-just-me-singing-a-song-with-words-that-i/) [Lucy Dacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-dacus/) ## More by Loudon Wainwright III > [I've never really suffered complete and utter writer's block, really. I equate it with sex: in the beginning of my career, I was writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-ve-never-really-suffered-complete-and-utter-writer-s-block-really-i/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [My feeling is that, and I've been writing about my family over the years, although it might make them feel uncomfortable, people generally like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/my-feeling-is-that-and-i-ve-been-writing-about-my-family-over-the/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [I always wanted to be an actor, even as a little kid. So I went to drama school in the late '60s at Carnegie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-even-as-a-little-kid-so-i-went-to/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [When you start performing, you realize that you have to separate yourself from the pack. So I would never wear bell-bottoms, which everybody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/when-you-start-performing-you-realize-that-you-have-to-separate/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [As it turns out, three of my four kids are professional singers. And they're really interesting, good singers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/as-it-turns-out-three-of-my-four-kids-are-professional-singers-and/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [You just do the best you can. It doesn't necessarily mean that you have to get worse the more you do it. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/you-just-do-the-best-you-can-it-doesn-t-necessarily-mean-that-you/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [When you have a song on the radio your career and your life changes maybe for the better and maybe for the not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/when-you-have-a-song-on-the-radio-your-career-and-your-life-changes/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [Doomsday is quite within our reach, if we will only stretch for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/doomsday-is-quite-within-our-reach-if-we-will-only-stretch-for-it/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [Right away, I knew I didn't want to have that look of other guys with long hair and bell-bottom pants, because everybody else had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/right-away-i-knew-i-didn-t-want-to-have-that-look-of-other-guys-with/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [I'm always asked if the songs that I write are therapeutic, and my answer is a quick no. In fact, it could be argued…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-m-always-asked-if-the-songs-that-i-write-are-therapeutic-and-my/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [My music comes from country music. Merle Haggard is God, and I do believe that. I'm not too tuned in to country music. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/my-music-comes-from-country-music-merle-haggard-is-god-and-i-do/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [Why kill good people just to get a bad man?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/why-kill-good-people-just-to-get-a-bad-man/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [I don't think of myself as a folk singer per se, but I really like blues and string-band music. When I started listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-folk-singer-per-se-but-i-really-like/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [I have travelled and been pretty much a one man operation for most of my career, and I think it'll continue to be that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-have-travelled-and-been-pretty-much-a-one-man-operation-for-most-of/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [When my mother died, and when my father died, it's big. Our parents are giants; they're titans of our lives, so of course it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/when-my-mother-died-and-when-my-father-died-it-s-big-our-parents-are/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) [Explore all 47 Loudon Wainwright III quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) ## More Bothered quotes > [Life is such unutterable hell, solely because it is sometimes beautiful. If we could only be miserable all the time, if there could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-such-unutterable-hell-solely-because-it-is-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never bothered about keeping track.Every now and then someone records one of my songs, and I get credit for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-never-bothered-about-keeping-track-every-now-and-then-someone/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [Right, and you point out something important which is that people who don’t want to pay, people who are pirates, don’t get bothered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/right-and-you-point-out-something-important-which-is-that-people-who/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive, saving the world on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/he-went-to-paris-looking-for-answers-to-questions-that-bothered-him/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Many people think of me as a perfectionist, someone who polishes and shines each song and performance. I've always been bothered by that assumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/many-people-think-of-me-as-a-perfectionist-someone-who-polishes-and/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [People think unless you have loops and electronics and so on, you must be in your 50s. I quite like a lot of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-thompson/people-think-unless-you-have-loops-and-electronics-and-so-on-you-must/) [Teddy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-thompson/) > [When your house is on fire, you cant be bothered with the neighbors. Or, as we say in Chess, if your King is under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/when-your-house-is-on-fire-you-cant-be-bothered-with-the-neighbors-or/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Sometimes you have to distance yourself from people. If they care, they will notice and be bothered. If they dont, you will know where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-distance-yourself-from-people-if-they-care-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’m merely talking about learning to be less bothered by the actions of people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/i-m-merely-talking-about-learning-to-be-less-bothered-by-the-actions/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [To combat social awkwardness, I would just act like I couldn't be bothered - that kind of aloof persona or aloof demeanor. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/to-combat-social-awkwardness-i-would-just-act-like-i-couldn-t-be/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Quietly, President Obama has done warrantless wire tapping. And it was hardly covered. I don't know if any of the mainstream press bothered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/quietly-president-obama-has-done-warrantless-wire-tapping-and-it-was/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [“I'm sorry I bothered you, Susan. I'm just having a tough time. That's all. Have a good one," I said and walked away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-m-sorry-i-bothered-you-susan-i-m-just-having-a-tough-time-that-s/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I'm not bothered by the idea of getting old, or I guess you could say by having arrived at old. I was 10 when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-not-bothered-by-the-idea-of-getting-old-or-i-guess-you-could-say/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Many of the factors that we think will cause motivation, such as fair pay and a good manager, won't make you love your job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/many-of-the-factors-that-we-think-will-cause-motivation-such-as-fair/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [“Am I bothered? Am I bothered though. I ain't doing nothing cause I ain't bothered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/am-i-bothered-am-i-bothered-though-i-ain-t-doing-nothing-cause-i-ain/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) Browse all 599 Bothered quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I had five minutes to live, I don't think I'd be bothered singing a song. 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