As a long-time reader of American magazine Esquire, I have always enjoyed the feature “What I’ve learned”. This is an invaluable collection of wisdom from guest columnists on the lessons learned through life.
Here are a dozen gems from musicians Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris and Ray Charles.
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Songs are more powerful than books. – Elvis Costello
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I’ve seen a lot of exotic places in my work and my traveling. But the place I still want to see is the place in somebody’s eyes. You know: Travel less, see more. – Elvis Costello
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We’re all just animals. That’s all we are, and everything else is just an elaborate justification of our instincts. That’s where music comes from. And romantic poetry… – Elvis Costello
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There are about five things to write songs about: I’m leaving you. You’re leaving me. I want you. You don’t want me. I believe in something. Five subjects, and twelve notes. For all that, we musicians do pretty well. – Elvis Costello
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You have to lay yourself on the later to the muse. Because once she stops coming around, you’re really up the creek without a paddle. – Emmylou Harris
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Everybody walking around on this planet has had their heart broken. And if they haven’t experienced tragedy, they’re headed for it. – Emmylou Harris
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You have to learn compassion and forgiveness. But you still have to hold people to a certain standard – and hold yourself to that same standard. – Emmylou Harris
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God is the big question mark. Heaven is the even bigger question mark. Death is just another question mark. – Emmylou Harris
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The only thing I know how to do is make music. – Emmylou Harris
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Music is about the only thing left that people don’t fight over. – Ray Charles
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The piano is the foundation, and that’s it. – Ray Charles
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With singing, the name of the game is to make yourself believable…. You make people feel things, emotions and whatnot. But you got to start with yourself. You got to feel it yourself. If you don’t feel it, how do you expect someone else to? – Ray Charles
