--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without you hearing a melody or music or…" description: "\"Without you hearing a melody or music or anything like that, it would say something to you. So, that's what a song is to me. Now, you have a lot of son..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/smokey-robinson-8874_mean_without-you-hearing-a-melody-or-music-or_2055042.jpg" --- # Without you hearing a melody or music or anything like… ![“Without you hearing a melody or music or anything like that, it would say something to you. So, that's what a song is to me. Now, you have a lot of songs that come out, and the beat carries them over there, because of the beat, and because of some other factors and so on and so forth. But I want…” quote by Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/smokey-robinson-8874_mean_without-you-hearing-a-melody-or-music-or_2055042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/smokey-robinson-8874_mean_without-you-hearing-a-melody-or-music-or_2055042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/smokey-robinson-8874_mean_without-you-hearing-a-melody-or-music-or_2055042.jpg) > “Without you hearing a melody or music or anything like that, it would say something to you. So, that's what a song is to me. Now, you have a lot of songs that come out, and the beat carries them over there, because of the beat, and because of some other factors and so on and so forth. But I want mine to be a song, if you read it, it's going to mean something to you.” [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes a song as a message that must convey meaning beyond rhythm, insisting that lyrics alone should resonate with the listener. **In simple terms:** A song should mean something, not just a beat. Key Takeaway Write music that speaks to listeners. Themes music meaning lyrics communication artistry Mood introspective creative Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - album production - live performances - personal playlists - educational settings Key Concepts emotional resonance storytelling cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - What story do you want your song to tell? - How can lyrics and beat work together? A Different Perspective Listeners may interpret meaning differently. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [“The next morning I awoke and saw the morning sun peeking through my open window. The sound of wind chimes murmured their random melody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-conrad/the-next-morning-i-awoke-and-saw-the-morning-sun-peeking-through-my/) Gary D. Conrad > [It happens so quickly it seems like it's coming from somewhere else. It's not It just means that you're in sync with yourself. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-nilsson/it-happens-so-quickly-it-seems-like-it-s-coming-from-somewhere-else-2/) [Harry Nilsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-nilsson/) > [I wrote a song, but I can't read music so I don't know what it is. Every once in a while I'll be listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-wrote-a-song-but-i-can-t-read-music-so-i-don-t-know-what-it-is/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I wrote a song, but I can't read music. Every time I hear a new song on the radio I think, Hey, maybe I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-wright/i-wrote-a-song-but-i-can-t-read-music-every-time-i-hear-a-new-song-on/) [Stephen Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-wright/) > [I got this book called 'How to Write the Popular Song.' I read that and went through all the things they suggested, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-got-this-book-called-how-to-write-the-popular-song-i-read-that-and/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [“One should, each day, try to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible, speak a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/one-should-each-day-try-to-hear-a-little-song-read-a-good-poem-see-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Its hard cuz I like em all, but if I had to go with just one of them Id probably say the song, Big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/its-hard-cuz-i-like-em-all-but-if-i-had-to-go-with-just-one-of-them/) [Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/) > [Lots of people say it's the song. For me, it's not always the song - there's something bigger: the spirit of an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lillywhite/lots-of-people-say-it-s-the-song-for-me-it-s-not-always-the-song/) [Steve Lillywhite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lillywhite/) > [I feel that I have to say something in a song and that it's not just enough to lay down the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-james/i-feel-that-i-have-to-say-something-in-a-song-and-that-it-s-not-just/) [Rick James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-james/) > [I always say that if the song is strong enough, it'll stand on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ingram/i-always-say-that-if-the-song-is-strong-enough-it-ll-stand-on-its-own/) [James Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ingram/) > [Your goal is to write that masterpiece. Yello's masterpiece was "Oh Yeah." Whatever I say about the song doesn't matter, because it has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/your-goal-is-to-write-that-masterpiece-yello-s-masterpiece-was-oh/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [That's a big gift when people say to you that a song helped them or brought them to some place in their life where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/that-s-a-big-gift-when-people-say-to-you-that-a-song-helped-them-or/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [There's already a great deal to do writing the songs. And if I were completely in control of it, nobody would be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/there-s-already-a-great-deal-to-do-writing-the-songs-and-if-i-were/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [I had wanted to say that my song was far too painful to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-had-wanted-to-say-that-my-song-was-far-too-painful-to-sing/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [When you get to say something in a song you're not directing it necessarily at one person. When it's in a song it's easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/when-you-get-to-say-something-in-a-song-you-re-not-directing-it/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) ## More by Smokey Robinson > [My uncle Claude was my favorite uncle he was also my godfather. He and I were really, really close. He used to take me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/my-uncle-claude-was-my-favorite-uncle-he-was-also-my-godfather-he-and/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [People still look at Michael Jackson as being a Motown artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/people-still-look-at-michael-jackson-as-being-a-motown-artist/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [I will build you a castle with a tower so high it reaches the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/i-will-build-you-a-castle-with-a-tower-so-high-it-reaches-the-moon/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [The music business has made a 360. It's a whole 'nother game. It's not nearly what it was. And I fear for it, because,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/the-music-business-has-made-a-360-it-s-a-whole-nother-game-it-s-not/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [One thing I can say about the Motown acts is that we were a family. That's not a myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/one-thing-i-can-say-about-the-motown-acts-is-that-we-were-a-family/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [My philosophy on writing a song for myself is that I always, always, always want to write a song. I always want to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/my-philosophy-on-writing-a-song-for-myself-is-that-i-always-always/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [Even if I don't release it myself, somebody else might hear it and want to record it. When you write a song, it gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/even-if-i-don-t-release-it-myself-somebody-else-might-hear-it-and/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [I had been stockpiling Gospel songs for other artists, and had planned to submit them to Gospel artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/i-had-been-stockpiling-gospel-songs-for-other-artists-and-had-planned/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [Though you treat me badly, I love you madly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/though-you-treat-me-badly-i-love-you-madly/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [There's some sad things known to man, but ain't too much sadder than, the tears of a clown when noones around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/there-s-some-sad-things-known-to-man-but-ain-t-too-much-sadder-than/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [Now if I appear to be carefree it's only to camouflage my sadness. In order to keep my pride I try to cover the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/now-if-i-appear-to-be-carefree-it-s-only-to-camouflage-my-sadness-in/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [If you feel like loving me, if you've got the notion, I second that emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/if-you-feel-like-loving-me-if-you-ve-got-the-notion-i-second-that/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [I always try to write a song, I never just want to write a record. Originally I was not writing songs for myself. …And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/i-always-try-to-write-a-song-i-never-just-want-to-write-a-record/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [The Beatles were huge. And the first thing they said when you interviewed them, 'Oh yeah, we grew up on Motown.'..They were the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/the-beatles-were-huge-and-the-first-thing-they-said-when-you/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [My mother was a churchgoing lady, so I always heard about God at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/my-mother-was-a-churchgoing-lady-so-i-always-heard-about-god-at-home/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) [Explore all 77 Smokey Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) ## More Mean quotes > [That we have the vote means nothing. That we use it in the right way means everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-henry-hoover/that-we-have-the-vote-means-nothing-that-we-use-it-in-the-right-way/) [Lou Henry Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-henry-hoover/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Being blonde, for me, means never having to say: 'I'll have the honey-striped half-head of highlights for £200,' to a bored colourist in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-johnson/being-blonde-for-me-means-never-having-to-say-i-ll-have-the-honey/) [Rachel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-johnson/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) Browse all 33,959 Mean quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Without you hearing a melody or music or anything like that, it would say something to you. So, that's what a song is to me. Now, you have a lot of songs that come out, and the beat carries them over there, because of the beat, and because of some other factors and so on and so forth. 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