--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People make songs so that somebody else…" description: "\"People make songs so that somebody else will hear them and want to do them. I guess it's an indication that the songs aren't so ultra-personal that the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tom-waits-916_indication_people-make-songs-so-that-somebody-else_3106960.jpg" --- # People make songs so that somebody else will hear them and… ![“People make songs so that somebody else will hear them and want to do them. I guess it's an indication that the songs aren't so ultra-personal that they can't possibly be interpreted by anyone else.” quote by Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tom-waits-916_indication_people-make-songs-so-that-somebody-else_3106960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tom-waits-916_indication_people-make-songs-so-that-somebody-else_3106960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tom-waits-916_indication_people-make-songs-so-that-somebody-else_3106960.jpg) > “People make songs so that somebody else will hear them and want to do them. I guess it's an indication that the songs aren't so ultra-personal that they can't possibly be interpreted by anyone else.” [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Songs are crafted for shared experience, suggesting they must be relatable enough for others to interpret and act upon. **In simple terms:** Songs aim to be heard and acted on by others. Key Takeaway Create music that resonates widely. Themes art communication shared experience Mood introspective creative Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - collaborations - public events Key Concepts interpretation universality empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal expression with audience reception? - When does universality dilute authenticity? A Different Perspective Not all songs can be universally understood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Indication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indication/) [Make Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-songs/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Somebody Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-hear-4213493/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Songs Aren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-aren-366789/) [Songs Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-somebody-3313595/) [Ultras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultras/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [I want somebody to hear my song and say, 'You know, man, I've been through that.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarion/i-want-somebody-to-hear-my-song-and-say-you-know-man-i-ve-been/) [Omarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarion/) > [Most songs that aren't jump-rope songs, or lullabies, are cautionary tales or goodbye songs and road songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-songs-that-aren-t-jump-rope-songs-or-lullabies-are-cautionary/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [If you're writing songs by yourself, who's going to tell you if it's good or not? But if you're writing songs with somebody else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-frey/if-you-re-writing-songs-by-yourself-who-s-going-to-tell-you-if-it-s/) [Glenn Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-frey/) > [There are always meaningful songs for somebody. People are doing their courting, people are finding their wives, people are making babies, people are washing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/there-are-always-meaningful-songs-for-somebody-people-are-doing-their/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [We cut songs that touch us because if they don't touch us first, there's no way in the world we're going to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-demarcus/we-cut-songs-that-touch-us-because-if-they-don-t-touch-us-first-there/) [Jay DeMarcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-demarcus/) > [It's always fun to play songs by somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lanegan/it-s-always-fun-to-play-songs-by-somebody-else/) [Mark Lanegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lanegan/) > [The kind of fans I have are those who allow the songs to be part of their lives; indeed, it's as if the songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howard/the-kind-of-fans-i-have-are-those-who-allow-the-songs-to-be-part-of/) [Ben Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howard/) > [I like the songs to appear very simple and to flow by without any kind of hiccup, but there has to be this impression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-welch/i-like-the-songs-to-appear-very-simple-and-to-flow-by-without-any/) [Gillian Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-welch/) > [Once a song comes out, these songs aren't mine. They're everybody's. So there you go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/once-a-song-comes-out-these-songs-aren-t-mine-they-re-everybody-s-so/) [Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/) > [We kind of just got more mature and more realistic with what we're doing. We kinda said, "We quit our jobs and we quit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-buckley/we-kind-of-just-got-more-mature-and-more-realistic-with-what-we-re/) [Jordan Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-buckley/) > [My songs aren't bubble gum pop dance songs and I don't have background dancers on every single song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/my-songs-aren-t-bubble-gum-pop-dance-songs-and-i-don-t-have/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [I think I bring the songs that aren't about me or related to me to life. It's like the song 'How Do I Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-jones/i-think-i-bring-the-songs-that-aren-t-about-me-or-related-to-me-to/) [Sharon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-jones/) > [My songs aren't built around choruses or hooks or anything like that. That's kind of how I write screenplays too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/my-songs-aren-t-built-around-choruses-or-hooks-or-anything-like-that/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I get the feeling that my songs aren't that dark. There is a cynicism but humour also - it's not depression upon depression upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-get-the-feeling-that-my-songs-aren-t-that-dark-there-is-a-cynicism/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Honest songs aren't written for money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/honest-songs-aren-t-written-for-money/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) ## More by Tom Waits > [Most of us have the residue of thousands of songs in our ears, that if you end up songwriting, I think you're mostly smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-of-us-have-the-residue-of-thousands-of-songs-in-our-ears-that-if/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Bill Hicks - blowtorch, excavator, truthsayer, and brain specialist. He will correct your vision. Others will drive on the road he built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/bill-hicks-blowtorch-excavator-truthsayer-and-brain-specialist-he/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Don't plant your days they turn into weeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/don-t-plant-your-days-they-turn-into-weeds/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [“T’ain’t no sin to take off your skin, and dance around in your bones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/t-ain-t-no-sin-to-take-off-your-skin-and-dance-around-in-your-bones/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [“an all time favorite: "The large print giveth, the small print taketh away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/an-all-time-favorite-the-large-print-giveth-the-small-print-taketh/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I'll tell you all my secrets but I lie about my past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-ll-tell-you-all-my-secrets-but-i-lie-about-my-past/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [For a songwriter, you don't really go to songwriting school; you learn by listening to tunes. And you try to understand them and take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/for-a-songwriter-you-don-t-really-go-to-songwriting-school-you-learn/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I'm trying to learn how to write faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-trying-to-learn-how-to-write-faster/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [The world is a hellish place, and bad writing is destroying the quality of our suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-world-is-a-hellish-place-and-bad-writing-is-destroying-the/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I'm always looking for sounds that are pleasing at the time. The sound of a helicopter is really annoying until you're drowning, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-always-looking-for-sounds-that-are-pleasing-at-the-time-the-sound/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I was born in the back seat of a Yellow Cab in a hospital loading zone and with the meter still running. I emerged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-was-born-in-the-back-seat-of-a-yellow-cab-in-a-hospital-loading/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [There's not much difference between what I appear to be on stage and what I am. I think people like that, that I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/there-s-not-much-difference-between-what-i-appear-to-be-on-stage-and/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Most of the things you absorb you will ultimately secrete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-of-the-things-you-absorb-you-will-ultimately-secrete/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [The devil knows the Bible like the back of his hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-devil-knows-the-bible-like-the-back-of-his-hand/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I bark my voice out through a closed throat, pretty much. It's more, perhaps, like a dog in some ways. It does have its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-bark-my-voice-out-through-a-closed-throat-pretty-much-it-s-more/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Explore all 328 Tom Waits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) ## More Indication quotes > [What you receive from others is a testimony to their virtue; but all that you do for others is the sign and clear indication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giordano-bruno/what-you-receive-from-others-is-a-testimony-to-their-virtue-but-all/) [Giordano Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giordano-bruno/) > [My understanding has always been that if there is any indication that pesticides are harmful, that they would not be allowed to be used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-deukmejian/my-understanding-has-always-been-that-if-there-is-any-indication-that/) [George Deukmejian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-deukmejian/) > [In the indications of female poverty there can be no disguise. No woman dresses below herself from caprice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/in-the-indications-of-female-poverty-there-can-be-no-disguise-no/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [What you feel is wrong or missing in your relationships is an indication that something is amiss within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/what-you-feel-is-wrong-or-missing-in-your-relationships-is-an/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Apparently, Daniel Craig said I'd be a great Bond. Daniel, why did you say that? Dropped me right in it! What an honor it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/apparently-daniel-craig-said-i-d-be-a-great-bond-daniel-why-did-you/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [The strong desire for success is the best indication that you can achieve success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/the-strong-desire-for-success-is-the-best-indication-that-you-can/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [To be perfectly honest, it isn't fair that people have used my personality, and the sacrifices I make because I want to, as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-garvey/to-be-perfectly-honest-it-isn-t-fair-that-people-have-used-my/) [Steve Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-garvey/) > [One of the promising indications of a renewal in the Church's missionary consciousness in recent decades, has been the growing desire of many lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/one-of-the-promising-indications-of-a-renewal-in-the-church-s/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Heartbreak is our indication of sincerity: in a love relationship, in a work, in trying to learn a musical instrument, in the attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/heartbreak-is-our-indication-of-sincerity-in-a-love-relationship-in-a/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [I understood that menstruation - the indication that you're a real woman - stopped if you grew weak from illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aya-kito/i-understood-that-menstruation-the-indication-that-you-re-a-real/) [Aya Kito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aya-kito/) > [“Daily chronic fatigue can be an indication that something is wrong in your environment that needs to be identified and removed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/daily-chronic-fatigue-can-be-an-indication-that-something-is-wrong-in/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [It is a good idea for everyone who does not have contra-indications to receive a flu shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-johnson/it-is-a-good-idea-for-everyone-who-does-not-have-contra-indications/) [Amy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-johnson/) > [Popularity is not an indication of quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/popularity-is-not-an-indication-of-quality/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) > [Beauty is not the purpose of creation, it is its reward. Its appearance, often late in the day, is no more than an indication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brassai/beauty-is-not-the-purpose-of-creation-it-is-its-reward-its-appearance/) [Brassai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brassai/) [Browse all 288 Indication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People make songs so that somebody else will hear them and want to do them. 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