--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: James McMurtry is a true Americana poet…" description: "\"James McMurtry is a true Americana poet - actually he is a poet regardless of genre\" — Michael Nesmith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-nesmith-16041_americana_james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet_1561016.jpg" --- # James McMurtry is a true Americana poet - actually he is a… ![“James McMurtry is a true Americana poet - actually he is a poet regardless of genre” quote by Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-nesmith-16041_americana_james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet_1561016.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-nesmith-16041_americana_james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet_1561016.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-nesmith-16041_americana_james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet_1561016.jpg) > “James McMurtry is a true Americana poet - actually he is a poet regardless of genre” [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement elevates James McMurtry as a poet whose work transcends genre, embodying authentic American storytelling. **In simple terms:** James McMurtry is an Americana poet beyond genre. Key Takeaway Recognize artistry beyond labels. Themes music poetry Americana authenticity Mood admiring thoughtful Type musical literary When to use this quote - radio show - music documentary - concert intro Key Concepts songwriting narrative cultural identity Questions to Reflect On - How does genre affect perception of poetry? - Can music be poetry without words? A Different Perspective Genre labels may restrict appreciation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americana/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [And that's the case with all of James McMurtry's songs. He never presents these characters for us to judge, but only to sympathize with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-goldsmith/and-that-s-the-case-with-all-of-james-mcmurtry-s-songs-he-never/) [Taylor Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-goldsmith/) > [I love being a gypsy and getting on the bus with the band making sounds for the people who love and enjoy a night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-lynne/i-love-being-a-gypsy-and-getting-on-the-bus-with-the-band-making/) [Shelby Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-lynne/) > [The strength of our economy allows us to maintain the mightiest military in the world, effectively enforcing a Pax Americana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-strength-of-our-economy-allows-us-to-maintain-the-mightiest/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I call my style Classic Americana Swag. I do my vibe, and I'll throw in a cool sneaker here or there, a pair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-call-my-style-classic-americana-swag-i-do-my-vibe-and-i-ll-throw-in/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [In Americana, the facts and the dreams seem to be all the same to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-robertson/in-americana-the-facts-and-the-dreams-seem-to-be-all-the-same-to-me/) [Robbie Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-robertson/) > [I’m wearing out this new Coal Men record. I think it’s masterful start-to-finish. Dave Coleman is one of Americana music’s great songwriters, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-snider/i-m-wearing-out-this-new-coal-men-record-i-think-it-s-masterful-start/) [Todd Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-snider/) > [It's no accident that my first novel was called Americana. This was a private declaration of independence, a statement of my intention to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/it-s-no-accident-that-my-first-novel-was-called-americana-this-was-a/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I never get tired of exploring Americana or country music, and I always have a little bit of a crooner in me that never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-d-lang/i-never-get-tired-of-exploring-americana-or-country-music-and-i/) [K. D. Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-d-lang/) > [There's also a lot of gritty Americana type of bands. I actually have a lot of Britpop on my iPod, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/there-s-also-a-lot-of-gritty-americana-type-of-bands-i-actually-have/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [It is true that after they have been reassured and have lost this fear, they are so artless and so free with all they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/it-is-true-that-after-they-have-been-reassured-and-have-lost-this/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [“I come home from work this evening there was a note in the frying pan said Fix Your Own Supper Babe I Run Off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-come-home-from-work-this-evening-there-was-a-note-in-the-frying-pan/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [To me, all music that is made under the umbrella of the United States of America is Americana music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/to-me-all-music-that-is-made-under-the-umbrella-of-the-united-states/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [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/) > [Since I was a kid, I've had an absolute obsession with particular kinds of American music. Mississippi Delta blues of the Thirties, Chicago blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-had-an-absolute-obsession-with-particular/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [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/) ## More by Michael Nesmith > [Wealth, in terms of dollars and so forth, could be counted up, because dollars were finite. It doesn't make any difference how many dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/wealth-in-terms-of-dollars-and-so-forth-could-be-counted-up-because/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [People recognize intellectual property the same way they recognize real estate. People understand what property is. But it's a new kind of property, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/people-recognize-intellectual-property-the-same-way-they-recognize/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [Buzzwords and cliches - those are stock in trade. There's nothing wrong with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/buzzwords-and-cliches-those-are-stock-in-trade-there-s-nothing-wrong/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [I haven't been out in the marketplace in a while. I'm thinking about going back into it. I've got some things set up over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/i-haven-t-been-out-in-the-marketplace-in-a-while-i-m-thinking-about/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [I'm not performing now. What I do now is listen to music all day long. Listening is very nourishing to me. I might go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/i-m-not-performing-now-what-i-do-now-is-listen-to-music-all-day-long/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [Once the smoke of the market crash clears off, you know, the Internet will pick back up and go. Take a look at what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/once-the-smoke-of-the-market-crash-clears-off-you-know-the-internet/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [The only people who steal are thieves, and that's a very small percentage of civilization. Most people want to have some way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/the-only-people-who-steal-are-thieves-and-that-s-a-very-small/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [“I had no doubt that music was the most important thing in my life, and I was getting an education in that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/i-had-no-doubt-that-music-was-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-and/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [You have to have access to ideas. The Internet is facilitating that access to ideas. In 25 years, the way that data's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/you-have-to-have-access-to-ideas-the-internet-is-facilitating-that/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [Just because you can thrill a toddler by chewing with your mouth open doesn’t mean you should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/just-because-you-can-thrill-a-toddler-by-chewing-with-your-mouth-open/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [The rock sitting on the shelf has potential because it can fall-it's the same way with the Internet. It has this potential. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/the-rock-sitting-on-the-shelf-has-potential-because-it-can-fall-it-s/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [Even when I take the path to go be a CEO for a month, or a CEO for a day- music is still there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/even-when-i-take-the-path-to-go-be-a-ceo-for-a-month-or-a-ceo-for-a/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [You don't have to fight against being placed in a box any more than the number two has to fight against being the number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/you-don-t-have-to-fight-against-being-placed-in-a-box-any-more-than/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [If you really dig a chick, you should talk to her, not steal her picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/if-you-really-dig-a-chick-you-should-talk-to-her-not-steal-her-picture/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [Don't object so much, you'll live longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/don-t-object-so-much-you-ll-live-longer/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) [Explore all 41 Michael Nesmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) ## More Americana 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/) > [Since I was a kid, I've had an absolute obsession with particular kinds of American music. Mississippi Delta blues of the Thirties, Chicago blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-had-an-absolute-obsession-with-particular/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [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/) > [To me, all music that is made under the umbrella of the United States of America is Americana music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/to-me-all-music-that-is-made-under-the-umbrella-of-the-united-states/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [“I come home from work this evening there was a note in the frying pan said Fix Your Own Supper Babe I Run Off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-come-home-from-work-this-evening-there-was-a-note-in-the-frying-pan/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [It is true that after they have been reassured and have lost this fear, they are so artless and so free with all they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/it-is-true-that-after-they-have-been-reassured-and-have-lost-this/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [There's also a lot of gritty Americana type of bands. I actually have a lot of Britpop on my iPod, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/there-s-also-a-lot-of-gritty-americana-type-of-bands-i-actually-have/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [I never get tired of exploring Americana or country music, and I always have a little bit of a crooner in me that never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-d-lang/i-never-get-tired-of-exploring-americana-or-country-music-and-i/) [K. D. Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-d-lang/) > [It's no accident that my first novel was called Americana. This was a private declaration of independence, a statement of my intention to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/it-s-no-accident-that-my-first-novel-was-called-americana-this-was-a/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I’m wearing out this new Coal Men record. I think it’s masterful start-to-finish. Dave Coleman is one of Americana music’s great songwriters, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-snider/i-m-wearing-out-this-new-coal-men-record-i-think-it-s-masterful-start/) [Todd Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-snider/) > [In Americana, the facts and the dreams seem to be all the same to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-robertson/in-americana-the-facts-and-the-dreams-seem-to-be-all-the-same-to-me/) [Robbie Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-robertson/) > [I call my style Classic Americana Swag. I do my vibe, and I'll throw in a cool sneaker here or there, a pair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-call-my-style-classic-americana-swag-i-do-my-vibe-and-i-ll-throw-in/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [The strength of our economy allows us to maintain the mightiest military in the world, effectively enforcing a Pax Americana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-strength-of-our-economy-allows-us-to-maintain-the-mightiest/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I love being a gypsy and getting on the bus with the band making sounds for the people who love and enjoy a night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-lynne/i-love-being-a-gypsy-and-getting-on-the-bus-with-the-band-making/) [Shelby Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-lynne/) > [I think you're going to find out that westerns will be coming back. It's Americana, it's part of our history, the cowboy, the cattle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-moore/i-think-you-re-going-to-find-out-that-westerns-will-be-coming-back-it/) [Clayton Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-moore/) [Browse all 67 Americana quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americana/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "James McMurtry is a true Americana poet - actually he is a poet regardless of genre", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Nesmith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet-actually-he-is-a-poet/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Americana" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet-actually-he-is-a-poet/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-nesmith-16041_americana_james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet_1561016.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-nesmith-16041_americana_james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet_1561016.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-nesmith-16041_americana_james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet_1561016.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“James McMurtry is a true Americana poet - actually he is a poet regardless of genre” — Michael Nesmith", "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": "Michael Nesmith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "James McMurtry is a true Americana...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet-actually-he-is-a-poet/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/james-mcmurtry-is-a-true-americana-poet-actually-he-is-a-poet/#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 } } ] } ```