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I detest talking about myself. There is a reason why people pick up an instrument and put it between themselves and the rest of the world.
Stephen Stills
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote expresses discomfort with self-disclosure and highlights how music serves as a barrier between the artist and the audience.

Stephen Stills reflects on the discomfort of discussing one's own experiences and emotions in public. He suggests that artists often use their instruments as a shield, creating a space where they can express themselves while maintaining a certain distance from others, allowing them to share their inner thoughts without fully exposing themselves to the world.

Themes

SelfMusicArtExpressionEmotion

In practice

Example use cases

In an interview about your musical journey.

More from Stephen Stills

Language is an inadequate form of communication. If you've picked up an instrument, it's because you don't feel you are communicating sufficiently.
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Speak out. You've got to speak out against the madness
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It's getting to the point where I am no fun anymore, I am sorry. / Sometimes it hurts so badly I must cry out loud, ' I am lonely.' / I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, you make it hard.
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Find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground_x000D_ Mother earth will swallow you_x000D_ Lay your body down.
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