--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have my ship, and all her flags are…" description: "\"I have my ship, and all her flags are a-flying. She is all that I have left, and music is her name.\" — Stephen Stills" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/stephen-stills-17130_flags_i-have-my-ship-and-all-her-flags-are-a-f_692935.jpg" --- # I have my ship, and all her flags are a-flying. She is all… ![“I have my ship, and all her flags are a-flying. She is all that I have left, and music is her name.” quote by Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/stephen-stills-17130_flags_i-have-my-ship-and-all-her-flags-are-a-f_692935.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/stephen-stills-17130_flags_i-have-my-ship-and-all-her-flags-are-a-f_692935.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/stephen-stills-17130_flags_i-have-my-ship-and-all-her-flags-are-a-f_692935.jpg) > “I have my ship, and all her flags are a-flying. She is all that I have left, and music is her name.” [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker sees his ship as his sole companion and identity, equating it with music that defines him. **In simple terms:** The ship represents his identity and music. Key Takeaway Cherish what defines you. Themes identity companionship music Mood reflective poetic Type metaphorical inspirational When to use this quote - sailing - creative work - personal reflection - finding purpose Key Concepts symbolism personal metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What does your "ship" symbolize? - How does music shape your identity? A Different Perspective The metaphor may overlook practical realities of life beyond symbolism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flags/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Rock and roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-and-roll/) [Ship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ship/) ## Related quotes > [There is something distinguished about even his failures; they sink not trivially, but with a certain air of majesty, like a great ship, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/there-is-something-distinguished-about-even-his-failures-they-sink/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [I detest flying anywhere. 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I want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pleasure-p/you-be-making-waves-my-ship-s-here-to-stay-i-got-what-it-takes-to/) [Pleasure P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pleasure-p/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [When we shipped 'Borderlands 2,' we didn't ship it with a plan of how the level cap was going to increase. We didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pitchford/when-we-shipped-borderlands-2-we-didn-t-ship-it-with-a-plan-of-how/) [Randy Pitchford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pitchford/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) ## More by Stephen Stills > [God forbid if David Crosby gets sick again and I can't tour anymore, or something happens where I can't get around, what am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/god-forbid-if-david-crosby-gets-sick-again-and-i-can-t-tour-anymore/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [Yeah; I'm a much better blues player than anybody knows, but being in the kind of group I'm in, we were always trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/yeah-i-m-a-much-better-blues-player-than-anybody-knows-but-being-in/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [I feel like I'm just learning how to play the guitar. I mean, really learning to play the guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-feel-like-i-m-just-learning-how-to-play-the-guitar-i-mean-really/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [Love the one you're with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/love-the-one-you-re-with/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a coming day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/but-it-s-as-big-as-the-promise-the-promise-of-a-coming-day/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [I much prefer the road. My thing is getting live in front of people. There is a sterile environment to a studio that doesnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-much-prefer-the-road-my-thing-is-getting-live-in-front-of-people/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [After about a year or so, I was in L.A.; I'd decided to try to get a band together out there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/after-about-a-year-or-so-i-was-in-l-a-i-d-decided-to-try-to-get-a/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [Unlike President Obama, Mitt Romney has been inside the bubble all his life. He has no idea what's going on here. He has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/unlike-president-obama-mitt-romney-has-been-inside-the-bubble-all-his/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [I remember that first week at the Whisky and the gigs we (The Buffalo Springfield) did with the Byrds, We could really smoke !…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-remember-that-first-week-at-the-whisky-and-the-gigs-we-the-buffalo/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [You slow down when you get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/you-slow-down-when-you-get-older/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [I got hooked into folk music by accident, because that's what white college kids liked when I was a child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-got-hooked-into-folk-music-by-accident-because-that-s-what-white/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [I don't set out to write a political song. I am not one of those that feels compelled to write about what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-don-t-set-out-to-write-a-political-song-i-am-not-one-of-those-that/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [I've just built a studio in my mama's old bedroom, which I thought was fitting; she died last year. We've recorded nine songs recorded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-ve-just-built-a-studio-in-my-mama-s-old-bedroom-which-i-thought-was/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [I've learned you can't write on a computer on a bus. It jiggles too much, especially an Apple. The keyboard jiggles around too much,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-ve-learned-you-can-t-write-on-a-computer-on-a-bus-it-jiggles-too/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [There are three things men can do with women: love them, suffer for them, or turn them into literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/there-are-three-things-men-can-do-with-women-love-them-suffer-for/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) [Explore all 38 Stephen Stills quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) ## More Flags quotes > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [Women covering their heads is traditional, but now we're seeing more and more women covering themselves from head to toe. 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I do try to take work that involves some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-try-not-to-think-retrospectively-it-s-important-as-an-artist-to/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [Hold the period of youth sacred to education, and the period of maturity, when the physical forces begin to flag, equally sacred to ease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bellamy/hold-the-period-of-youth-sacred-to-education-and-the-period-of/) [Edward Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bellamy/) > [The flag represents all the values and the liberties Americans have and enjoy everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shuster/the-flag-represents-all-the-values-and-the-liberties-americans-have/) [Bill Shuster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shuster/) > [I remember every player-every single one-who wore the Tennessee orange, a shade that our rivals hate, a bold, aggravating color that you can usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-remember-every-player-every-single-one-who-wore-the-tennessee/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices—more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. 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