--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I long ago learned that you can't expect…" description: "\"I long ago learned that you can't expect people to interpret the songs in the way they had meant for you, as the writer.\" — PJ Harvey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/pj-harvey-3601_long_i-long-ago-learned-that-you-can-t-expect_1277391.jpg" --- # I long ago learned that you can't expect people to… ![“I long ago learned that you can't expect people to interpret the songs in the way they had meant for you, as the writer.” quote by PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/pj-harvey-3601_long_i-long-ago-learned-that-you-can-t-expect_1277391.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/pj-harvey-3601_long_i-long-ago-learned-that-you-can-t-expect_1277391.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/pj-harvey-3601_long_i-long-ago-learned-that-you-can-t-expect_1277391.jpg) > “I long ago learned that you can't expect people to interpret the songs in the way they had meant for you, as the writer.” [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often project their own expectations onto creators, leading to misinterpretation of artistic intent. **In simple terms:** Listeners may misread a song’s meaning. Key Takeaway Accept varied interpretations. Themes art communication interpretation Mood reflective thoughtful Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - listening to music - discussing lyrics - creative collaboration Key Concepts subjectivity authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle misinterpretations? - Do you value the creator’s intent over personal meaning? A Different Perspective Not all creators intend a single meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Interpret Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpret-songs-4115413/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Meant Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meant-writer-774073/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Interpret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-interpret-340165/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-way-652138/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'd rather people interpret the songs and get whatever they can out of them instead of thinking about me crying in a room with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-olsen/i-d-rather-people-interpret-the-songs-and-get-whatever-they-can-out/) [Angel Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-olsen/) > [It is jazz music that called me to be a musician and I have always sang the songs that moved me the most. Singers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/it-is-jazz-music-that-called-me-to-be-a-musician-and-i-have-always-2/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [Singers, like Frank Sinatra and myself, we interpret the songs that we like. Not unlike a Shakespearean actor that goes back to the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/singers-like-frank-sinatra-and-myself-we-interpret-the-songs-that-we/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I do love to interpret songs in American Sign Language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-berdy/i-do-love-to-interpret-songs-in-american-sign-language/) [Sean Berdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-berdy/) > [I knew from the age of seven that I was meant to be a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-knew-from-the-age-of-seven-that-i-was-meant-to-be-a-writer/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [I was always meant to be a writer. I've felt that way since I was a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-was-always-meant-to-be-a-writer-i-ve-felt-that-way-since-i-was-a/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Not everyone is meant to be a writer," Shyla said. "I do believe, however, that everyone has a story within them to be written.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-casey/not-everyone-is-meant-to-be-a-writer-shyla-said-i-do-believe-however/) [Barbara Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-casey/) > [Late at night have you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/late-at-night-have-you-experienced-a-vision-of-the-person-you-might/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“I've always been able to say what I meant! 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That gets people really excited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/it-s-very-strange-when-people-get-so-focused-on-what-a-song-means/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I've always been so surprised by how people interpret my photos in context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jr/i-ve-always-been-so-surprised-by-how-people-interpret-my-photos-in/) [JR](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jr/) > [A lot of my music has ambiguity and room for people to interpret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verite/a-lot-of-my-music-has-ambiguity-and-room-for-people-to-interpret/) [Verite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verite/) > [You have to be respectful of pop culture, because people interpret it in the way they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaleel-white/you-have-to-be-respectful-of-pop-culture-because-people-interpret-it/) [Jaleel White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaleel-white/) ## More by PJ Harvey > [I feel like I make a soundtrack for the come up, and I feel like there's so many people that's trying to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-feel-like-i-make-a-soundtrack-for-the-come-up-and-i-feel-like-there/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [Like I have to pretend like I'm a male rapper, that I got stacks and we're in the club, and what do I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/like-i-have-to-pretend-like-i-m-a-male-rapper-that-i-got-stacks-and/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I just started writing and writing for people. And then, like I guess after (a) year of getting some placements, I kinda got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-just-started-writing-and-writing-for-people-and-then-like-i-guess/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [You can sing a very aggressive word in such a way that it's very funny. You can change words, completely turn them around on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/you-can-sing-a-very-aggressive-word-in-such-a-way-that-it-s-very/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [ The first song I heard from me was Meek Mill \["I Don't Know"\], it was his first single before he went (to jail). I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/the-first-song-i-heard-from-me-was-meek-mill-i-don-t-know-it-was-his/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [The way I make music is unique to myself and the way I have lived my life - no one else would tell that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/the-way-i-make-music-is-unique-to-myself-and-the-way-i-have-lived-my/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [People have this idea of me being some kind of monster, and that's the complete opposite of who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/people-have-this-idea-of-me-being-some-kind-of-monster-and-that-s-the/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I like things that are beaten up, that have lived a little. I like things that are real. I like things that are made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-like-things-that-are-beaten-up-that-have-lived-a-little-i-like/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [If you want to be good at anything, you have to work hard at it. It doesn't just fall from the sky. I work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/if-you-want-to-be-good-at-anything-you-have-to-work-hard-at-it-it/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I see men come and go, but there'll be one who'll collect my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-see-men-come-and-go-but-there-ll-be-one-who-ll-collect-my-soul/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [At this point in my life, I'm probably not gonna be able to stop writing because it's gonna help me be able to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/at-this-point-in-my-life-i-m-probably-not-gonna-be-able-to-stop/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I was really influenced by a lot of Disney soundtracks, because that's what I used to watch all the time, and they always put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-was-really-influenced-by-a-lot-of-disney-soundtracks-because-that-s/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I do write a lot of prose. It's not disciplined enough yet that it's actually become stories, or short stories. The idea of writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-do-write-a-lot-of-prose-it-s-not-disciplined-enough-yet-that-it-s/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I think Ive got a pretty good sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-think-ive-got-a-pretty-good-sense-of-humor/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I never feel that I have to adopt a character. It's more the way I choose to present the music and that's always based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-never-feel-that-i-have-to-adopt-a-character-it-s-more-the-way-i/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) [Explore all 126 PJ Harvey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) ## More Long quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. 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It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. 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