It's a folk singer's job to comfort disturbed people and to disturb comfortable people
Woody GuthrieRead
If you play more than two chords, you're showing off.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Simplicity in music often speaks louder than complexity.
This quote by Woody Guthrie suggests that playing simple music, such as using only a few chords, is often more impactful than showcasing technical skills with complex arrangements. It emphasizes the idea that the essence of music lies in its emotional and communicative power rather than in technical proficiency or showmanship.
Themes
MusicSimplicityChordsExpressionShowoff
In practice
Example use cases
A musician could use this quote when discussing their songwriting approach during an interview.
More from Woody Guthrie
All quotes →A folk song is what's wrong and how to fix it or it could be _x000D_ who's hungry and where their mouth is or _x000D_ who's out of work and where the job is or _x000D_ who's broke and where the money is or _x000D_ who's carrying a gun and where the peace is.
Woody GuthrieRead
The world is filled with people who are no longer needed -- and who try to make slaves of all of us -- and they have their music and we have ours.
Woody GuthrieRead
Nobody living can ever stop me. As I go walking my freedom highway. Nobody living can make me turn back. This land was made for you and me.
Woody GuthrieRead
It's round the world I've traveled; it's round the world I've roamed; but I've yet to see an outlaw drive a family from its home
Woody GuthrieRead
I hate a song that makes you think that you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody. No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim too ugly or too this or too that.
Woody GuthrieRead
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