--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think if I were over there in America…" description: "\"I think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. But I'm not going.\" — Nina Simone" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/nina-simone-3396_america_i-think-if-i-were-over-there-in-america_2457812.png" --- # I think if I were over there in America, protest music… ![“I think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. But I'm not going.” quote by Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/nina-simone-3396_america_i-think-if-i-were-over-there-in-america_2457812.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/nina-simone-3396_america_i-think-if-i-were-over-there-in-america_2457812.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/nina-simone-3396_america_i-think-if-i-were-over-there-in-america_2457812.png) > “I think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. But I'm not going.” [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She believes protest music would be more important in America, but she chooses not to participate. **In simple terms:** Protest music matters, yet she stays silent. Key Takeaway Consider impact versus personal involvement. Themes activism music choice Mood pensive determined Type musical political When to use this quote - political movements - artistic expression Key Concepts cultural influence personal agency Questions to Reflect On - Why might someone stay silent despite belief? - What alternative actions can support a cause? A Different Perspective Silence may limit influence on change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest/) ## Related quotes > [Other than Green Day, we haven't had a lot of protest music over the past few decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/other-than-green-day-we-haven-t-had-a-lot-of-protest-music-over-the/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [I used protest music as a vehicle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-used-protest-music-as-a-vehicle/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [In 70s America, protest used to be very effective, but in subsequent decades municipalities have sneakily created a web of 'overpermiticisation' - requirements that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/in-70s-america-protest-used-to-be-very-effective-but-in-subsequent/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [I can't exactly say why there's not much protest music to speak off. And I know there are acts out there still putting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/i-can-t-exactly-say-why-there-s-not-much-protest-music-to-speak-off/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [I think that America has to stand with democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-that-america-has-to-stand-with-democracy/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think reality TV is so popular because it makes everyone in the country feel like, 'Hey, I can be on TV. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanna-moakler/i-think-reality-tv-is-so-popular-because-it-makes-everyone-in-the/) [Shanna Moakler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanna-moakler/) > [If you think about America, it is about getting your backpack on and heading out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-frost/if-you-think-about-america-it-is-about-getting-your-backpack-on-and/) [Nick Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-frost/) > [I think America is really well-positioned, because we do train people to be creative and sometimes resist authority, which helps in being an innovator.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/i-think-america-is-really-well-positioned-because-we-do-train-people/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [I think America was a miracle. I think God loves this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/i-think-america-was-a-miracle-i-think-god-loves-this-country/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [The challenges facing our country today, I think, have even more even to do with America's place in the world, with a struggling economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-challenges-facing-our-country-today-i-think-have-even-more-even/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I think America has more than enough maturity and intelligence to start exercising its world leadership responsibly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-america-has-more-than-enough-maturity-and-intelligence-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think that America could not become America until it dealt with the disenfranchisement of women and African Americans in the last century. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/i-think-that-america-could-not-become-america-until-it-dealt-with-the/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [I think America is strong enough to fix the problems, grace and honor to D.C. I think energy independence and control spending. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/i-think-america-is-strong-enough-to-fix-the-problems-grace-and-honor/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [But in terms of what men and women can do, I believe and I think that America as a whole believes that women can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/but-in-terms-of-what-men-and-women-can-do-i-believe-and-i-think-that/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [“I think that in America there are certain kinds of problems and in Russia there are certain kinds of problems, but basically, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-think-that-in-america-there-are-certain-kinds-of-problems-and-in/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) ## More by Nina Simone > [Music is one of the ways by which you can know everything which is going on in the world. You can feel... through music...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/music-is-one-of-the-ways-by-which-you-can-know-everything-which-is/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [My love is like the wind and wild is the wind. Give me more than one caress, satisfy my hungriness. Let the wind blow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/my-love-is-like-the-wind-and-wild-is-the-wind-give-me-more-than-one/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [I can't stand loud guitars that make me deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/i-can-t-stand-loud-guitars-that-make-me-deaf/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [I don't like to go to strange places. I was in Italy for about five hours on my way to Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/i-don-t-like-to-go-to-strange-places-i-was-in-italy-for-about-five/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [We have ordered things so long in a certain way, we are numb. Nobody dares question it. This is what is wrong, symbolically, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/we-have-ordered-things-so-long-in-a-certain-way-we-are-numb-nobody/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [I wasn't a jazz player, but a classical musician, and I improvised arrangements of popular songs using classical motifs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/i-wasn-t-a-jazz-player-but-a-classical-musician-and-i-improvised/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [I think the rich will eventually have to cave in too, because the economic situation around the world is not gonna tolerate the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/i-think-the-rich-will-eventually-have-to-cave-in-too-because-the/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [There's no excuse for the young...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/there-s-no-excuse-for-the-young/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [Everything that happened to me as a child involved music. It was part of everyday life, as automatic as breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/everything-that-happened-to-me-as-a-child-involved-music-it-was-part/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [When I was studying... there weren't any black concert pianists. My choices were intuitive, and I had the technique to do it. People have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/when-i-was-studying-there-weren-t-any-black-concert-pianists-my/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [You have to learn to get up from the table when love is not being served.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/you-have-to-learn-to-get-up-from-the-table-when-love-is-not-being/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [That's a very high goal to have, study eight hours a day to be a concert pianist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/that-s-a-very-high-goal-to-have-study-eight-hours-a-day-to-be-a/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," a song that was written for Simone, she confronted the band's lead singer, Eric Burdon. "So you're the honky,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/don-t-let-me-be-misunderstood-a-song-that-was-written-for-simone-she/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [This is the world you have made yourself, now you have to live in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/this-is-the-world-you-have-made-yourself-now-you-have-to-live-in-it/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [I'll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear. I mean really, no fear!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/i-ll-tell-you-what-freedom-is-to-me-no-fear-i-mean-really-no-fear/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) [Explore all 132 Nina Simone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. 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