--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A song has a life of its own. It's an…" description: "\"A song has a life of its own. It's an autonomous thing, separate from your own experience, almost. And the mere repetition of it means it's subject to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/st-vincent-10256_aspect_a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-aut_178248.jpg" --- # A song has a life of its own. It's an autonomous thing… ![“A song has a life of its own. It's an autonomous thing, separate from your own experience, almost. And the mere repetition of it means it's subject to change; it means approaching it differently, expressing different emotional aspects of it. It doesn't feel like wallowing.” quote by St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/st-vincent-10256_aspect_a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-aut_178248.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/st-vincent-10256_aspect_a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-aut_178248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/st-vincent-10256_aspect_a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-aut_178248.jpg) > “A song has a life of its own. It's an autonomous thing, separate from your own experience, almost. And the mere repetition of it means it's subject to change; it means approaching it differently, expressing different emotional aspects of it. It doesn't feel like wallowing.” [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Songs possess an independent existence that evolves with each rendition, revealing new emotions. **In simple terms:** Music changes each time it’s played. Key Takeaway Listen anew to discover fresh feelings. Themes music creativity interpretation emotion artistic expression Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - concerts - personal listening - songwriting - media production Key Concepts aesthetic theory subjectivity cultural resonance Questions to Reflect On - What does each version of a song reveal? - How does repetition alter your emotional response? A Different Perspective Repeated listening may cause fatigue or loss of novelty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autonomous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomous/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Song Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-life/) [Subject To Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject-to-change/) ## Related quotes > [No one can display or can cultivate a fervent zeal in the mere repetition of a form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/no-one-can-display-or-can-cultivate-a-fervent-zeal-in-the-mere/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [I look on trade and every mechanical craft as education also. But let me discriminate what is precious herein. There is in each ofthese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-look-on-trade-and-every-mechanical-craft-as-education-also-but-let/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The only real number is one, the rest are mere repetition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/the-only-real-number-is-one-the-rest-are-mere-repetition/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [She was born in Baton Rouge, her favorite song was In My Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-herndon/she-was-born-in-baton-rouge-her-favorite-song-was-in-my-life/) [Ty Herndon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-herndon/) > [When people live in accordance with Nature, the song of life becomes sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/when-people-live-in-accordance-with-nature-the-song-of-life-becomes/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [“A song about my life If there were to be a song ‘bout my life It would sting like a bee It would cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aman-kumar/a-song-about-my-life-if-there-were-to-be-a-song-bout-my-life-it-would/) Aman Kumar > [The ocean has been singing to me, and the song is that of our life together...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/the-ocean-has-been-singing-to-me-and-the-song-is-that-of-our-life/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Each song is a child I nourish and give my love to. But even if you have never written a song, your life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/each-song-is-a-child-i-nourish-and-give-my-love-to-but-even-if-you/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [“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 > [“A good song should life your heart, warm the soul and make you feel good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colbie-caillat/a-good-song-should-life-your-heart-warm-the-soul-and-make-you-feel/) [Colbie Caillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colbie-caillat/) > [“My Song So many memories, and I'm still young. So many dreams, my song's just begun. Sometimes I hear my private melody grow, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-mora/my-song-so-many-memories-and-i-m-still-young-so-many-dreams-my-song-s/) [Pat Mora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-mora/) > ["I'm Black". I think that's the best song I ever made in my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-m-black-i-think-that-s-the-best-song-i-ever-made-in-my-whole-life/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Listen to the Song of Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/listen-to-the-song-of-life/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [What I like about music is that you make a song, you've got your ideas in it, and people make that song part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/what-i-like-about-music-is-that-you-make-a-song-you-ve-got-your-ideas/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [“Without a song, life is a sorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/without-a-song-life-is-a-sorrow/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by St. Vincent > [My dad used to love Steely Dan, the Stones, Jethro Tull and all that. There was always Steely Dan going in my dad's car,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/my-dad-used-to-love-steely-dan-the-stones-jethro-tull-and-all-that/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [I'm supportive of women, absolutely, and it's so gratifying to have girls come up and say, 'I'm really inspired by your guitar playing.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-m-supportive-of-women-absolutely-and-it-s-so-gratifying-to-have/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [It is absolutely necessary, both for our advancement and the salvation of others, to follow always and in all things the beautiful light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/it-is-absolutely-necessary-both-for-our-advancement-and-the-salvation/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [We ought to deal kindly with all, and to manifest those qualities which spring naturally from a heart tender and full of Christian charity;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/we-ought-to-deal-kindly-with-all-and-to-manifest-those-qualities/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [I just love playing guitar, so that's what I'm going to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-just-love-playing-guitar-so-that-s-what-i-m-going-to-do/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [Let us love God my brothers, let us love God. But let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/let-us-love-god-my-brothers-let-us-love-god-but-let-it-be-with-the/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [To be honest, because there's loud music in my ears probably three hours a day, between sound check and the show, I listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/to-be-honest-because-there-s-loud-music-in-my-ears-probably-three/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [It's not enough to do good. It must be done well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/it-s-not-enough-to-do-good-it-must-be-done-well/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [The first step to be taken by one who wishes to follow Christ is, according to Our Lord’s own words, that of renouncing himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/the-first-step-to-be-taken-by-one-who-wishes-to-follow-christ-is/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [Musically, I have more things in common with tons of bands that have no female members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/musically-i-have-more-things-in-common-with-tons-of-bands-that-have/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [I think human beings have a really broad spectrum of traits, and I almost feel implicated when we say, 'Men are like this, women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-think-human-beings-have-a-really-broad-spectrum-of-traits-and-i/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [I love Robert Fripp. You know what I really appreciate about Robert Fripp? He always dresses appropriately for the occasion. When he's on stage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-love-robert-fripp-you-know-what-i-really-appreciate-about-robert/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [Guitar is just something I can do. So much of it now is muscle memory, just instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/guitar-is-just-something-i-can-do-so-much-of-it-now-is-muscle-memory/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [I only listen to my own music when I'm playing an hour-and-half set each night. I don't put it on recreationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-only-listen-to-my-own-music-when-i-m-playing-an-hour-and-half-set/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [Leaden trumpets spit the soot of power they say"I'm on your side when nobody is, cause nobody is.Come sit right here and sleep while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/leaden-trumpets-spit-the-soot-of-power-they-say-i-m-on-your-side-when/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) [Explore all 67 St. Vincent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) ## More Aspect quotes > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I do miss the social aspect of sitting in a pub with a pint but you know what when I get down to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-do-miss-the-social-aspect-of-sitting-in-a-pub-with-a-pint-but-you/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Some say that you should not want money at all because the desire for money is materialistic and not Spiritual. But we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/some-say-that-you-should-not-want-money-at-all-because-the-desire-for/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would call myself a Gnostic. Which means, I'm interested in pursuing and understanding the spiritual nature of things. A Gnostic is somebody seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-would-call-myself-a-gnostic-which-means-i-m-interested-in-pursuing/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) Fernando Bujones > [I love fall because I love the whole cuddling aspect of it, and a sweater dress has that vibe of I'm going to hunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-love-fall-because-i-love-the-whole-cuddling-aspect-of-it-and-a/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. I have to admit that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/mac-allowed-me-to-have-complete-freedom-on-the-collaborations-from/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) Browse all 3,171 Aspect quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A song has a life of its own. It's an autonomous thing, separate from your own experience, almost. And the mere repetition of it means it's subject to change; it means approaching it differently, expressing different emotional aspects of it. It doesn't feel like wallowing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "St. Vincent" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-autonomous-thing-separate-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aspect" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-autonomous-thing-separate-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/st-vincent-10256_aspect_a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-aut_178248.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/st-vincent-10256_aspect_a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-aut_178248.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/st-vincent-10256_aspect_a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-aut_178248.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A song has a life of its own. It's an autonomous thing, separate from your own experience, almost. And the…” — St. Vincent", "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": "St. Vincent", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A song has a life of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-autonomous-thing-separate-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-autonomous-thing-separate-from/#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 } } ] } ```