--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In theory, I'd like to work in a group…" description: "\"In theory, I'd like to work in a group. But the group I'd like to work in, all the musicians in them are long since dead.\" — Robert Wyatt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/robert-wyatt-8333_groups_in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-bu_186708.png" --- # In theory, I'd like to work in a group. But the group I'd… ![“In theory, I'd like to work in a group. But the group I'd like to work in, all the musicians in them are long since dead.” quote by Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/robert-wyatt-8333_groups_in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-bu_186708.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/robert-wyatt-8333_groups_in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-bu_186708.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/robert-wyatt-8333_groups_in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-bu_186708.png) > “In theory, I'd like to work in a group. But the group I'd like to work in, all the musicians in them are long since dead.” [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire to collaborate with ideal peers is thwarted when those peers are no longer alive, highlighting longing for artistic camaraderie. **In simple terms:** Missing ideal collaborators hinders creativity. Key Takeaway Seek new creative partnerships. Themes art collaboration loneliness Mood nostalgic reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - music projects - creative workshops - artist residencies Key Concepts artistic synergy legacy mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor past influences while forging new bonds? - What modern platforms foster artistic collaboration? A Different Perspective Ideal collaborators may never be found. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Musicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicians/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [There aren't a lot of cover bands that do Boston material or do it well, and the reason for that is that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/there-aren-t-a-lot-of-cover-bands-that-do-boston-material-or-do-it/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [My training as an engineer has enabled me to design the stuff, but the reason I do it is not to make music but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moog/my-training-as-an-engineer-has-enabled-me-to-design-the-stuff-but-the/) [Robert Moog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moog/) > [Basically, you're still sitting there using just the muscles of your hand, really. Of one hand, actually. It's another example of the transfer of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/basically-you-re-still-sitting-there-using-just-the-muscles-of-your/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I work with musicians whose opinions I respect and if they don't like something they don't hold back. They'll say, 'That really sucks' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-work-with-musicians-whose-opinions-i-respect-and-if-they-don-t-like/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I find it hard to work with other musicians because I know from experience that when they play, they play with their feeling, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enya/i-find-it-hard-to-work-with-other-musicians-because-i-know-from/) [Enya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enya/) > [The majority of the people I work with are more than musicians and singers, they are personal friends and friends help each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-duke/the-majority-of-the-people-i-work-with-are-more-than-musicians-and/) [George Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-duke/) > [Members of trusting teams accept questions and input about their areas or responsibility, appreciate and tap into one another's skills and experiences, and look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/members-of-trusting-teams-accept-questions-and-input-about-their/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [We will work as a group, we need to be a real team, that is the only way to go far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-totti/we-will-work-as-a-group-we-need-to-be-a-real-team-that-is-the-only/) [Francesco Totti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-totti/) > [It's just cool to work in a group and create art and be a part of the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/it-s-just-cool-to-work-in-a-group-and-create-art-and-be-a-part-of-the/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“productivity of a work group seems to depend on how the group members see their own goals in relation to the goals of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-crosby/productivity-of-a-work-group-seems-to-depend-on-how-the-group-members/) [Dennis Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-crosby/) > [The productivity of a work group seems to depend on how the group members see their own goals in relation to the goals of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/the-productivity-of-a-work-group-seems-to-depend-on-how-the-group/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [It's great to work with a group from Miami.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-storch/it-s-great-to-work-with-a-group-from-miami/) [Scott Storch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-storch/) > [Teamwork is the ability to work as a group toward a common vision, even if that vision becomes extremely blurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/teamwork-is-the-ability-to-work-as-a-group-toward-a-common-vision/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I only aim for fashion that's long dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-only-aim-for-fashion-that-s-long-dead/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [“The best part about love is it’ll still be around long after I’m dead. That’s also the worst part.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-best-part-about-love-is-it-ll-still-be-around-long-after-i-m-dead/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Robert Wyatt > [There are people I would like to work with. Its a bit harder, because I live out in the sticks anyway, and plus being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/there-are-people-i-would-like-to-work-with-its-a-bit-harder-because-i/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [It was physically difficult, adjusting to wheelchair life, but I remember a great relief and happiness that I was finally getting somewhere, finding musicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/it-was-physically-difficult-adjusting-to-wheelchair-life-but-i/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [Even if you're specific about the character of the song, it's more exciting to place them, juxtapose them in such a way as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/even-if-you-re-specific-about-the-character-of-the-song-it-s-more/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [What hurts people a lot is taking humiliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/what-hurts-people-a-lot-is-taking-humiliation/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [There are singers that I have enjoyed, from Nina Simone and Ray Charles onward. But the music that made music the number one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/there-are-singers-that-i-have-enjoyed-from-nina-simone-and-ray/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [The missing links in my life's work, no less!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/the-missing-links-in-my-life-s-work-no-less/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [The things that I draw on, and the world that I feel part of, aren't particularly youth culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/the-things-that-i-draw-on-and-the-world-that-i-feel-part-of-aren-t/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [I just saw a recent television program about art, and it was saying how from the end of the Second World War, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/i-just-saw-a-recent-television-program-about-art-and-it-was-saying/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [I can't imagine my life without the extraordinary bebop jazz revolution in New York in late '40s and '50s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/i-can-t-imagine-my-life-without-the-extraordinary-bebop-jazz/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [What I like about popular culture is its accessibility, and I've covered popular songs because they are amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/what-i-like-about-popular-culture-is-its-accessibility-and-i-ve/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [I looked at what adults were doing and how they wanted to earn money, and I really didn't want to do that. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/i-looked-at-what-adults-were-doing-and-how-they-wanted-to-earn-money/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [I prefer the mystic clouds of nostalgia to the real thing, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/i-prefer-the-mystic-clouds-of-nostalgia-to-the-real-thing-to-be-honest/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [In the past, so many of my records, really, have been sketches for records that never really got made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/in-the-past-so-many-of-my-records-really-have-been-sketches-for/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [It just doesn't mean anything to me, the high-profile, big money side of things. I just want enough to live on, and to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/it-just-doesn-t-mean-anything-to-me-the-high-profile-big-money-side/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [I'm not a soldier for anything, either. I'm only a singer and I don't think it makes a difference what we sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/i-m-not-a-soldier-for-anything-either-i-m-only-a-singer-and-i-don-t/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) [Explore all 82 Robert Wyatt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) ## More Groups quotes > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [“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/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [I have a really grounded group of friends, and they like me no matter what. I think it's really important to know who your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-guthy/i-have-a-really-grounded-group-of-friends-and-they-like-me-no-matter/) [Jackson Guthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-guthy/) > [You can't have a movie with a group of people that are significant players in the story, that push forward the plot, without introducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/you-can-t-have-a-movie-with-a-group-of-people-that-are-significant/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [If you chose a particular religion, you were siding with the government religion of whatever region you were in. That's never been true in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-you-chose-a-particular-religion-you-were-siding-with-the/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [The Urban Literate Southern California Sub-Group of the Early Atomic Period has not yet produced a distinct body of folk music of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hinton/the-urban-literate-southern-california-sub-group-of-the-early-atomic/) Sam Hinton > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) Browse all 5,557 Groups quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In theory, I'd like to work in a group. But the group I'd like to work in, all the musicians in them are long since dead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Wyatt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-but-the-group-i-d-like-to-work/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Groups" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-but-the-group-i-d-like-to-work/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/robert-wyatt-8333_groups_in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-bu_186708.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/robert-wyatt-8333_groups_in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-bu_186708.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/robert-wyatt-8333_groups_in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-bu_186708.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In theory, I'd like to work in a group. But the group I'd like to work in, all the musicians in them are…” — Robert Wyatt", "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": "Robert Wyatt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In theory, I'd like to work...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-but-the-group-i-d-like-to-work/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/in-theory-i-d-like-to-work-in-a-group-but-the-group-i-d-like-to-work/#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 } } ] } ```