--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes when you're making songs you…" description: "\"Sometimes when you're making songs you just make sounds, and the sounds slowly mutate and evolve into actual words that have meaning.\" — Tom Waits" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/tom-waits-916_evolve_sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-j_1628735.jpg" --- # Sometimes when you're making songs you just make sounds… ![“Sometimes when you're making songs you just make sounds, and the sounds slowly mutate and evolve into actual words that have meaning.” quote by Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/tom-waits-916_evolve_sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-j_1628735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/tom-waits-916_evolve_sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-j_1628735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/tom-waits-916_evolve_sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-j_1628735.jpg) > “Sometimes when you're making songs you just make sounds, and the sounds slowly mutate and evolve into actual words that have meaning.” [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. Creative process can start with random sounds that gradually develop into meaningful lyrics, highlighting the organic evolution of art. **In simple terms:** Sounds can become meaningful words. Key Takeaway Embrace spontaneous creation. Themes creativity music evolution Mood inspirational curious Type musical process When to use this quote - songwriting - sound design - poetry Key Concepts artistic process language development improvisation Questions to Reflect On - How do you shape random sounds? - When does improvisation become purposeful? A Different Perspective Randomness may lack direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) ## Related quotes > [I hate when people don't hear the actual words out of your mouth or even the intent of it. They just hear something completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-thompson/i-hate-when-people-don-t-hear-the-actual-words-out-of-your-mouth-or/) [Lea Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-thompson/) > [The secret to writing sound effects is having a room you can be alone in, trying to make the sounds yourself, and seeing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-north/the-secret-to-writing-sound-effects-is-having-a-room-you-can-be-alone/) [Ryan North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-north/) > [I wanted to make sounds that I'd never heard before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blake/i-wanted-to-make-sounds-that-i-d-never-heard-before/) [James Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blake/) > [When I was on 'Xena,' I remember the sound guy and the director at some point being like, you have to make sounds when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/when-i-was-on-xena-i-remember-the-sound-guy-and-the-director-at-some/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [You can make sounds and music out of pretty much anything with a little imagination and putting your mind to it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-freberg/you-can-make-sounds-and-music-out-of-pretty-much-anything-with-a/) [Stan Freberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-freberg/) > [Whether I make them or not, there are always sounds to be heard and all of them are excellent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/whether-i-make-them-or-not-there-are-always-sounds-to-be-heard-and/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [I like trying to make sounds that are interesting and are a bit weird. I try to make music that captures people's imaginations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sampha/i-like-trying-to-make-sounds-that-are-interesting-and-are-a-bit-weird/) [Sampha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sampha/) > [The goal is to make something that sounds new and different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-rechtshaid/the-goal-is-to-make-something-that-sounds-new-and-different/) [Ariel Rechtshaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-rechtshaid/) > [We were totally confident that we would make it internationally. We had no money or instruments. We used cake tins or bottles with water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/we-were-totally-confident-that-we-would-make-it-internationally-we/) [Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/) > [One always has to remember these days where the garbage pail is, because it's so easy to make sounds, and to put sounds together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moog/one-always-has-to-remember-these-days-where-the-garbage-pail-is/) [Robert Moog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moog/) > [I'm not interested in making songs for films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kk/i-m-not-interested-in-making-songs-for-films/) KK > [I'm dead serious about my craft and just really serious about making music in itself. I take pride in making songs and albums where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-boi/i-m-dead-serious-about-my-craft-and-just-really-serious-about-making/) [Big Boi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-boi/) > [It's a different kind of satisfaction, different kind of enjoyment than making your own songs, to remake someone else's song that you really like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lanegan/it-s-a-different-kind-of-satisfaction-different-kind-of-enjoyment/) [Mark Lanegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lanegan/) > [I don't believe in making two songs similar. Every composition must have its own unique character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/i-don-t-believe-in-making-two-songs-similar-every-composition-must/) [Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/) > [Early on, I really liked the idea of being confrontational. I loved the idea of making songs that made people really uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/early-on-i-really-liked-the-idea-of-being-confrontational-i-loved-the/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) ## 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 Evolve quotes > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [I became a bit of a teacher's pet, and it became known in the school by both faculty and students that I really excelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/i-became-a-bit-of-a-teacher-s-pet-and-it-became-known-in-the-school/) [Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [In fashion, some evolve, some don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-lamy/in-fashion-some-evolve-some-don-t/) [Michele Lamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-lamy/) > [“Our first teacher is our own heart. When we begin to tune in and listen to our heart we can bring our thoughts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-l-white/our-first-teacher-is-our-own-heart-when-we-begin-to-tune-in-and/) Victoria L. White > [“You have permission to walk away from anything that doesn't feel right. 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And I think it's important, in between projects,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/it-s-hard-no-to-work-so-i-find-a-way-to-put-myself-back-to-work-and-i/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [“In the offseason, you should be working, reading, developing, growing, evolving, and becoming your best self. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/in-the-offseason-you-should-be-working-reading-developing-growing/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [In the Christian perspective, the love of God and of all other human beings invites us to share and enjoy not just the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/in-the-christian-perspective-the-love-of-god-and-of-all-other-human/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [The Kabbalah describes angels as bundles of light, meaning intelligence, consciousness. Kabbalists believe that above every blade of grass is an angel crying "Grow!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-kabbalah-describes-angels-as-bundles-of-light-meaning/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [You do need to maintain some of yourself and know who you are, but that doesn't mean you can't evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-show/you-do-need-to-maintain-some-of-yourself-and-know-who-you-are-but/) [Grant Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-show/) > [Every physical system registers information, and just by evolving in time, by doing its thing, it changes that information, transforms that information, or, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-lloyd/every-physical-system-registers-information-and-just-by-evolving-in/) [Seth Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-lloyd/) > [Every year is different. I always try to evolve, get better and find different areas and training that can benefit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-millsap/every-year-is-different-i-always-try-to-evolve-get-better-and-find/) [Paul Millsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-millsap/) Browse all 1,637 Evolve quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes when you're making songs you just make sounds, and the sounds slowly mutate and evolve into actual words that have meaning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-just-make-sounds-and-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evolve" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-just-make-sounds-and-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/tom-waits-916_evolve_sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-j_1628735.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/tom-waits-916_evolve_sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-j_1628735.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/tom-waits-916_evolve_sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-j_1628735.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes when you're making songs you just make sounds, and the sounds slowly mutate and evolve into actual…” — Tom Waits", "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": "Tom Waits", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes when you're making songs you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-just-make-sounds-and-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/sometimes-when-you-re-making-songs-you-just-make-sounds-and-the/#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 } } ] } ```