--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We never notate our music, so you can try…" description: "\"We never notate our music, so you can try to replicate it, but you don't really have it.\" — Thurston Moore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thurston-moore-16089_music_we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try_987259.png" --- # We never notate our music, so you can try to replicate it… ![“We never notate our music, so you can try to replicate it, but you don't really have it.” quote by Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thurston-moore-16089_music_we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try_987259.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thurston-moore-16089_music_we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try_987259.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thurston-moore-16089_music_we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try_987259.png) > “We never notate our music, so you can try to replicate it, but you don't really have it.” [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that music cannot be fully not or replicated, emphasizing its unique, intangible nature. **In simple terms:** Music is inherently unrepeatable. Key Takeaway Appreciate each performance as unique. Themes creativity music originality Mood inspired thoughtful Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - live concerts - recording - teaching music Key Concepts aesthetic ephemerality Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect music education? - Can you balance uniqueness with learning? A Different Perspective It may dismiss the value of learning from others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [I would sit at the organ and just start making up things by myself - I was maybe 7 years old, which was too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-djawadi/i-would-sit-at-the-organ-and-just-start-making-up-things-by-myself-i/) [Ramin Djawadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-djawadi/) > [When you fail at something, the best thing to do is think back to your successes, and try to replicate whatever you did to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/when-you-fail-at-something-the-best-thing-to-do-is-think-back-to-your/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [It’s like, you know, it doesn’t matter what you do, even if you try to replicate an experience down to every last detail, it’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/it-s-like-you-know-it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-do-even-if-you-try-to/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [If I hear a story or a fact about somebody I don't know and have never met, it's like getting a hollow vessel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/if-i-hear-a-story-or-a-fact-about-somebody-i-don-t-know-and-have/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [I've never thought to notate my songs...I tend to just have to remember them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scout-niblett/i-ve-never-thought-to-notate-my-songs-i-tend-to-just-have-to-remember/) [Scout Niblett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scout-niblett/) > [You can't save the world with music. But I can try. I have the same job as Bruce Springsteen. I have to go as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-flowers/you-can-t-save-the-world-with-music-but-i-can-try-i-have-the-same-job/) [Brandon Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-flowers/) > [I didn't want to box myself into writing just rock music because you can try to force it into moments that don't want it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kitt/i-didn-t-want-to-box-myself-into-writing-just-rock-music-because-you/) [Tom Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kitt/) > [It's such a normal thing for a dance producer to make music and try it out in the club, but that was relatively new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kieran-hebden/it-s-such-a-normal-thing-for-a-dance-producer-to-make-music-and-try/) [Kieran Hebden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kieran-hebden/) > [In terms of music, I can try anything I want, even something that doesn't work at all, because I'm not putting my career in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/in-terms-of-music-i-can-try-anything-i-want-even-something-that-doesn/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [I love music so much that I have to try to make my own music. 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I try to go to that place and that's the toughest thing for me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-foxx/if-i-m-in-the-studio-i-m-completely-on-music-i-try-to-go-to-that/) [Jamie Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-foxx/) > [I would never try to do country music, but I would try to do my own version of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everlast/i-would-never-try-to-do-country-music-but-i-would-try-to-do-my-own/) [Everlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everlast/) > [When I make music I try to do something that people can relate to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/when-i-make-music-i-try-to-do-something-that-people-can-relate-to/) [Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/) > [I try to put what's evocative in the music to me, I try and put that out there in terms of titles and imagery,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/i-try-to-put-what-s-evocative-in-the-music-to-me-i-try-and-put-that/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [I love music so much that I have to try to make my own music. And not copy music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-ejstes/i-love-music-so-much-that-i-have-to-try-to-make-my-own-music-and-not/) [Gustav Ejstes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-ejstes/) ## More by Thurston Moore > [Noise has taken the place of punk rock. People who play noise have no real aspirations to being part of the mainstream culture. Punk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/noise-has-taken-the-place-of-punk-rock-people-who-play-noise-have-no/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [It's American Alternative radio stations that bug me. We're considered Alternative, but don't expect us to be played next to Blink 182 and Offspring.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/it-s-american-alternative-radio-stations-that-bug-me-we-re-considered/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [Lyric writing is an interesting process in Sonic Youth. There's three people writing now, and we've all had a lot of interest and involvement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/lyric-writing-is-an-interesting-process-in-sonic-youth-there-s-three/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [I was surrounded by nature and trying to come to terms with this blissful nature versus the inhumane mentality of war. People were being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/i-was-surrounded-by-nature-and-trying-to-come-to-terms-with-this/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [We're all very sensitive that Jim has the shortest history with the band. He wants to be somewhat of a free agent. I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/we-re-all-very-sensitive-that-jim-has-the-shortest-history-with-the/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [I grew up in the early '70s in New England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/i-grew-up-in-the-early-70s-in-new-england/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [Most people can't tell now who wrote what. I like that blurring of identities within the band. because it becomes a unified thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/most-people-can-t-tell-now-who-wrote-what-i-like-that-blurring-of/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [I wanted to hear the songs in the way that I had written them, which was, in a way, very basic. So all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/i-wanted-to-hear-the-songs-in-the-way-that-i-had-written-them-which/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [Anyone who grows up with parents who are very influential, there are cases where people run away from that if they have parents who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/anyone-who-grows-up-with-parents-who-are-very-influential-there-are/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [It's hard for bands to stick it out because people grow up, and it never really pays off. If you're looking for some sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/it-s-hard-for-bands-to-stick-it-out-because-people-grow-up-and-it/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [“go forth and thrash!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/go-forth-and-thrash/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [Tonight I am going to defecate on stage because I think that is the only way to express the nature of my soul according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/tonight-i-am-going-to-defecate-on-stage-because-i-think-that-is-the/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [So lots of respect for all you boys and girls out there who tab out songs like all the time. You bring rock and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/so-lots-of-respect-for-all-you-boys-and-girls-out-there-who-tab-out/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [Buddhism has become a socially recognized religious philosophy for Americans, whereas it used to be considered an exotic religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/buddhism-has-become-a-socially-recognized-religious-philosophy-for/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [People... of the universe! Tonight... is the night.. when the skies will open, and spray forth a divine hand with pointed finger! And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/people-of-the-universe-tonight-is-the-night-when-the-skies-will-open/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) [Explore all 41 Thurston Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) ## 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 > [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 > [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": "We never notate our music, so you can try to replicate it, but you don't really have it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thurston Moore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try-to-replicate-it-but-you-don/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try-to-replicate-it-but-you-don/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thurston-moore-16089_music_we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try_987259.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thurston-moore-16089_music_we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try_987259.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thurston-moore-16089_music_we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try_987259.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We never notate our music, so you can try to replicate it, but you don't really have it.” — Thurston Moore", "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": "Thurston Moore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We never notate our music, so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try-to-replicate-it-but-you-don/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/we-never-notate-our-music-so-you-can-try-to-replicate-it-but-you-don/#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 } } ] } ```