--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Music is what I do, but that's not who I…" description: "\"Music is what I do, but that's not who I am.\" — Sonny Long" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/sonny-long-19841_music_music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i_515125.jpg" --- # Music is what I do, but that's not who I am. ![“Music is what I do, but that's not who I am.” quote by Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/sonny-long-19841_music_music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i_515125.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/sonny-long-19841_music_music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i_515125.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/sonny-long-19841_music_music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i_515125.jpg) > “Music is what I do, but that's not who I am.” [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity is defined by actions, not labels; personal expression transcends titles. **In simple terms:** Actions define me, not titles. Key Takeaway Focus on what you do, not labels. Themes identity self‑expression authenticity Mood reflective confident Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career - artistic pursuits - social media presence - public speaking Key Concepts personal branding self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate your work from your identity? - What actions best represent who you are? A Different Perspective Labels can limit perception and cause misunderstanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Each time, I hear your lovely song, It makes me smile. Every time, I hear you scream, It breaks my heart. Any time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/each-time-i-hear-your-lovely-song-it-makes-me-smile-every-time-i-hear/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [I think taking a hookline of a hit song and making a new song is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-kumar/i-think-taking-a-hookline-of-a-hit-song-and-making-a-new-song-is-fun/) [Tulsi Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-kumar/) > [I mean, we never ever really did it like that, really. I mean, you know, we loosely did it like that, but we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medeski-martin-and-wood/i-mean-we-never-ever-really-did-it-like-that-really-i-mean-you-know/) [Medeski Martin And Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medeski-martin-and-wood/) > [Everything I do is more memorable and I understand music more than ever now. It's not a burden to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/everything-i-do-is-more-memorable-and-i-understand-music-more-than/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [Every time I finish a song... most of the time it's in my own head, like this sounds too much like a Townes Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/every-time-i-finish-a-song-most-of-the-time-it-s-in-my-own-head-like/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) ## More by Sonny Long > [Sound waves satisfies my craves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/sound-waves-satisfies-my-craves/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [Sometimes we must lose ourselves to find ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/sometimes-we-must-lose-ourselves-to-find-ourselves/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [Spirit of love enwraps our nature captures anger while shielding away danger. Power of Love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/spirit-of-love-enwraps-our-nature-captures-anger-while-shielding-away/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [Sometimes we must jump over the ducks to get into the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/sometimes-we-must-jump-over-the-ducks-to-get-into-the-water/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [Temporary happiness can cause a lifetime of misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/temporary-happiness-can-cause-a-lifetime-of-misery/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [The plan is to expand like a rubberband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/the-plan-is-to-expand-like-a-rubberband/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [Many have sought after the code that unveils life's mystery. The formula is masked under layers of distorted patterns, within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/many-have-sought-after-the-code-that-unveils-life-s-mystery-the/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [As long as I have Music, I will never be lonely. She is my wife. No prenup!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/as-long-as-i-have-music-i-will-never-be-lonely-she-is-my-wife-no/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [The sound of silence is so loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/the-sound-of-silence-is-so-loud/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [The Ego is the root of all Evil. Once the Ego is removed only then are we able to view the world with Pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/the-ego-is-the-root-of-all-evil-once-the-ego-is-removed-only-then-are/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [Time is my Soulmate and Patience is my Mistress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/time-is-my-soulmate-and-patience-is-my-mistress/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [In the presence of chaos, the Loving Souls, calm the agitated emotional tsunami.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/in-the-presence-of-chaos-the-loving-souls-calm-the-agitated-emotional/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than the gold taken from Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/more-gold-has-been-mined-from-the-thoughts-of-men-than-the-gold-taken/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [What is Love? Various emotions wrapped up in one divine bottle of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/what-is-love-various-emotions-wrapped-up-in-one-divine-bottle-of/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [Two rocks knock Creates a spark Flame torch collide Ignites the flight Dark until Wisdom becomes light Wakeup to begin Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/two-rocks-knock-creates-a-spark-flame-torch-collide-ignites-the/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) [Explore all 32 Sonny Long quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) [Hubert Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-laws/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Music is what I do, but that's not who I am.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sonny Long" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i-am/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i-am/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/sonny-long-19841_music_music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i_515125.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/sonny-long-19841_music_music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i_515125.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/sonny-long-19841_music_music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i_515125.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Music is what I do, but that's not who I am.” — Sonny Long", "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": "Sonny Long", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Music is what I do, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i-am/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/music-is-what-i-do-but-that-s-not-who-i-am/#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 } } ] } ```