--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am interested in my music lasting only…" description: "\"I am interested in my music lasting only while I'm alive. I'm not writing for the future.\" — Sonny Rollins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/sonny-rollins-13594_alive_i-am-interested-in-my-music-lasting-only_2282881.jpg" --- # I am interested in my music lasting only while I'm alive… ![“I am interested in my music lasting only while I'm alive. I'm not writing for the future.” quote by Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/sonny-rollins-13594_alive_i-am-interested-in-my-music-lasting-only_2282881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/sonny-rollins-13594_alive_i-am-interested-in-my-music-lasting-only_2282881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/sonny-rollins-13594_alive_i-am-interested-in-my-music-lasting-only_2282881.jpg) > “I am interested in my music lasting only while I'm alive. I'm not writing for the future.” [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He creates music for the present moment, not for posterity. **In simple terms:** Music is for now, not the future. Key Takeaway Focus on present expression. Themes impermanence creativity presence Mood contemplative introspective Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - Live performances - improvisation sessions - teaching music - personal reflection Key Concepts Existentialism Artistic authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on the present shape your art? - What would change if you aimed for future audiences? A Different Perspective May limit lasting legacy or broader impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You have to enjoy playing. The old-timers did, and that's one reason why their music is a lasting music. I feel that I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-harris/you-have-to-enjoy-playing-the-old-timers-did-and-that-s-one-reason/) Barry Harris > [To me, there's two kinds of music these days. There's ephemeral music, and there's music that has lasting power and depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/to-me-there-s-two-kinds-of-music-these-days-there-s-ephemeral-music/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [“It’s not publishing that matters; it’s not writing that matters. What matters is feeling alive while writing, washing dishes, driving, etc. Writing just gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-robinette-moss/it-s-not-publishing-that-matters-it-s-not-writing-that-matters-what/) Barbara Robinette Moss > [When I stop working the rest of the day is posthumous. I'm only really alive when I'm writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/when-i-stop-working-the-rest-of-the-day-is-posthumous-i-m-only-really/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I feel more alive when I'm writing than I do at any other time--except maybe when I'm making love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-feel-more-alive-when-i-m-writing-than-i-do-at-any-other-time-except-2/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [“But I liked the writing better. I could make it look beautiful. I could keep it. The spoken words just went out like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/but-i-liked-the-writing-better-i-could-make-it-look-beautiful-i-could/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“How alive was her writing though, how full of force. Those curious, sloping letters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/how-alive-was-her-writing-though-how-full-of-force-those-curious/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [As Thoreau famously sead, it doesn't matter where or how far you go - the farther commonly the worse - the important thing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/as-thoreau-famously-sead-it-doesn-t-matter-where-or-how-far-you-go/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [When you use words, you're able to keep your mind alive. Writing is my way of reaffirming my own existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gao-xingjian/when-you-use-words-you-re-able-to-keep-your-mind-alive-writing-is-my/) [Gao Xingjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gao-xingjian/) > [When I am writing, even though it's hard and I do struggle often, I am happier than when I'm not writing. I feel alive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/when-i-am-writing-even-though-it-s-hard-and-i-do-struggle-often-i-am/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [“It doesn't matter where or how far you go - the farther commonly the worse - the important thing is how alive you are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/it-doesn-t-matter-where-or-how-far-you-go-the-farther-commonly-the/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [I'm only really alive when I'm writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-m-only-really-alive-when-i-m-writing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I never feel so alive as when I'm writing and the work is going well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-never-feel-so-alive-as-when-i-m-writing-and-the-work-is-going-well/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I have tried my best to keep my country alive by writing about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuruddin-farah/i-have-tried-my-best-to-keep-my-country-alive-by-writing-about-it/) [Nuruddin Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuruddin-farah/) > [Musicians talk of nothing but money and jobs. Give me businessmen every time. They really are interested in music and art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-sibelius/musicians-talk-of-nothing-but-money-and-jobs-give-me-businessmen/) [Jean Sibelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-sibelius/) ## More by Sonny Rollins > [I'm fortunate that I'm making a living at it now because I'm not equipped to do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-m-fortunate-that-i-m-making-a-living-at-it-now-because-i-m-not/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [How ironic that the Negro, who more than any other people can claim America's culture as his own, is being persecuted and repressed; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/how-ironic-that-the-negro-who-more-than-any-other-people-can-claim/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I'm now a legend, whether I want to be or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-m-now-a-legend-whether-i-want-to-be-or-not/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I enjoy playing clubs. I still enjoy the closeness of the nightclub venue. However, after a certain period of time and after playing around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-enjoy-playing-clubs-i-still-enjoy-the-closeness-of-the-nightclub/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Music represents nature. Nature represents life. Jazz represents nature. Jazz is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/music-represents-nature-nature-represents-life-jazz-represents-nature/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Improvisation is the ability to create something very spiritual, something of one's own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/improvisation-is-the-ability-to-create-something-very-spiritual/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Even the most jingoistic person would have to admit that even American cultural music comes from Europe. That's what classical music is, real European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/even-the-most-jingoistic-person-would-have-to-admit-that-even/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [...this is my dilemma. I'm a guy who makes things up as I go along, so nothing is ever finished - there are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/this-is-my-dilemma-i-m-a-guy-who-makes-things-up-as-i-go-along-so/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Jazz is the type of music that can absorb so many things and still be jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/jazz-is-the-type-of-music-that-can-absorb-so-many-things-and-still-be/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [My mother came from St. Thomas. I heard that melody and all I did was actually adapt it. I made my adaptation of sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/my-mother-came-from-st-thomas-i-heard-that-melody-and-all-i-did-was/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I feel that L.A. has not always been my strongest base for support. That can be for various reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-feel-that-l-a-has-not-always-been-my-strongest-base-for-support/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [You had many jazz musicians who lived in the United States, who had a hard time being accepted over here and had to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/you-had-many-jazz-musicians-who-lived-in-the-united-states-who-had-a/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I miss playing with Miles. I did play with him a little while before he left the planet, but even at that time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-miss-playing-with-miles-i-did-play-with-him-a-little-while-before/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Improvisation is really not so much remembering things. And this is what I do when I play. I forget things. When I go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/improvisation-is-really-not-so-much-remembering-things-and-this-is/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I simply want to reach a level where I will never cease to make progress...so that, even on the bad evenings, I may never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-simply-want-to-reach-a-level-where-i-will-never-cease-to-make/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) [Explore all 50 Sonny Rollins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) ## More Alive quotes > [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/) > [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 > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am interested in my music lasting only while I'm alive. 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