--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's frustrating that people attribute…" description: "\"It's frustrating that people attribute something to certain songs and that's not what they're about at all.\" — Matt Tong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/matt-tong-24067_attributes_it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-s_1131321.jpg" --- # It's frustrating that people attribute something to… ![“It's frustrating that people attribute something to certain songs and that's not what they're about at all.” quote by Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/matt-tong-24067_attributes_it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-s_1131321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/matt-tong-24067_attributes_it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-s_1131321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/matt-tong-24067_attributes_it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-s_1131321.jpg) > “It's frustrating that people attribute something to certain songs and that's not what they're about at all.” [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Listeners often misinterpret song meanings, projecting personal narratives that differ from the artist’s intent. **In simple terms:** People read songs differently than intended. Key Takeaway Consider both artist intent and personal interpretation. Themes interpretation music communication Mood analytical thoughtful Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - listening sessions - song analysis - creative writing - music criticism Key Concepts artistic intent subjective meaning Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal meaning with artist intent? - When does interpretation become appropriation? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can diminish enjoyment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attributes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attributes/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certain Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-songs/) [Frustrating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrating/) [Frustrating People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrating-people-1131135/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Attribute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-attribute-2192539/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) ## Related quotes > [I ask people to not attribute what I've done - my success and how hard I've worked - to not reduce that or attribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-breed/i-ask-people-to-not-attribute-what-i-ve-done-my-success-and-how-hard/) [London Breed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-breed/) > [I can understand in some sense, having played the character, how unimaginably frustrating it is for people to tell you that you can't love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-perabo/i-can-understand-in-some-sense-having-played-the-character-how/) [Piper Perabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-perabo/) > [It's frustrating when people question your integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-strange/it-s-frustrating-when-people-question-your-integrity/) [Luther Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-strange/) > [I'm a bit too much of a people pleaser and that can be frustrating for people in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-ritter/i-m-a-bit-too-much-of-a-people-pleaser-and-that-can-be-frustrating/) [Jason Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-ritter/) > [My fans get passionate about certain songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/my-fans-get-passionate-about-certain-songs/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) > [You have certain songs that bands make that just don't go away. We were blessed with that, and it was 'All Star.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harwell/you-have-certain-songs-that-bands-make-that-just-don-t-go-away-we/) [Steve Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harwell/) > [I always thought I was good. That's why it was so frustrating when other people didn't agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mapplethorpe/i-always-thought-i-was-good-that-s-why-it-was-so-frustrating-when/) [Robert Mapplethorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mapplethorpe/) > [It is frustrating that people have a hard time telling other female stories besides, 'Is she going to get the guy?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/it-is-frustrating-that-people-have-a-hard-time-telling-other-female/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [I find it really frustrating when people go, "I want to be famous and glamorous like you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-saldana/i-find-it-really-frustrating-when-people-go-i-want-to-be-famous-and-2/) [Zoe Saldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-saldana/) > [It's frustrating to see that people still get shocked when they see a woman doing action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esme-creed-miles/it-s-frustrating-to-see-that-people-still-get-shocked-when-they-see-a/) [Esme Creed-Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esme-creed-miles/) > [It's frustrating to see people hurting themselves on purpose when I have a sister who's fighting to live everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-frustrating-to-see-people-hurting-themselves-on-purpose-when-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's just really frustrating how people are just so selfish in this industry. It makes me very angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indya-moore/it-s-just-really-frustrating-how-people-are-just-so-selfish-in-this/) [Indya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indya-moore/) > [And that format was - we'd been using that format, I guess, since the late '70s, and it was starting to get very predictable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/and-that-format-was-we-d-been-using-that-format-i-guess-since-the/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [Certain songs have a life, and certain songs don't. A song is like a saddle: you ride it for a while, and if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-hansard/certain-songs-have-a-life-and-certain-songs-don-t-a-song-is-like-a/) [Glen Hansard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-hansard/) > [In the years that Ive seen concerts, when Ive paid to see somebody I want to see, there would be a certain amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/in-the-years-that-ive-seen-concerts-when-ive-paid-to-see-somebody-i/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) ## More by Matt Tong > [Nobody starts a band to make friends; you do it because of the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/nobody-starts-a-band-to-make-friends-you-do-it-because-of-the-music/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [There's too much rock that relies a fetishism or nostalgia for the old ways. That's a real enemy to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/there-s-too-much-rock-that-relies-a-fetishism-or-nostalgia-for-the/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [I have a real problem with rock music because it seems that lineage doesn't really exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-have-a-real-problem-with-rock-music-because-it-seems-that-lineage/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [I want the words to be read in conjunction with the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-want-the-words-to-be-read-in-conjunction-with-the-music/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [Patriotism is a joke in the UK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/patriotism-is-a-joke-in-the-uk/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [I don't really believe in the use of drum machines live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-don-t-really-believe-in-the-use-of-drum-machines-live/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [I'm finding it hard to listen to other rock bands. It's been hard for me for a long time, but now I can't listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-m-finding-it-hard-to-listen-to-other-rock-bands-it-s-been-hard-for/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [Youth is so cynical. There's never anything to believe in as a teen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/youth-is-so-cynical-there-s-never-anything-to-believe-in-as-a-teen/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [After a while, you start to believe that your opinions are more valid than everyone else's. It can be hard to be humble about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/after-a-while-you-start-to-believe-that-your-opinions-are-more-valid/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [I feel that's important that I have some place to go that isn't on the cover of a magazine. I signed up to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-feel-that-s-important-that-i-have-some-place-to-go-that-isn-t-on/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [You want to reach people on a real level and have a fan base that understands you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/you-want-to-reach-people-on-a-real-level-and-have-a-fan-base-that/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [You can't help hearing things that are popular when you're young and impressionable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/you-can-t-help-hearing-things-that-are-popular-when-you-re-young-and/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [Everyone tries to research your background. I have a real fear of celebrity and exposing my real self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/everyone-tries-to-research-your-background-i-have-a-real-fear-of/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [Even that word depends on what you mean by pop. I mean, pop music has currency. It could just be about that girl who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/even-that-word-depends-on-what-you-mean-by-pop-i-mean-pop-music-has/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [I never saw the point in listening to only one thing. The low art/high art distinction comes from the establishment telling me how I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-never-saw-the-point-in-listening-to-only-one-thing-the-low-art-high/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) [Explore all 25 Matt Tong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) ## More Attributes quotes > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [I think the greatest imagination we can exercise is one that imagines how someone else feels. Because you know how you feel, but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-think-the-greatest-imagination-we-can-exercise-is-one-that-imagines/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [A lover asked his beloved, Do you love yourself more than you love me? Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lover-asked-his-beloved-do-you-love-yourself-more-than-you-love-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-of-the-greatest-attributes-of-jazz-i-think-is-that-it-is-that-open/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/) [Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/) > [“It is this spirit of godliness that will bring forth the attributes, the principles and the life style of godliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-this-spirit-of-godliness-that-will-bring-forth-the-attributes/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [My Calvinism persuades me that we are open to God, in the sense that we are not delimited, not organisms with fixed attributes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-calvinism-persuades-me-that-we-are-open-to-god-in-the-sense-that/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [I have often noticed that the two nuclear powers on the Indian subcontinent, India and Pakistan, attribute to Kashmiris an inferior intellect, a lineage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyla-ali-khan/i-have-often-noticed-that-the-two-nuclear-powers-on-the-indian/) [Nyla Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyla-ali-khan/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/developing-christlike-attributes-in-our-lives-is-not-an-easy-task/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [If I have any attribute that serves me well, it's I don't have a long-range plan in life. I have no idea. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wilbon/if-i-have-any-attribute-that-serves-me-well-it-s-i-don-t-have-a-long/) [Michael Wilbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wilbon/) [Browse all 852 Attributes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attributes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's frustrating that people attribute something to certain songs and that's not what they're about at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Tong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-something-to-certain-songs-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attributes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-something-to-certain-songs-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/matt-tong-24067_attributes_it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-s_1131321.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/matt-tong-24067_attributes_it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-s_1131321.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/matt-tong-24067_attributes_it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-s_1131321.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's frustrating that people attribute something to certain songs and that's not what they're about at all.” — Matt Tong", "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": "Matt Tong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's frustrating that people attribute something...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-something-to-certain-songs-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-something-to-certain-songs-and/#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 } } ] } ```