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I think I know what it is but don’t ask me to play it.

John Coltrane

There are so many things to be considered in making music. The whole question of life itself… I know that I want to produce beautiful music, music that does things to people that they need.
JOHN COLTRANE

Beautiful Life Music Myself Need People Question
I think the majority of musicians are interested in truth.
JOHN COLTRANE

Interest Musician Thinking Truth
I think I know what it is but don’t ask me to play it.
JOHN COLTRANE

Known Myself Play Thinking
Whatever I’d say would be an understatement. I can only say my life was made much better by knowing him. He was one of the greatest people I’ve ever known, as a man, a friend, and a musician.
JOHN COLTRANE

Better Friendship Greatness Known Life Musician Myself
My music is the spiritual expression of what I am — my faith, my knowledge, my being…When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something really good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hangups…I want to speak to their souls.
JOHN COLTRANE

Beginning Expression Goodness Knowledge Music People Possible Soul Spiritual Talk
I want to be the force which is truly for good.
JOHN COLTRANE

Force Goodness Myself True
You can play a shoestring if you’re sincere.
JOHN COLTRANE

Inspirational Music Passion Sincere Yourself
Considering the great heritage in music that we have – the work of the giants of the past, the present, and the promise of those who are to come – I feel that we have every reason to face the future optimistically.
JOHN COLTRANE

Feeling Future Greatness Heritage Myself Optimist Reason Work
I think music is an instrument. It can create the initial thought patterns that can change the thinking of people.
JOHN COLTRANE

Instrument Music Myself Pattern People Thinking
I’m into scales right now.
JOHN COLTRANE

Music Myself Right Scale
I’d like to point out to people the divine in a musical language that transcends words. I want to speak to their souls.
JOHN COLTRANE

Divine Language Musical Myself People Point Soul Talk
My goal is to live the truly religious life, and express it in my music. If you live it, when you play there’s no problem because the music is part of the whole thing. To be a musician is really something. It goes very, very deep. My music is the spiritual expression of what I am – my faith, my knowledge, my being.
JOHN COLTRANE

Expression Goal Knowledge Life Live Music Myself Religious True
Working with Monk is like falling down a dark elevator shaft.
JOHN COLTRANE

Darkness Elevator Monk Work
All a musician can do is to get closer to the sources of nature, and so feel that he is in communion with the natural laws.
JOHN COLTRANE

Law Music Nature Source
Starting in the middle of a musical sentence and moving in both directions at once.
JOHN COLTRANE

Direction Move Music Start
Sometimes I think I was making music through the wrong end of a magnifying glass.
JOHN COLTRANE

End Music Myself Thinking Time Wrong

I think I know what it is but don’t ask me to play it.

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I think I know what it is but don’t ask me to play it.

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