--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Beatles were something everyone had…" description: "\"The Beatles were something everyone had in common; this was thirty years ago, there was Dr. Who and everybody knew who the Daleks were and there was Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/robyn-hitchcock-11103_beatles_the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had_1619297.png" --- # The Beatles were something everyone had in common; this… ![“The Beatles were something everyone had in common; this was thirty years ago, there was Dr. Who and everybody knew who the Daleks were and there was The Beatles and everybody knew who George Harrison was.” quote by Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/robyn-hitchcock-11103_beatles_the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had_1619297.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/robyn-hitchcock-11103_beatles_the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had_1619297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/robyn-hitchcock-11103_beatles_the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had_1619297.png) > “The Beatles were something everyone had in common; this was thirty years ago, there was Dr. Who and everybody knew who the Daleks were and there was The Beatles and everybody knew who George Harrison was.” [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shared cultural icons create common ground across generations, linking people through collective memory. **In simple terms:** Common pop culture ties people together. Key Takeaway Embrace shared memories to connect. Themes nostalgia culture connection generational music Mood warm reflective nostalgic Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - Family gatherings - radio playlists - retro parties - online forums Key Concepts collective memory shared experience pop culture Questions to Reflect On - What modern symbols unite us today? - How does nostalgia shape identity? A Different Perspective Relying on nostalgia may ignore present diversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beatles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles/) [Beatles Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles-common-248471/) [Beatles Everybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles-everybody-248473/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Daleks Beatles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daleks-beatles-248472/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-harrison/) [Knew Daleks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-daleks-248474/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty/) [Thirty years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty-years/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [Everybody can dig The Beatles, but why should everybody dig us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/everybody-can-dig-the-beatles-but-why-should-everybody-dig-us/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [Every night I fell asleep to a different Beatles album. So I'm very familiar with the Beatles; Ringo was my favorite Beatle until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/every-night-i-fell-asleep-to-a-different-beatles-album-so-i-m-very/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Many people, especially young people, have started listening to sitar since George Harrison, one of the Beatles, became my disciple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/many-people-especially-young-people-have-started-listening-to-sitar/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [It happens in this business - The Rolling Stones were ripped off, so were the Beatles. George Harrison hardly had anything left in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/it-happens-in-this-business-the-rolling-stones-were-ripped-off-so/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [So whenever I hear The Beatles I always feel I've got a lot in common with everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/so-whenever-i-hear-the-beatles-i-always-feel-i-ve-got-a-lot-in-common/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [I think The Beatles are the lasting influence on me, even more so than Dylan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/i-think-the-beatles-are-the-lasting-influence-on-me-even-more-so-than/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [Most of my ukulele heroes were traditional players from Hawaii, like Eddie Kamae and Ohta-san. There may not be uke stars in popular culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-shimabukuro/most-of-my-ukulele-heroes-were-traditional-players-from-hawaii-like/) [Jake Shimabukuro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-shimabukuro/) > [When people say that George Harrison made me famous, that is true in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/when-people-say-that-george-harrison-made-me-famous-that-is-true-in-a/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [George Harrison was known as the quiet Beatle. Quiet people are often quiet because they are deep thinkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/george-harrison-was-known-as-the-quiet-beatle-quiet-people-are-often/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [There actually had been a tradition within English music of the '60s of people looking eastwards, maybe in quite a naïve way, but nonetheless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-adams/there-actually-had-been-a-tradition-within-english-music-of-the-60s/) [Justin Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-adams/) > [In 1972, George Harrison invited me to accompany him on a trip to India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-wright/in-1972-george-harrison-invited-me-to-accompany-him-on-a-trip-to-india/) [Gary Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-wright/) > [I met Paul in 1967, Ringo in 1985, and I saw George Harrison in a nightclub somewhere in L. A. I never met John.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-met-paul-in-1967-ringo-in-1985-and-i-saw-george-harrison-in-a/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [I've tended to avoid meeting my heroes. They aren't necessarily the nicest people anyway. The exception was George Harrison, one of the loveliest men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-fahey/i-ve-tended-to-avoid-meeting-my-heroes-they-aren-t-necessarily-the/) [Siobhan Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-fahey/) > [My son looks more like George Harrison than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/my-son-looks-more-like-george-harrison-than-i-do/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [George Harrison is one of the sweetest, kindest and most considerate men I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-aronowitz/george-harrison-is-one-of-the-sweetest-kindest-and-most-considerate/) [Al Aronowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-aronowitz/) ## More by Robyn Hitchcock > [I'm 63. It's kind extraordinary that I'm out here at all and people want to see me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/i-m-63-it-s-kind-extraordinary-that-i-m-out-here-at-all-and-people/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [People's intelligence tends to be in inverse proportion to their number. People don't tend to get smarter as they get into bigger groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/people-s-intelligence-tends-to-be-in-inverse-proportion-to-their/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [After the Soft Boys I just didn't want to work with any more guitarists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/after-the-soft-boys-i-just-didn-t-want-to-work-with-any-more/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [People from the past always seem to have much more time to create beautiful, intricate, delicate things that often reach the future in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/people-from-the-past-always-seem-to-have-much-more-time-to-create/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [I thin many people's deviant behavior starts with dreams because dreams are so non-linear... as if there's an assumption that everything has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/i-thin-many-people-s-deviant-behavior-starts-with-dreams-because/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [“You have to come from somewhere, but you don't have to go back there anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/you-have-to-come-from-somewhere-but-you-don-t-have-to-go-back-there/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [We have a need to be religious, we need to worship, we need to build totems and shrines and icons, but nobody's sure in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/we-have-a-need-to-be-religious-we-need-to-worship-we-need-to-build/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [In this world of doubt, one thing is certain for me; that I will go on writing songs up to and - I hope,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/in-this-world-of-doubt-one-thing-is-certain-for-me-that-i-will-go-on/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [I think The Beatles are the lasting influence on me, even more so than Dylan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/i-think-the-beatles-are-the-lasting-influence-on-me-even-more-so-than/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [If you miss someone too much you turn into them... though it doesn't seem to work for the Christian Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/if-you-miss-someone-too-much-you-turn-into-them-though-it-doesn-t/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [As soon as a norm is established, people start questioning it, which is probably a good thing in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/as-soon-as-a-norm-is-established-people-start-questioning-it-which-is/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [Everyone has a right to change their consciousness, but ultimately the whole process is misleading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/everyone-has-a-right-to-change-their-consciousness-but-ultimately-the/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [If you do things out of time you're weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/if-you-do-things-out-of-time-you-re-weird/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [I was always jealous of something getting more attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/i-was-always-jealous-of-something-getting-more-attention/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [I've been able to make a good living as a musician, but now it's time to do all the other stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/i-ve-been-able-to-make-a-good-living-as-a-musician-but-now-it-s-time/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) [Explore all 61 Robyn Hitchcock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) ## More Beatles quotes > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I am a big Beatles fan. And, you know, unbeknownst to anyone, I used to be one. But I have no problems of putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-am-a-big-beatles-fan-and-you-know-unbeknownst-to-anyone-i-used-to/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I thought my Beatles LPs sounded pretty good on a record player, but that was before I had heard a CD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-wood/i-thought-my-beatles-lps-sounded-pretty-good-on-a-record-player-but/) [Alastair Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-wood/) > [Growing up in San Diego, my main interests were the Beatles, Louis Armstrong, 'Star Wars,' baseball cards, and drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-mooney/growing-up-in-san-diego-my-main-interests-were-the-beatles-louis/) [Kyle Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-mooney/) > [He's (Ringo Starr) not even the best drummer in the Beatles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/he-s-ringo-starr-not-even-the-best-drummer-in-the-beatles/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [It was great fun to be able to work with so many different artists. And I'm paying a tribute to the Beatles. I've just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-preston/it-was-great-fun-to-be-able-to-work-with-so-many-different-artists/) [Billy Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-preston/) > ['The X Factor' seems to be more about building up personalities and people in tears. And it's not a new idea. The pre-Beatles pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/the-x-factor-seems-to-be-more-about-building-up-personalities-and/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [Oh, I think country has changed tremendously. I think country has totally changed. Country music when I was a kid was Hank Williams. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/oh-i-think-country-has-changed-tremendously-i-think-country-has/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Elvis Presley's music said, 'Free your body.' The Beatles said, 'Free your mind.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/elvis-presley-s-music-said-free-your-body-the-beatles-said-free-your/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [The Beatles have a deeper appreciation of all music. There's a humor, there's a Broadway sense, and later on, the Indian stuff came in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-vivino/the-beatles-have-a-deeper-appreciation-of-all-music-there-s-a-humor/) [Jimmy Vivino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-vivino/) > [The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, these are just some of the people who threatened to sue if we used their songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mochrie/the-beatles-rolling-stones-barbra-streisand-bruce-springsteen-these/) [Colin Mochrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-mochrie/) > [If you look in my CD case, you'll see it's Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, now I can't think of anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-angarano/if-you-look-in-my-cd-case-you-ll-see-it-s-pink-floyd-the-rolling/) [Michael Angarano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-angarano/) > [ “Like almost all of Beefheart's recorded work, \[Trout Mask Replica\] was not even "ahead" of its time in 1969. Then and now, it stands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/like-almost-all-of-beefheart-s-recorded-work-trout-mask-replica-was/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [It's marvelous when you visit Tokyo: they have these clubs, and they'll have 'Motown Night' or 'The Beatles - Totally Authentic and Live!' You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-palmer/it-s-marvelous-when-you-visit-tokyo-they-have-these-clubs-and-they-ll/) [Robert Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-palmer/) [Browse all 786 Beatles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Beatles were something everyone had in common; this was thirty years ago, there was Dr. Who and everybody knew who the Daleks were and there was The Beatles and everybody knew who George Harrison was.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robyn Hitchcock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had-in-common-this-was-thirty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beatles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had-in-common-this-was-thirty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/robyn-hitchcock-11103_beatles_the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had_1619297.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/robyn-hitchcock-11103_beatles_the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had_1619297.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/robyn-hitchcock-11103_beatles_the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had_1619297.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Beatles were something everyone had in common; this was thirty years ago, there was Dr. Who and…” — Robyn Hitchcock", "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": "Robyn Hitchcock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Beatles were something everyone had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had-in-common-this-was-thirty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/the-beatles-were-something-everyone-had-in-common-this-was-thirty/#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 } } ] } ```