--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As long as I've been playing, they never…" description: "\"As long as I've been playing, they never say I done anything. They always say that some white guy did it.\" — Miles Davis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/miles-davis-1842_done_as-long-as-i-ve-been-playing-they-never_815274.jpg" --- # As long as I've been playing, they never say I done… ![“As long as I've been playing, they never say I done anything. They always say that some white guy did it.” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/miles-davis-1842_done_as-long-as-i-ve-been-playing-they-never_815274.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/miles-davis-1842_done_as-long-as-i-ve-been-playing-they-never_815274.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/miles-davis-1842_done_as-long-as-i-ve-been-playing-they-never_815274.jpg) > “As long as I've been playing, they never say I done anything. They always say that some white guy did it.” [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Davis highlights racial bias in music criticism, noting that white musicians receive praise while black artists are often dismissed. **In simple terms:** Racism skews artistic recognition. Key Takeaway Challenge racial double standards in criticism. Themes race music media bias Mood reflective defiant Type social political When to use this quote - music reviews - industry awards - public discourse - education curricula Key Concepts cultural critique systemic racism artistic merit Questions to Reflect On - What steps can ensure fair evaluation of artists? - How does bias affect artistic innovation? A Different Perspective Some may argue talent alone determines success, ignoring systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) ## Related quotes > [You never say, 'This white guy, that white guy.' But when it's a black guy, you have to say, 'This black guy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demba-ba/you-never-say-this-white-guy-that-white-guy-but-when-it-s-a-black-guy/) [Demba Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demba-ba/) > [I'm not bad (his speed). I'm no Joe Morgan, but I'm pretty good for a white guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/i-m-not-bad-his-speed-i-m-no-joe-morgan-but-i-m-pretty-good-for-a/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) > [ Back in 2007, I met this white guy \[director Peter Byck\] with a lot of hair and a video camera, at a conference that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/back-in-2007-i-met-this-white-guy-director-peter-byck-with-a-lot-of/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Senator Joe Biden is pretty clean and articulate for a white guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/senator-joe-biden-is-pretty-clean-and-articulate-for-a-white-guy/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Want to shut a racist white guy's mouth. Put him around Super human athletic black dudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/godfrey/want-to-shut-a-racist-white-guy-s-mouth-put-him-around-super-human/) [Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/godfrey/) > [You don't expect a 94-year-old white guy to pick "Dope," which was an awesome movie not even close to being considered by the Academy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/you-don-t-expect-a-94-year-old-white-guy-to-pick-dope-which-was-an/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [One of the problems with NPR is that there is so much political correctness that if you've got a name that looks like it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/one-of-the-problems-with-npr-is-that-there-is-so-much-political/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [I am a white guy in America with an education, albeit high school, but a pretty good one. Another guy from a different demographic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-am-a-white-guy-in-america-with-an-education-albeit-high-school-but/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [The Indians are still winning the battle against the white men, but sooner or later, the white guy will win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/the-indians-are-still-winning-the-battle-against-the-white-men-but/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I'm a white guy listening to the Cure and thinking about Pynchon influences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-warren-jones/i-m-a-white-guy-listening-to-the-cure-and-thinking-about-pynchon/) [Shane Warren Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-warren-jones/) > [My father was, like, the token bad white guy in all the old Jackie Chan/Bruce Lee films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celina-jade/my-father-was-like-the-token-bad-white-guy-in-all-the-old-jackie-chan/) [Celina Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celina-jade/) > [I voted for the black guy, and what we got was the white guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-voted-for-the-black-guy-and-what-we-got-was-the-white-guy/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Usually, you have two people in a scene, and in the history of cinema the hero is most likely going to be the white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/usually-you-have-two-people-in-a-scene-and-in-the-history-of-cinema/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Any time you see a white guy in jail, you know he did something bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/any-time-you-see-a-white-guy-in-jail-you-know-he-did-something-bad/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [When you see a white guy at three in the morning on your beat in an alley, you kind of - "What's this guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-arpaio/when-you-see-a-white-guy-at-three-in-the-morning-on-your-beat-in-an/) [Joe Arpaio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-arpaio/) ## More by Miles Davis > [I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-usually-write-from-the-rhythm-section-if-a-drummer-got-a-funky-beat/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Look, man, all I am is a trumpet player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/look-man-all-i-am-is-a-trumpet-player/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You have to practice for a long time before you can learn to sound like yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-have-to-practice-for-a-long-time-before-you-can-learn-to-sound/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [There are no wrong notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/there-are-no-wrong-notes/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/knowledge-is-freedom-and-ignorance-is-slavery/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I began to realize that some of the things Ornette Coleman had said about things being played three or fours ways, independently of each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-began-to-realize-that-some-of-the-things-ornette-coleman-had-said/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [...people will go for anything they don't understand if it's got enough hype. They want to be hip, want always to be in on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/people-will-go-for-anything-they-don-t-understand-if-it-s-got-enough/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [If you're trying to be hip, be hip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/if-you-re-trying-to-be-hip-be-hip/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [My father's rich, my momma's good looking. Right? And I can play the Blues. I've never suffered and don't intend to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/my-father-s-rich-my-momma-s-good-looking-right-and-i-can-play-the/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I'm out there doing the best that I can, My lip is cut and I'm still playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-m-out-there-doing-the-best-that-i-can-my-lip-is-cut-and-i-m-still/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [When I'm playing, I'm never through. It's unfinished. I like to find a place to leave for someone else to finish it. That's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/when-i-m-playing-i-m-never-through-it-s-unfinished-i-like-to-find-a/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [ \[Prince\] could very well be the Duke Ellington of Rock 'n' Roll. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/prince-could-very-well-be-the-duke-ellington-of-rock-n-roll/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I can tell whether a person can play just by the way he stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-can-tell-whether-a-person-can-play-just-by-the-way-he-stands/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Do not fear mistakes. There are none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/do-not-fear-mistakes-there-are-none/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You can't compete with Sweets' sound and time feel. It's impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-can-t-compete-with-sweets-sound-and-time-feel-it-s-impossible/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) [Explore all 204 Miles Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) Browse all 25,653 Done quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As long as I've been playing, they never say I done anything. 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