--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Eventually I had so many little melodies…" description: "\"Eventually I had so many little melodies and ideas that, you know, that they were all songs to me and I threw in a few cover songs like Enya's \"Waterma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/petra-haden-19551_cover-songs_eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies_3198110.jpg" --- # Eventually I had so many little melodies and ideas that… ![“Eventually I had so many little melodies and ideas that, you know, that they were all songs to me and I threw in a few cover songs like Enya's "Watermark," Bach, and my dad's song, "Song for the Whales."” quote by Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/petra-haden-19551_cover-songs_eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies_3198110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/petra-haden-19551_cover-songs_eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies_3198110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/petra-haden-19551_cover-songs_eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies_3198110.jpg) > “Eventually I had so many little melodies and ideas that, you know, that they were all songs to me and I threw in a few cover songs like Enya's "Watermark," Bach, and my dad's song, "Song for the Whales."” [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Abundant musical ideas blend into personal expression, illustrating creative synthesis and homage **In simple terms:** Many melodies become personal songs Key Takeaway Embrace and remix influences creatively Themes creativity music heritage Mood inspirational nostalgic Type interview personal narrative When to use this quote - songwriting - cover performances - family traditions Key Concepts influence originality collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance tribute and originality? - What role does family play in artistic identity? A Different Perspective Overreliance on covers can hinder original voice ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cover songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cover-songs/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Little Melodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-melodies-1346188/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Melodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melodies/) [Melodies Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melodies-ideas-1874967/) [Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [My dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-dad/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Whales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whales/) ## Related quotes > [Melodies and ideas are always on my mind and always coming to me. I'm very thankful for that because if I didn't have whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-debney/melodies-and-ideas-are-always-on-my-mind-and-always-coming-to-me-i-m/) [John Debney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-debney/) > [I've always got these little melodies running around in my head, although most of them aren't worth much, and I understand structure and formulas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/i-ve-always-got-these-little-melodies-running-around-in-my-head/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [If, while at the piano, you attempt to form little melodies, that is very well; but if they come into your mind of themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/if-while-at-the-piano-you-attempt-to-form-little-melodies-that-is/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [Some may find them merely diverting melodies. Others may find them incitements to Red revolution. And who will say if either or both is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/some-may-find-them-merely-diverting-melodies-others-may-find-them/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [Here is how I work: when I think that a film needs to have a principal theme, I search for a melody. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-legrand/here-is-how-i-work-when-i-think-that-a-film-needs-to-have-a-principal/) [Michel Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-legrand/) > [I find that the rhythm of going on long walks will suggest melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/i-find-that-the-rhythm-of-going-on-long-walks-will-suggest-melodies/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [A song that sounds simple is just not that easy to write. One of the objectives of this record was to try and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/a-song-that-sounds-simple-is-just-not-that-easy-to-write-one-of-the/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [There are only so many notes so there must be only so many melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/there-are-only-so-many-notes-so-there-must-be-only-so-many-melodies/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [The only criticism heard with any frequency of Elton John's first American album, 'Elton John,' was that the production was too grandiose. The melodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-landau/the-only-criticism-heard-with-any-frequency-of-elton-john-s-first/) [Jon Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-landau/) > [There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/there-are-not-more-than-five-musical-notes-yet-the-combinations-of/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Singing in Spanish is much more honest, much closer to my roots. For me, Spanish is essential. I still think in Spanish, dream in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juanes/singing-in-spanish-is-much-more-honest-much-closer-to-my-roots-for-me/) [Juanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juanes/) > [At times I have a beat first and then I write. Sometimes I have a melody in my head and I pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nneka/at-times-i-have-a-beat-first-and-then-i-write-sometimes-i-have-a/) [Nneka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nneka/) > [There are no rules or certain methods. I usually start with the guitar or piano and sing melodies over the chords. The lyrics seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/there-are-no-rules-or-certain-methods-i-usually-start-with-the-guitar/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [It was a matter of not seeing the woods for the trees. Glorious songs have been in Ireland forever, but a lot of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-coulter/it-was-a-matter-of-not-seeing-the-woods-for-the-trees-glorious-songs/) [Phil Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-coulter/) > [I have a very strange melodic gift: melodies come to me effortlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-legrand/i-have-a-very-strange-melodic-gift-melodies-come-to-me-effortlessly/) [Michel Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-legrand/) ## More by Petra Haden > [The bass line is the anchor for me. I started with the bass, and either doubled that and then added the harmonies, or sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/the-bass-line-is-the-anchor-for-me-i-started-with-the-bass-and-either/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [My forte is playing along and singing along to music I love. I mean, who knows, maybe I could develop that knack or develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/my-forte-is-playing-along-and-singing-along-to-music-i-love-i-mean/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I never punched in anything when I recorded Imaginaryland. Where the title came from is a whole other story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/i-never-punched-in-anything-when-i-recorded-imaginaryland-where-the/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I put out Imaginaryland, I heard a lot of, "Oh she's copying Laurie Anderson," and I was like, wait... but I don't know her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/i-put-out-imaginaryland-i-heard-a-lot-of-oh-she-s-copying-laurie/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I wish I finished music school, because then I feel like I could talk more about the dissonant notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/i-wish-i-finished-music-school-because-then-i-feel-like-i-could-talk/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I remember watching Looney Tunes cartoons and having the music stuck in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/i-remember-watching-looney-tunes-cartoons-and-having-the-music-stuck/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [Our dad played us a lot of old country songs by The Carter Family and he would sing along to it. I loved listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/our-dad-played-us-a-lot-of-old-country-songs-by-the-carter-family-and/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [Harmony has always come very natural to us because we started singing harmony at an early age. We heard a lot of different music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/harmony-has-always-come-very-natural-to-us-because-we-started-singing/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I didn't know how write a song, (verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, bridge, verse), etc., and I didn't know how to write lyrics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/i-didn-t-know-how-write-a-song-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I didn't know who Meredith Monk was, and I knew about Laurie Anderson but I didn't know her music that well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/i-didn-t-know-who-meredith-monk-was-and-i-knew-about-laurie-anderson/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I just recorded in studios, you know, people pressed the buttons for me. So I just started recording the bass lines and guitar parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/i-just-recorded-in-studios-you-know-people-pressed-the-buttons-for-me/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I thought about what I wanted to do besides playing violin and singing backup in a band. Don't get me wrong, playing and singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/i-thought-about-what-i-wanted-to-do-besides-playing-violin-and/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I always related my favorite music to the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/i-always-related-my-favorite-music-to-the-movies/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [Old film-noir movies. There's something comforting about watching black-and-white movies, and hearing this kind of music just puts me in a fantasy world. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/old-film-noir-movies-there-s-something-comforting-about-watching/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [Everyone knows about The Who, but I didn't. I knew the popular songs like "I Can See For Miles." So that was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/everyone-knows-about-the-who-but-i-didn-t-i-knew-the-popular-songs/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) [Explore all 32 Petra Haden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) ## More Cover songs quotes > [It's easy to get people to sing along to cover songs, but when it's your song, it's the coolest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/it-s-easy-to-get-people-to-sing-along-to-cover-songs-but-when-it-s/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) > [What originally established the band was cover songs like Not Fade Away. Then, later on, we got more well-known ones like Satisfaction, which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/what-originally-established-the-band-was-cover-songs-like-not-fade/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [The only criterion we used in doing cover material was we wanted to do songs that we wished bands would play when we went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gord-downie/the-only-criterion-we-used-in-doing-cover-material-was-we-wanted-to/) [Gord Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gord-downie/) > [I love when people cover songs that are familiar but have been kind of forgotten about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassadee-pope/i-love-when-people-cover-songs-that-are-familiar-but-have-been-kind/) [Cassadee Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassadee-pope/) > [ Jordan \[Ruddes\], he learned that way, and that's what he knows how to do. That's how he kind of approaches all music, whether it's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/jordan-ruddes-he-learned-that-way-and-that-s-what-he-knows-how-to-do/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [When I began to cover songs for YouTube, they all tended to be in the super pop-genre.. as in, smash-hit songs. My writing process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-goot/when-i-began-to-cover-songs-for-youtube-they-all-tended-to-be-in-the/) [Alex Goot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-goot/) > [It's always flattering when someone covers a song. I mean, when you're a young band, and you're unsigned - to think that someday people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-bettencourt/it-s-always-flattering-when-someone-covers-a-song-i-mean-when-you-re/) [Nuno Bettencourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-bettencourt/) > [Red House Painters were doing cover songs before our first record deal. I remember live shows where we did an AC/DC song; I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kozelek/red-house-painters-were-doing-cover-songs-before-our-first-record/) [Mark Kozelek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kozelek/) > [When I find a cover song that I like, I'll work away at it until I kind of believe that I wrote it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lowe/when-i-find-a-cover-song-that-i-like-i-ll-work-away-at-it-until-i/) [Nick Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lowe/) > [I really love that song. I love when people cover songs that are familiar but have been kind of forgotten about. So when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassadee-pope/i-really-love-that-song-i-love-when-people-cover-songs-that-are/) [Cassadee Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassadee-pope/) > [The older I get, the more I think it's this listening. You listen for it, and you have a bit of patience. And it'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lowe/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-it-s-this-listening-you-listen-for/) [Nick Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lowe/) > [Although I'm a huge fan of Ben Kweller, I don't think I'd cover one of his songs, simply because there's just so much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/although-i-m-a-huge-fan-of-ben-kweller-i-don-t-think-i-d-cover-one-of/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [I like to do cover songs if I really love them, I have to love the song first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-taylor/i-like-to-do-cover-songs-if-i-really-love-them-i-have-to-love-the/) [Paul Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-taylor/) > [I've always covered some Dylan songs. I do one or two. And I do them because they're great songs. You know some people cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-ve-always-covered-some-dylan-songs-i-do-one-or-two-and-i-do-them/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [Colin Blunstone did a cover of one of my songs, and the reason I liked it was he changed it completely from my version.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-laine/colin-blunstone-did-a-cover-of-one-of-my-songs-and-the-reason-i-liked/) [Denny Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-laine/) [Browse all 26 Cover songs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cover-songs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Eventually I had so many little melodies and ideas that, you know, that they were all songs to me and I threw in a few cover songs like Enya's \"Watermark,\" Bach, and my dad's song, \"Song for the Whales.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Petra Haden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies-and-ideas-that-you-know-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cover songs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies-and-ideas-that-you-know-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/petra-haden-19551_cover-songs_eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies_3198110.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/petra-haden-19551_cover-songs_eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies_3198110.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/petra-haden-19551_cover-songs_eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies_3198110.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Eventually I had so many little melodies and ideas that, you know, that they were all songs to me and I…” — Petra Haden", "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": "Petra Haden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Eventually I had so many little...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies-and-ideas-that-you-know-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies-and-ideas-that-you-know-that/#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 } } ] } ```