--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's important to realize that everybody…" description: "\"It's important to realize that everybody who went into country music, and most everybody who went into rock and roll in the '50s, they had no more goal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/robert-hilburn-9299_cash_it-s-important-to-realize-that-everybody_2005584.jpg" --- # It's important to realize that everybody who went into… ![“It's important to realize that everybody who went into country music, and most everybody who went into rock and roll in the '50s, they had no more goal than a hit on the jukebox. Johnny Cash, from the very beginning, had a goal that he wanted to make music that lifted people's spirits.” quote by Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/robert-hilburn-9299_cash_it-s-important-to-realize-that-everybody_2005584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/robert-hilburn-9299_cash_it-s-important-to-realize-that-everybody_2005584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/robert-hilburn-9299_cash_it-s-important-to-realize-that-everybody_2005584.jpg) > “It's important to realize that everybody who went into country music, and most everybody who went into rock and roll in the '50s, they had no more goal than a hit on the jukebox. Johnny Cash, from the very beginning, had a goal that he wanted to make music that lifted people's spirits.” [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Johnny Cash aimed to uplift spirits, unlike many peers focused only on jukebox hits. **In simple terms:** Cash wanted to inspire, not just entertain. Key Takeaway Create art that lifts others. Themes music inspiration purpose Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - live performance - radio play - personal branding Key Concepts spirituality cultural impact artist intent Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to create beyond profit? - How can music serve a higher purpose? A Different Perspective Not all artists prioritize deeper impact; commercial pressure can dominate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Country music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-music/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Jukebox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jukebox/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rock and roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-and-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [The first time I ever went out of the country, it was to London. I was with the choir from my college, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/the-first-time-i-ever-went-out-of-the-country-it-was-to-london-i-was/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [When I met Johnny Cash, I didn't know what to ask: where were you born, who was your favorite recording artist, what's your favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/when-i-met-johnny-cash-i-didn-t-know-what-to-ask-where-were-you-born/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Johnny Cash was a good man. He tried to live up to his faith. It was just difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/johnny-cash-was-a-good-man-he-tried-to-live-up-to-his-faith-it-was/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [I really thought I knew Johnny Cash. I thought I didn't need to spend a lot of time researching his life. But I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/i-really-thought-i-knew-johnny-cash-i-thought-i-didn-t-need-to-spend/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [I thought I pretty much knew Johnny Cash's life. But one of my personal discoveries was how little we know about any of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/i-thought-i-pretty-much-knew-johnny-cash-s-life-but-one-of-my/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [ There was a lot of sorrow in \[Johnny\] Cash's life. Even while he's trying to make music to inspire people he's fighting day after… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/there-was-a-lot-of-sorrow-in-johnny-cash-s-life-even-while-he-s/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [ He \[Johnny Cash\] always wanted to use his music to lift other people up, to say no matter how much trouble, there's hope. That… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/he-johnny-cash-always-wanted-to-use-his-music-to-lift-other-people-up/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [I didn't know if I should tell people that Johnny Cash had an affair with his sister-in-law while his wife was pregnant. How much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/i-didn-t-know-if-i-should-tell-people-that-johnny-cash-had-an-affair/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Through the '80s, nobody cared about Johnny Cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/through-the-80s-nobody-cared-about-johnny-cash/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [At times, Singer Johnny Cash rubbed dirt from the earth under his fingernails in order to avoid any arrogance which might stem from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/at-times-singer-johnny-cash-rubbed-dirt-from-the-earth-under-his/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [His belief in the power of music to convey ideas - not just entertain - has filtered down to musicians in every field, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/his-belief-in-the-power-of-music-to-convey-ideas-not-just-entertain/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [I said, “I need to hear something that’s going to save my life.” Re: Selecting songs from a jukebox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/i-said-i-need-to-hear-something-that-s-going-to-save-my-life-re/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [To the jukebox bars you frequent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taking-back-sunday/to-the-jukebox-bars-you-frequent/) [Taking Back Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taking-back-sunday/) > [It is a curious emotion, this certain homesickness I have in mind. With Americans, it is a national trait, as native to us as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/it-is-a-curious-emotion-this-certain-homesickness-i-have-in-mind-with/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [That human existence should repeat itself, well and good, but that it should repeat itself like a hackneyed tune, or a record a drunkard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-lem/that-human-existence-should-repeat-itself-well-and-good-but-that-it/) [Stanislaw Lem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-lem/) ## More by Robert Hilburn > [To many, Courtney Love smells like rock hype. Reviewers may be excited about her, but the rock audience may be skeptical of the credentials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/to-many-courtney-love-smells-like-rock-hype-reviewers-may-be-excited/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [When I began to interview people from the '60s, my first question was always, 'What was your favorite record?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/when-i-began-to-interview-people-from-the-60s-my-first-question-was/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [I didn't have any idea that Gwen Stefani would evolve into this symbol of womanhood in America, but to me, that's not a musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-that-gwen-stefani-would-evolve-into-this/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [When I was in high school in the '50s, all pop music - Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard - was aimed at teenagers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/when-i-was-in-high-school-in-the-50s-all-pop-music-elvis-chuck-berry/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Because record companies do not routinely release sales figures the way film studios do, the weekly charts in trade publications like 'Billboard' provide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/because-record-companies-do-not-routinely-release-sales-figures-the/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Even though The Cure helped pioneer the jangly, dance-oriented guitar and keyboard style it continues to embrace, there are other bands that now employ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/even-though-the-cure-helped-pioneer-the-jangly-dance-oriented-guitar/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [The first time I saw Pearl Jam, I thought Eddie Vedder had seen too many Jim Morrison videos, and I didn't like the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/the-first-time-i-saw-pearl-jam-i-thought-eddie-vedder-had-seen-too/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [His belief in the power of music to convey ideas - not just entertain - has filtered down to musicians in every field, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/his-belief-in-the-power-of-music-to-convey-ideas-not-just-entertain/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Some writers sit down every day for two or three hours, at least, to write, whether they are in the mood or not. Others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/some-writers-sit-down-every-day-for-two-or-three-hours-at-least-to/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [At times, Singer Johnny Cash rubbed dirt from the earth under his fingernails in order to avoid any arrogance which might stem from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/at-times-singer-johnny-cash-rubbed-dirt-from-the-earth-under-his/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Some people will never take Madonna seriously - just as many never took Marilyn Monroe seriously. Novelty images - especially that of a sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/some-people-will-never-take-madonna-seriously-just-as-many-never-took/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [By 27, Bob Dylan had already written 'Highway 61 Revisited,' the Beatles had released 'Rubber Soul,' Bruce Springsteen had recorded 'Born to Run' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/by-27-bob-dylan-had-already-written-highway-61-revisited-the-beatles/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Without people like Dylan and the Beatles and people like Paul Simon, I think rock n' roll would have died out like Dixieland jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/without-people-like-dylan-and-the-beatles-and-people-like-paul-simon/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [In the role of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie seemed in 1972 like a strange alien creature, not so much coming from another planet as from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/in-the-role-of-ziggy-stardust-bowie-seemed-in-1972-like-a-strange/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [I'm guilty of being perceived as having narrow taste. I went after the artists that I thought were important - Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bruce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/i-m-guilty-of-being-perceived-as-having-narrow-taste-i-went-after-the/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) [Explore all 74 Robert Hilburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) ## More Cash quotes > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash while all the time you are under the illusion that you are spending nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/a-garden-has-a-curious-innocent-way-of-consuming-cash-while-all-the/) [Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/) > [Nothing knits man to man like the frequent passage from hand to hand of cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-sickert/nothing-knits-man-to-man-like-the-frequent-passage-from-hand-to-hand/) [Walter Sickert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-sickert/) > [“It’s me,” he says softly. “Stop listening to everything else. Remember the way you feel when I’m kissing you and touching you. Don’t think with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/it-s-me-he-says-softly-stop-listening-to-everything-else-remember-the/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [After I graduated, I carried on with my academic work, via grants but I often had a market stall on Camden Market selling hand-painted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettany-hughes/after-i-graduated-i-carried-on-with-my-academic-work-via-grants-but-i/) [Bettany Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettany-hughes/) > [You might be a redneck if you have a picture of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, or Elvis over your fireplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-have-a-picture-of-johnny-cash-willie/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [American forces in Iraq found $650 million in American cash sealed in a hidden cottage. See, this is why President Bush wants to invade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/american-forces-in-iraq-found-650-million-in-american-cash-sealed-in/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I feel a lot better when I've got a bit of cash on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-doherty/i-feel-a-lot-better-when-i-ve-got-a-bit-of-cash-on-me/) [Pete Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-doherty/) > [If our financial industry regarded security the way the health-care sector does, I would stuff my cash in a mattress under my bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-rubin/if-our-financial-industry-regarded-security-the-way-the-health-care/) [Avi Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-rubin/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-only-issue-cash-presents-you-is-the-independence-of-not-stressing/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [It's funny about men and women. Men pay in cash to get them and pay in cash to get rid of them. Women pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedy-lamarr/it-s-funny-about-men-and-women-men-pay-in-cash-to-get-them-and-pay-in/) [Hedy Lamarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedy-lamarr/) > [ I mean, you take a look at this, it's one way. \[Mexicans\] get the jobs, they get the factories, they get the cash, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-mean-you-take-a-look-at-this-it-s-one-way-mexicans-get-the-jobs/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It was really starting to get pathetic, everyday they would come in looking for one thing or another. 'Zach, can you give me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/it-was-really-starting-to-get-pathetic-everyday-they-would-come-in/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [One of my officers said to me that Trinidad and Tobago is seen like an ATM card... you come in with the card and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamla-persad-bissessar/one-of-my-officers-said-to-me-that-trinidad-and-tobago-is-seen-like/) [Kamla Persad-Bissessar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamla-persad-bissessar/) Browse all 1,141 Cash quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's important to realize that everybody who went into country music, and most everybody who went into rock and roll in the '50s, they had no more goal than a hit on the jukebox. 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