---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If music's a political place, I'm out."
description: "\"If music's a political place, I'm out.\" — M.I.A"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/m-i-a-3418_ifs_if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out-206_2065292.jpg"
---

#  If music's a political place, I'm out.

![“If music's a political place, I'm out.” quote by M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/m-i-a-3418_ifs_if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out-206_2065292.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/m-i-a-3418_ifs_if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out-206_2065292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/m-i-a-3418_ifs_if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out-206_2065292.jpg)

> “If music's a political place, I'm out.”

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

If music is used for political agendas, the artist withdraws, rejecting co‑optation.

**In simple terms:** Reject politicized music.

Key Takeaway

Stay true to artistic intent.

Themes

politics art integrity

Mood

defiant assertive

Type

statement musical

When to use this quote

- protest songs
- government propaganda
- artist activism

Key Concepts

censorship activism creative freedom

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you keep art independent?
- Can music be both political and authentic?

A Different Perspective

Music can still influence subtly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-political-283263/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-place-1179084/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [Any piece of art, when you're putting it on a certain platform, if the platform becomes a political place, you can manipulate things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/any-piece-of-art-when-you-re-putting-it-on-a-certain-platform-if-the/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [You shouldn't listen to my music for political messages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/you-shouldn-t-listen-to-my-music-for-political-messages/)

[Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/)

> [A political place with no power, only influence, is not to my taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/a-political-place-with-no-power-only-influence-is-not-to-my-taste/)

[Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/)

> [I think that if everybody changed and tried to make their music political, it'd be kind of a bummer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-johnson/i-think-that-if-everybody-changed-and-tried-to-make-their-music/)

[Jack Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-johnson/)

> [In America, there's more of the question, should music be political or should it just be for entertainment purposes, whereas around the world that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/in-america-there-s-more-of-the-question-should-music-be-political-or/)

[Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/)

> [There were so many great music and political scenes going on in the late '60s in Cambridge. The ratio of guys to girls at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/there-were-so-many-great-music-and-political-scenes-going-on-in-the/)

[Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/)

> [I do have a big problem with the idea of music as a form of communication unless it's political - and that's where it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-do-have-a-big-problem-with-the-idea-of-music-as-a-form-of/)

[Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/)

> [All music has political dimensions because it suggests a way of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/all-music-has-political-dimensions-because-it-suggests-a-way-of-being/)

[Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/)

> [If my music is political in a way, and it might be, it's in the way of generating a sensitivity in people, a deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-elvrum/if-my-music-is-political-in-a-way-and-it-might-be-it-s-in-the-way-of/)

[Phil Elvrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-elvrum/)

> [I don't write political music. Political music is immediately obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-penderecki/i-don-t-write-political-music-political-music-is-immediately-obsolete/)

[Krzysztof Penderecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-penderecki/)

> [I'm an entertainer. I get up on stage and I try to make people enjoy my music, and that political arena - I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donny-osmond/i-m-an-entertainer-i-get-up-on-stage-and-i-try-to-make-people-enjoy/)

[Donny Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donny-osmond/)

> [In Germany there's something about rock music much more political than it really is - like everything you were doing was an indictment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/in-germany-there-s-something-about-rock-music-much-more-political/)

[John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/)

> [The Bushes were certainly part of Texas in their mind, but they didn't have the kind of political flavor that you normally find in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-bushes-were-certainly-part-of-texas-in-their-mind-but-they-didn-t/)

[Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/)

> [My dad's family were political and he was always a theatrical creature, whereas my mum is really musical and her father was the touring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/my-dad-s-family-were-political-and-he-was-always-a-theatrical/)

[Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/)

> [I come from a working-class family. They're the people I know and the people I love, I guess. I do not write about them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-petterson/i-come-from-a-working-class-family-they-re-the-people-i-know-and-the/)

[Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/)

## More by M.I.A

> [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [You have to constantly redefine who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/you-have-to-constantly-redefine-who-you-are/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [That's what I miss, being a real human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-i-miss-being-a-real-human/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [Retirement: a brand new beginning! How wonderful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/retirement-a-brand-new-beginning-how-wonderful/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [I don't like the idea of spirituality done the way it's done. The only way I could understand it was through creativity, not by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-spirituality-done-the-way-it-s-done-the-only/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [I felt pissed off because I realized that you have to teach people in a clichéd way how to be happy-and happiness has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-that-you-have-to-teach-people-in/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [The first 10 years of my life, I lived as 'Matangi.' When I came to England in '86, my first week of school was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/the-first-10-years-of-my-life-i-lived-as-matangi-when-i-came-to/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [My uncle was the first brown person to have a market stall on Petticoat Lane in the 1960s. He worked his way up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-uncle-was-the-first-brown-person-to-have-a-market-stall-on/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [That divide between the rich and poor is so crazy, because even white kids are suffering now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-divide-between-the-rich-and-poor-is-so-crazy-because-even-white/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [Businessmen in society are not going to be the ones that promote anything outside of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/businessmen-in-society-are-not-going-to-be-the-ones-that-promote/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [That's what New York is like - you can't have real art happen in an institution because rich people can make the world stop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-have-real-art-happen-in-an/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [I feel like a mirror reflecting back everyones perception of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-feel-like-a-mirror-reflecting-back-everyones-perception-of-me/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [In England right now you're not good enough until you get validated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-england-right-now-you-re-not-good-enough-until-you-get-validated/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [I'm still working out my opinions - it's always a question mark. I leave loads of space open, and people don't like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-always-a-question-mark-i-leave/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [Basically, when I went to school in Sri Lanka from age five onward, the classes there were sometimes sorted into a hierarchy of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/basically-when-i-went-to-school-in-sri-lanka-from-age-five-onward-the/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

[Explore all 131 M.I.A quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

## More Ifs quotes

> [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/)

[Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/)

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/)

[Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/)

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/)

[L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/)

> [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/)

> [If I don't have pressure, I don't function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/if-i-don-t-have-pressure-i-don-t-function/)

[Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/)

> [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/)

[Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

[Browse all 94,303 Ifs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If music's a political place, I'm out.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "M.I.A"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ifs"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/m-i-a-3418_ifs_if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out-206_2065292.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/m-i-a-3418_ifs_if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out-206_2065292.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/m-i-a-3418_ifs_if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out-206_2065292.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If music's a political place, I'm out.” — M.I.A",
                "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": "M.I.A",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If music's a political place, I'm...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/if-music-s-a-political-place-i-m-out/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
