---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Besides that, I felt guilty. I thought…"
description: "\"Besides that, I felt guilty. I thought for some reason... I was alive, and Buddy and those boys were dead, and I didn't know how, but somehow I'd cause..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/waylon-jennings-8045_alive_besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for_451276.jpg"
---

#  Besides that, I felt guilty. I thought for some reason…

![“Besides that, I felt guilty. I thought for some reason... I was alive, and Buddy and those boys were dead, and I didn't know how, but somehow I'd caused it.” quote by Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/waylon-jennings-8045_alive_besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for_451276.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/waylon-jennings-8045_alive_besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for_451276.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/waylon-jennings-8045_alive_besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for_451276.jpg)

> “Besides that, I felt guilty. I thought for some reason... I was alive, and Buddy and those boys were dead, and I didn't know how, but somehow I'd caused it.”

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A feeling of survivor guilt arises when one lives while others die, especially if one suspects indirect responsibility.

**In simple terms:** Feeling guilty for surviving when others died.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge feelings, seek support.

Themes

guilt survivor responsibility

Mood

somber reflective

Type

emotional personal

When to use this quote

- war trauma
- family loss
- post‑event reflection

Key Concepts

psychology empathy mortality

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence supports your sense of responsibility?
- How can you honor those lost without self‑blame?

A Different Perspective

Guilt may be disproportionate to actual responsibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/)

## Related quotes

> [When I was a little kid, I used to get in trouble a lot for lying. Being raised religious, I believed that lying was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-purser/when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-used-to-get-in-trouble-a-lot-for-lying/)

[Shannon Purser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-purser/)

> [As a woman and as a mother, as a young mother, I felt guilty about being successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/as-a-woman-and-as-a-mother-as-a-young-mother-i-felt-guilty-about/)

[Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/)

> [I ate ostrich. I'm not very proud of it. I was going through a very experimental period and probably during foot and mouth. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dervla-kirwan/i-ate-ostrich-i-m-not-very-proud-of-it-i-was-going-through-a-very/)

[Dervla Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dervla-kirwan/)

> [Even as a child, I felt very guilty about eating animals and never knew that there was something to do about it. And as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayim-bialik/even-as-a-child-i-felt-very-guilty-about-eating-animals-and-never/)

[Mayim Bialik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayim-bialik/)

> [I felt guilty - like, I leaked this memo, and now there's going to be a witch hunt for the person who did it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-gun/i-felt-guilty-like-i-leaked-this-memo-and-now-there-s-going-to-be-a/)

[Katharine Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-gun/)

> [“Being dead didn't make Jack Mercy any less of a son of a bitch”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/being-dead-didn-t-make-jack-mercy-any-less-of-a-son-of-a-bitch/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [“They’d never scared him, really.  When he was younger, he hadn’t known that there was anything different about them.  By the time he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-e-smith/they-d-never-scared-him-really-when-he-was-younger-he-hadn-t-known/)

[Jacqueline E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-e-smith/)

> [Post-modernism is dead because it didn't address human needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/post-modernism-is-dead-because-it-didn-t-address-human-needs/)

[David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/)

> [“we don't know he's dead do we? Have we seen a body? Has anyone told us he's dead?" I didn't say anything," he protested.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-bagdasarian/we-don-t-know-he-s-dead-do-we-have-we-seen-a-body-has-anyone-told-us/)

[Adam Bagdasarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-bagdasarian/)

> [I thought if I lost the band, I was dead. If I didn't stick with the Who, I would be a sheet metal worker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-thought-if-i-lost-the-band-i-was-dead-if-i-didn-t-stick-with-the/)

[Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/)

> [Punk is dead to anyone who didn't get it in the first place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/punk-is-dead-to-anyone-who-didn-t-get-it-in-the-first-place/)

[Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/)

> [Then you're dead, too, sweet little sister.' Oh, yes,' said Valentine. 'They'll believe that. "I didn't know it would kill Andrew. And when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/then-you-re-dead-too-sweet-little-sister-oh-yes-said-valentine-they/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [As soon as I knew that I would be all right, I was sure that I was dead and didn't know it. I moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hempel/as-soon-as-i-knew-that-i-would-be-all-right-i-was-sure-that-i-was/)

[Amy Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hempel/)

> [“We couldn’t make love, unfortunately, because she was dead. I didn’t kill her, if that’s what you’re wondering. She died long before I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-couldn-t-make-love-unfortunately-because-she-was-dead-i-didn-t/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Nothing was working, and my friend was dead, and I didn't want to look at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kiedis/nothing-was-working-and-my-friend-was-dead-and-i-didn-t-want-to-look/)

[Anthony Kiedis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kiedis/)

## More by Waylon Jennings

> [I say, Lord, do right be me, I'm tired of being lonesome, on'ry, and mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/i-say-lord-do-right-be-me-i-m-tired-of-being-lonesome-on-ry-and-mean/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [Lately I've heard rumors that the eagle may be lame. Just because I've been idle, don't mean that I'm tame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/lately-i-ve-heard-rumors-that-the-eagle-may-be-lame-just-because-i-ve/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [Now, I was on drugs, and that didn't help a whole lot. He hated that. That was part of where Chet and I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/now-i-was-on-drugs-and-that-didn-t-help-a-whole-lot-he-hated-that/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [What bothers me most is that I don't bother you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/what-bothers-me-most-is-that-i-don-t-bother-you/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/maybe-it-s-time-we-got-back-to-the-basics-of-love/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [The only problem was I needed to use my own group, and things didn't happen until I did. It wasn't a real country sound,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/the-only-problem-was-i-needed-to-use-my-own-group-and-things-didn-t/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [One night of love don't make up for six nights alone. But I'd rather have one than none Lord, cause I'm flesh and bone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/one-night-of-love-don-t-make-up-for-six-nights-alone-but-i-d-rather/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [It was all devastating. I'd never dealt with losing anyone close to me, and I didn't know where to put it in my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/it-was-all-devastating-i-d-never-dealt-with-losing-anyone-close-to-me/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [I was king of the mountain for a long time, well, I don't want that no more. I like to perform every once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/i-was-king-of-the-mountain-for-a-long-time-well-i-don-t-want-that-no/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [He gave us all a mind to think with and to know what's right or wrong, he is that inner spirit that keeps us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/he-gave-us-all-a-mind-to-think-with-and-to-know-what-s-right-or-wrong/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [I never have any problem getting enthusiastic with a good song and a good band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/i-never-have-any-problem-getting-enthusiastic-with-a-good-song-and-a/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [I sat at a bar having a beer trying to hold down the stool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/i-sat-at-a-bar-having-a-beer-trying-to-hold-down-the-stool/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [The villains have turned into heroes. The heroes have turned into heals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/the-villains-have-turned-into-heroes-the-heroes-have-turned-into-heals/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [Did ole Hank really do it this way?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/did-ole-hank-really-do-it-this-way/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [Chet loved artists. He did. But he was caught up in the system. He had two hats. He had to have 'em because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/chet-loved-artists-he-did-but-he-was-caught-up-in-the-system-he-had/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

[Explore all 85 Waylon Jennings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

## More Alive quotes

> [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/)

> [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 don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/)

[Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/)

> [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/)

[David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/)

> [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/)

[James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/)

> [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/)

[Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/)

[Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/)

> [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

[Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Besides that, I felt guilty. I thought for some reason... I was alive, and Buddy and those boys were dead, and I didn't know how, but somehow I'd caused it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Waylon Jennings"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for-some-reason-i-was-alive-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alive"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for-some-reason-i-was-alive-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/waylon-jennings-8045_alive_besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for_451276.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/waylon-jennings-8045_alive_besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for_451276.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/waylon-jennings-8045_alive_besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for_451276.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Besides that, I felt guilty. I thought for some reason... I was alive, and Buddy and those boys were dead…” — Waylon Jennings",
                "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": "Waylon Jennings",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Besides that, I felt guilty. I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for-some-reason-i-was-alive-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/besides-that-i-felt-guilty-i-thought-for-some-reason-i-was-alive-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
