Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,159,190 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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“We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery - the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. “We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!”.”
Pope John Paul II (1920–2005) first seen 1986 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Angelus at Adelaide, Australia on 30 November 1986 during Apostolic Journey to the Far East and Ocenia. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022.
“I'm a songwriter first, have always been, and probably always will be. Making the demo is a natural product of writing a song; after that, I'm happy to hear other people do it in other ways.”
Carole King (born 1942) first seen 1999 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in "Will you still love me tomorrow?" by Rachel Louis Snyder in Salon (19 June 1999)
“The local rock group down the street Is trying hard to learn their song. They serenade the weekend squire Who just came out to mow his lawn. Another pleasant valley Sunday. Charcoal burning everywhere. Rows of houses that are all the same. And no one seems to care.”
Carole King (born 1942) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Pleasant Valley Sunday (1967), co-written with Gerry Goffin, recorded by The Monkees
“The breathing of the air, The song of the sweet nightingale, The grove and its beauty In the serene night, With the flame that consumes, and gives no pains. ~ 39”
John of the Cross (1542–1591) said by 1591 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The actualising of God through the medium of the love song remains my prime motivation as an artist.”
Nick Cave (born 1957) first seen 1998 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Given during a lecture at the Vienna Poetry Festival (1998)
“The line "because you're mine, I walk the line." It kept coming to me, you know? But I was — I was … young and not been married too long. Yes, it kept coming to me. Because you're mine, I walk the line. And then the words just naturally flowed. It was an easy song to write.”
Johnny Cash (1932–2003) said by 2003 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you buy a song file what you are buying is not a stamped product, but permission. Permission to copy a track from a sanctioned vendor. But it is just as easy if not easier from people to copy from one another. Who needs a middle man unless they offer an added value and do it at a motivating price point?”
Richard Menta first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Source Record Industry Digital Growth Doomed by Mechanical Rates - 10/05/2008
“Mine to the core of the heart, my beauty! Mine, all mine, and for love, not duty: Love given willingly, full and free, Love for love's sake — as mine to thee. Duty's a slave that keeps the keys, But Love, the master, goes in and out Of his goodly chambers with song and shout, Just as he please — just as he please.”
Dinah Craik (1826–1887) said by 1887 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One good song with a message can bring a point more deeply to more people than a thousand rallies.”
Phil Ochs (1940–1976) first seen 1962 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement in Broadside magazine (1962), quoted in Songs of the Vietnam Conflict (2001) by James E. Perone, p. 19
“This is a song inspired by the work of Phil Collins; the nasty, whining little git. Ch. 36, 1:18:46”
Bill Bailey (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“(Commenting on band The Killers' lyrics from the song 'All These Things I've Done') Deep down, it really is just a meaningless lyric, isn't it? [Sings] "I got soul, but I'm not a soldier". I mean, you may as well be saying "I got ham, but I'm not a hamster”
Bill Bailey (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“(Quoting his three year old son on a James Blunt song) "Daddy, turn it off, it's spoiling my brain”
Bill Bailey (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“(Song for Prince Charles, performed with Robin Williams on We Are Most Amused (2008))”
Bill Bailey (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To many of us, this sudden silencing of the song of birds, this obliteration of the color and beauty and interest of bird life, is sufficient cause for sharp regret. To those who have never known such rewarding enjoyment of nature, there should yet remain a nagging and insistent question: If this "rain of death" has produced so disastrous an effect on birds, what of other lives, including our own?”
Rachel Carson (1907–1964) first seen 1959 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Washington Post, April 10, 1959 (In Rachel Carson: Silent Spring & Other Writings on the Environment)
“Over increasingly large areas of the United States, spring now comes unheralded by the return of the birds, and the early mornings are strangely silent where once they were filled with the beauty of bird song.”
Rachel Carson (1907–1964) said by 1964 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For a while I was most well known for that [the Janis Joplin album cover], and for “Keep on Truckin’.” That was a drawing that came out of LSD trips, and the words came from a Blind Boy Fuller song from 1935. I drew it in my sketchbook and then for Zap. It sort of caught the popular imagination. It became a horrible popular thing.”
Robert Crumb (born 1943) first seen 2010 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: R. Crumb, The Art of Comics No. 1", The Paris Review, Summer 2010, No. 193.
“A clouded dream on an earthly night Hangs upon the crescent moon A voiceless song in an ageless light Sings at the coming dawn Birds in flight are calling there Where the heart moves the stones It's there that my heart is calling All for the love of you”
Loreena McKennitt (born 1957) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Are you still afraid?” I asked her. “No,” she said, “I am thankful. The world has been threatened too long by the extraordinary, the supernatural and the monstrous. I shall be happy enough to smell the pines and hear the song of the thrush. And to be with you, Captain von Bek.” “The world is still threatened,” I said to her, “but perhaps not by Lucifer. I held her hand tightly.”
Michael Moorcock (born 1939) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Is this some kind of fucking radio promotion? What the fuck is this? Let me just say that if whatever said radio station tries to blacklist us for my comments about their balloons, I would like them to know I want a written apology tomorrow for interrupting my song.”
Jack White (born 1975) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Chonin, Neva (2005). "White Stripes huge but not bloated" SFGate.com (accessed June 19, 2007)
“It'll sometimes hit me in the middle of a song, like, who do I think I am standing up here...playing.”
Jack White (born 1975) first seen 2012 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Marc Maron (June 8, 2012). "Jack White". WTF With Marc Maron. Season 2. Episode 289. 21:48 minutes in.
“The people that you grew up and braved the trials of high school with will always hold a special place. Through all the BS of high school you hope that your friends had the time of their life, and that's what the song is talking about”
Billie Joe Armstrong (born 1972) first seen 2012 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted CBS Local . "Top 10 Prom Songs". CBS. (April 30, 2012)
“Brain damage ever since the day I was born Drugs is what they used to say I was on They say I never knew which way I was goin' But everywhere I go they keep playin' my song”
“My song can make you cry, take you by surprise At the same time, can make your dry your eyes with the same rhyme See what you're seeing is a genius at work Which to me isn't work, so it's easy to misinterpret it at first”
“Peace Train" is a song I wrote, the message of which continues to breeze thunderously through the hearts of millions. There is a powerful need for people to feel that gust of hope rise up again. As a member of humanity and as a Muslim, this is my contribution to the call for a peaceful solution.”
Cat Stevens (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Underneath her kiss I was so unguarded Every bottle’s empty now and all those dreams are gone Ah, but the song carries on … so holy”
Cat Stevens (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“All those days are frozen now and all those scars are gone Ah, but the song carries on … so holy”
Cat Stevens (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In heaven, all ordinary thought is higher and more melodious than Milton's song. Then, would he add another verse to any strain that he had left unfinished here?”
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) said by 1864 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This is old song That will not declare itself.”
Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) said by 1955 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What is beyond the cathedral, outside, Balances with nuptial song. So it is to sit and to balance things To and to and to the point of still, To say of one mask it is like, To say of another it is like, To know that the balance does not quite rest, That the mask is strange, however like.”
Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) said by 1955 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It’s hard to perfect a happy song. Pharrell managed it. Stevie Wonder managed it. Bill Withers managed it. I haven’t managed it yet.”
Chris Martin (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We did a song for Johnny Cash, we recorded it with Rick Rubin and everything and all that was missing was his vocals. He was going to fly out to LA the week after he died. It’s really sad. 2003 source source”
Chris Martin (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He (David Bowie) said, 'I'm really sorry, but it's not your best (song).' He was very kind about it. I was like, 'You know what? You're probably right'. It might have been written by sleeping pills so I wasn't too personally offended. source”
Chris Martin (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I went to an art exhibition recently, and the guy had a quote of mine from that song there — "The only way to change things is to shoot men who arrange things." I wouldn't agree with shooting people at all. I was just anti-love. I feel differently now. But, you know. It's OK. That's how it was then, and it's good.”
Kevin Rowland (born 1953) first seen 2001 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Tangents 2001 interview
“There is no rope can strangle song And not for long death takes his toll. No prison bars can dim the stars Nor quicklime eat the living soul.”
Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918) said by 1918 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The song within your heart could never rise Until love bade it spread its wings and soar.”
Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918) said by 1918 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“David is the song upon God's lips, And Our Lady is the goblet that He sips: And 's the breath of His command, But Saint Michael is the sword in God's right hand. The is fair to see, And may her walls encompass me! But when the Devil comes with the thunder of his might, Saint Michael, show me how to fight!”
Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918) said by 1918 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I think that the idea of straight edge, the song that I wrote, and the way people have related it it, there's some people who have abused it, they've allowed their fundamentalism to interfere with the real message, which in my mind, was that people should be allowed to live their lives the way they want to.”
Ian MacKaye (born 1962) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Mackenzie had never met folk so poor in story and song and legends, and it moved him to a pity that pricked at his eyes. Without that tapestry of colour and words and ritual, what was life but eating and mating, sleeping and moving your bowels? All of them good and necessary, but not enough; and they themselves needed that framework too, to give them meaning.”
S. M. Stirling (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is a blood red circle On the cold dark ground. And the rain is falling down. The church door's thrown open; I can hear the organ's song. But the congregation's gone. My city of ruins. My city of ruins.”
Bruce Springsteen (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A love struck Romeo, sings a street-suss serenade; Laying everybody low, with a love song that he made. Finds a convenient street light, steps out of the shade He says something like, "You and me babe, how about it?”
Mark Knopfler (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Goodbye cold, goodbye rain, Goodbye sorrow, and goodbye shame.I'm headed out west with my headphones on, Boarded a flight with a song in the back of my soul And no one knows I just found out her ghost left town The queen of California is stepping down, down.”
John Mayer (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What song do I hate? I think "Daughters," by John Mayer, would be a good candidate. I don't know why he bugs me so bad.”
Brandon Flowers (born 1981) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Brandon Flowers on what song would be playing if he went to hell. (2005) (Rolling Stone Magazine)
“It's hip to be square. Remember that shitty song by that shitty band 20 motherfuckin' years ago?”
David Cross (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song, A medley of extemporanea, And love is a thing that can never go wrong And I am Marie of Roumania.”
Marie of Edinburgh, Queen of Romania (1875–1938) said by 1938 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Inspiration, move me brightly, light the song with sense and color, hold away despair”
Robert Hunter (1941–2019) said by 2019 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The young are of age when they twitter like the old; they are driven through school to learn the old song, and, when they have this by heart, they are declared of age.”
Max Stirner (1806–1856) said by 1856 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Cambridge 1995, pp. 61-62
“'Course I care. I always care. But there's no point in making a song and dance about it, like that night he stayed here. Know something? There's only one thing that'll bring 'em back, and that's indifference. The one thing you can't fake.'”
Helen Garner (born 1942) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you hear an instrumental song someone is singing over, you know right away it's wrong.”
Joe Satriani (born 1956) first seen 1990 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in BAM Magazine (6 April 1990).
“I am the entertainer, I've come to do my show You've heard my latest record, it's been on the radio It took me years to write it, they were the best years of my life It was a beautiful song but it ran too long If you're gonna have a hit you gotta make it fit So they cut it down to 3:05.”
Billy Joel (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I remember those days hanging out At the village green Engineer boots, leather jackets And tight blue jeans Drop a dime in the box play the Song about New Orleans Cold beer, hot lights My sweet romantic teenage nights.”
Billy Joel (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source