When you're writing, you're conjuring. It's a ritual, and you need to be brave and respectful and sometimes get out of the way of whatever it is that you're inviting into the room.
Tom WaitsRead
I used to imagine that making it in music - really making it in music - is if you're an old man going by a schoolyard and you hear children singing your songs, playing jump-rope, or on the swings. That's the ultimate. You're in the culture.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True success in music is when your work becomes a part of everyday life and culture.
In this quote, Tom Waits expresses that real achievement in music goes beyond fame and personal accolades; it lies in the impact one has on the next generation. Hearing children engage with your music in their joyful play symbolizes a connection that transcends time and shows that your art has woven itself into the fabric of society.
Themes
MusicSuccessCultureLegacyImpact
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech at a music awards ceremony to highlight the importance of cultural impact.
More from Tom Waits
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My reality needs imagination like a bulb needs a socket. My imagination needs reality like a blind man needs a cane.
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