Famous quotes
Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,269 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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“I was so, so lost and unhappy. If you listen to the songs on the first album, you can hear it. They’re really sad songs and they come from a lonely place. The relationship broke up, and I went into free fall. I saw drugs as a way of avoiding…the darkness.”
Pete Doherty (born 1979) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Sunday Times, 14 May 2006
“Turn them on, turn them on, Turn on those sad songs. When all hope is gone, Why don't you tune in and turn them on?They reach into your room, Just feel their gentle touch. When all hope is gone, Sad songs say so much.”
Elton John (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[On the lyrics of his songs] They meant a lot to my generation. And it's nice to know you've written songs that mean something to someone rather than some trivial pop dirge. I'm not thriving off a career slagging off the Queen. I think I have something valid to say. My words are my bullets. I like to brag that somehow I got it right.”
John Lydon (born 1956) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interview: Seven Magazine in The Telegraph (London, 6 January 2008)
“Most of my songs are about ladies. This one's about ladies metaphorically. There are some of my songs that are about the power of lightning.”
Ryan Adams (born 1974) first seen 2012 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Songwriters' Circle, 2012
“My songs examine and explore little specific emotions or situations or stories... They're kitchen table songs, like a conversation between me and one other person. It's almost like an alien has been sent to get emotional samples from human beings and put it all together on a record.”
KT Tunstall (born 1975) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Sweet hymns shall be my chant and woven songs, For Thou art all for which my spirit longs-- To be within the shadow of Thy hand And all Thy mystery to understand. The while Thy glory is upon my tongue, My inmost heart with love of thee is wrung, So though Thy mighty marvels I proclaim, 'Tis songs of love wherewith I greet Thy name.”
Yehuda he-Hasid (1150–1217) said by 1217 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My songs were once of the sunrise: They shouted it over the bar; First-footing the dawns, they flourished, And flamed with the morning star.My songs are now of the sunset: Their brows are touched with light, But their feet are lost in the shadows And wet with the dews of night.”
William Ernest Henley (1849–1903) said by 1903 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Be serious. Folk songs are serious. That's what Pete Seeger told me. "Arlo, I only wanna tell you one thing. Folk songs are serious." And I said "Right.”
Arlo Guthrie (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Roger: It’s totally cool you know. We go out there and put our best foot forward and we play songs we’ve played before, and that feels like we know what’s going to happen. The crowd is going to react to it or they’re not going to react to it. If we went out there and played all new songs it would be lame.”
Roger Manganelli (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Roger: It’s exciting to play new songs live, we’ve been playing “Summon Monsters” and that’s on the new record it’s fast and got some fun fast quick bass licks that are fun to play so that’s a fun one to play live. Been getting off on that lately, and I think “Conviction Notice” is super solid live and the horn line is great. It’s fun to play new songs.”
Roger Manganelli (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Roger: We’re playing like three songs and the old stuff that everyone wants to hear too. We can’t play just all brand new songs you got to mix it up a little.”
Roger Manganelli (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What few songs I wrote during my brief career, there ain’t a genre that somebody didn’t record them in. I’m not a virtuoso, but I was able to write songs that people could identify with. I don’t think I’ve done bad for a guy from Slab Fork, West Virginia.”
Bill Withers (1938–2020) said by 2020 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The people are so friendly and I feel honored that they know my songs. They sang my songs and I sang along.”
Mercy Chinwo (born 1990) first seen 2026 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Mercy Chinwo visits President Simons,August 12 2026
“I'm glad I can be comfortable as an African and singing my YouTube language when I drop songs, I drop beat songs.”
“The old woman sang of a time gone ahead, and of those already walking ahead of her on the pathways. Her eyes were reddened as though they bled. And her songs, like the pathways, were interweavings of times and places and of all that breathed between earth and sky. And the pathways and the songs went into a time beyond the thumbing down of the eyelids. (The Stories, chapter 28 p180)”
Patricia Grace (born 1937) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Well," I said, "I'm sorry if cheerfulness is so impracticable. It would be new, at any rate, and novelty is said to be a great thing." "Not in songs," replied Alf. "They don't want anything new in songs except the tune. They've all got to be about the same things for ever and ever.”
E. V. Lucas (1868–1938) said by 1938 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have a collection of songs in the final touches stage. Their number has reached more than 8 songs. I am confused about whether to release a single or an album of my usual mix”
Samira Said (born 1958) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The comparison will be inevitable especially with the dancehall element in the two songs. But I recorded Down Down early January before Rihanna's Work which dropped in February. Also, almost all my songs have a dancehall fusion much as the R'n'B comes out as predominant" clarified Rita.”
“The radio started playing songs we sang for plays, and somehow people kept requesting them. When CBS started Enkuka, we were curated as performers; generally, one thing led to the other, and people started asking for more songs.”
Mariam Ndagire (born 1971) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It was probably in March 2016, as crazy as it sounds. I was in Leicester and I really thought that nobody knew my songs there. I went back to back and performed six or seven songs – people were singing along all the way through. I was blown away.”
“Long story short, my biggest songs to date are all singing songs. And the people who were saying that I was bad were just projecting their inner fears of trying something that they wanted to try, but not being able to. And now I’m better at singing and they’re probably not better at whatever they wanted to do. – Tyler, the Creator”
Tyler, the Creator (born 1991) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Interviewer: So the car is a kind of womb from which you give birth to your songs? Gaetano: Yes, I used to write them on foot, now I write them in the car... They are songs for drivers, much richer in fact.”
Rino Gaetano (1950–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ever since I was a child, I sang all the songs by Domenico Modugno and Claudio Villa. My father had bought a radio, and I sang along to all the songs they played. It was a kind of karaoke. When I finished, people outside would applaud.”
Albano Carrisi (born 1943) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I hate covers and the term “cover” because it means remaking songs. It's a concept that will never work because the comparison with the original, rightly considered untouchable, is inevitable, and it's also a bit stupid to make comparisons [...]. I try to discover the core of songs and make them my own with my style.”
Mango (singer) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Since I was 13 years old, I've been writing songs about how I feel and mental health. So many of my songs are genuinely just my diary entries.”
Tate McRae (born 2003) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Sophie Dodd (February 23, 2022). "Tate McRae Is Maybelline New York's Latest Brand Ambassador: 'I Didn't Even Think They Knew Who I Was'". PEOPLE.com.
“I realised that I just wanted to be a f—ing boss. I decided I didn’t have to choose between being an artist and being a songwriter and just started to do both. I felt ready to go and make songs and not feel worried about making a cool record or getting a hit. I just want to make songs that I really like.”
Charli XCX (born 1992) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Dove, Rachel (15 February 2015). "Charli XCX Interview: 'I Realised That I Just Wanted to Be a Fing Boss'". The Daily Telegraph.
“There were no creative blocks. I had like 48 songs. I made a mad amount of songs. There was no block whatsoever.”
“The album," a statement reads, “is centred around the love of God expressed through the sacrifice that was made on Calvary. It’s meant to refocus attention on the cross. It covers songs of gratitude, songs that speak hope to those feeling depressed, rejected and condemned.”
Dr Tumi first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Listen to Dr Tumi’s new single, ‘Jesus You’re My Life’, June 07 2019
“Before the album even starts, I already know what it’s going to be called, how many songs it’s going to have, what the songs are going to be about, and the whole theme of the whole album. That’s how I’ve always been. In my mindset, an album is a movie, so I know the beginning and the end”
Syleena Johnson (born 1976) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I also feel like spending so much time playing drums and really getting into songs that were not my own helped me to gain new perspectives that I could put into these songs.”
Maria Taylor (sportscaster) first seen 2026 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: I Needed to Make Something Beautiful as Things Fell Apart”: Maria Taylor Finds Renewal in the Ruins on ‘Story’s End’;By Aileen Goos on April 1, 2026
“I started to explore writing my own songs. I think at that time, I knew a bunch of chords already. So, I was like, maybe I should try writing my own songs,”
Clara Benin (born 1994) first seen 2026 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Passion, Persistence, and a Promising Era: Clara Benin Reflects on a Decade-Long Career in Music, Lance Joseph Martinez 7 March 2026.
“No matter how long our politicians order people to sing songs of praise, no matter how many fireworks they launch into the heavens, and no matter how many foreign leaders they embrace, they cannot arouse a genuine mood of joy and celebration among the people.”
“And here's to the songs we used to sing; And here's to the times we used to know. It's hard to hold them in our arms again, But hard to let them go.”
Neil Diamond (born 1941) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You don't bring me flowers. You don't sing me love songs. You hardly talk to me anymore. When you come through the door At the end of the day.”
Neil Diamond (born 1941) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“...I want the songs I sing to reflect that [I am a regular 16 year old]. Basically, I'm not Lizzie McGuire anymore.”
Hilary Duff (born 1987) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Duerden, Nick. "The Golden Girl". Blender. October 2004. Retrieved October 25 2006.
“Tonight I'll sing my songs again, I'll play the game and pretend. But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.”
Paul Simon (born 1941) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He's the one Who likes all our pretty songs And he likes to sing along And he likes to shoot his gun But he knows not what it means.”
Kurt Cobain (1967–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is the best of all trades, to make songs, and the second best to sing them.”
Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) first seen 1909 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On Song", On Everything (1909)
“His rhythm is the only one I can sing my songs to.”
Little Richard (1932–2020) said by 2020 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Maybe the songs that we sing are wrong / Maybe the dreams that we dream are gone / So bring it on home and it won't be long / It's gettin' better man!”
Noel Gallagher (born 1967) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“All our communities have to make the effort to reach out to each other rather than waiting passively for gestures that may never be made. We need to write our stories and sing our songs together not necessarily in unison or in tune but in a way that makes space for all of us.”
Joni Madraiwiwi (1957–2016) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Opening address to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference in Nadi, 6 September 2005.
“Freedom to love the law that Moses brought, To sing the songs of David, and to think The thoughts Gabirol to Spinoza taught, Freedom to dig the common earth, to drink The universal air — for this they sought Refuge o'er wave and continent, to link Egypt with Texas in their mystic chain, And truth's perpetual lamp forbid to wane.”
Emma Lazarus (1849–1887) said by 1887 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My dame, sing for this person accurate songs.”
Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) said by 1955 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Vain is the chiming of forgotten bells That the wind sways above a ruined shrine. Vainer his voice in whom no longer dwells Hunger that craves immortal Bread and Wine. Light songs we breathe that perish with our breath Out of our lips that have not kissed the rod. They shall not live who have not tasted death. They only sing who are struck dumb by God.”
Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918) said by 1918 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I want to turn the whole thing upside down. I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found. I’ll share this love I find with everyone. We’ll sing and dance to mother nature’s songs. I don’t want this feeling to go away.”
Jack Johnson (musician) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When I am dead, my dearest, Sing no sad songs for me; Plant thou no roses at my head, Nor shady cypress tree: Be the green grass above me With showers and dewdrops wet; And if thou wilt, remember, And if thou wilt, forget.”
Christina Rossetti (1830–1894) first seen 1862 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Song, st. 1 (1862).
“We can't be The Beatles. I can't shine their shoes. I can't sing as well as Paul or John. I can't write those kind of songs. But they would die in my armour and my eight-inch platform heels, and Paul can't spit fire, so there you have it.”
Gene Simmons (born 1949) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Mojo magazine (December 2009), p. 40.
“I couldn't sing Mama's special songs. I couldn't do them as well. I would rather present a first-rate version of myself than a second-rate version of Mama.”
Liza Minnelli (born 1946) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Liza Minnelli, as quoted in I Remember It Well (1975) by Vincente Minnelli with Hector Arce, p. 395; reprinted in "Judy and Liza, Part 3" by Vincente Minnelli, in The Sydney Herald (August 15, 1975), p. 8
“I can not sing the old songs now! It is not that I deem them low; ’T is that I can’t remember how They go.”
Charles Stuart Calverley (1831–1884) said by 1884 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Changed; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
“Make songs for Death as you would sing to Love — But you will not assuage him. He alone Of all the gods will take no gifts from men.”
Sara Teasdale (1884–1933) said by 1933 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source