When somebody grabs a movement, you’re kind of locked into it. It’s all par for the course.

Meaning of the quote

What the quote means is that when someone takes control or leads a group or activity, you have to follow along with them, even if it's not exactly what you wanted to do. It's just a normal part of being part of a group or movement.

About John Cale

John Cale is a Welsh musician, composer, and record producer who was a founding member of the American rock band the Velvet Underground. He has had a diverse and influential career spanning over six decades, working across various styles including rock, drone, classical, avant-garde, and electronic music.

More about the author

More quotes from John Cale

I want to get lean and mean, keep it minimalist.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

I missed out on my teenage years. I led a sheltered life. I was practicing scales instead of playing football.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

I learn from thinking about the future, what hasn’t been done yet. That’s kind of my constant obsession.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

We’d hold a chord for three hours if we could.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

The avant-garde makes more sense to me.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

In cities like New York and Austin, there’s much more of a social context for music than in other places.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

The value of having a computer, to me, is that it’ll remember everything you do. It’s a databank.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

Even if you’re improvising, the fact that beforehand you know certain things will work helps you make those improvisations successful. It really helps to have a certain amount of knowledge about musical structure.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

I’m content with making records, but I don’t want to be doing the same thing all the time.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

I like what the future holds. I don’t like thinking about the past.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

I never use the word, it’s loaded. What love means to me is need.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

I’m writing a movie about Mozart going to New York in the ’60s. I’ve been reading so many novels.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

Growing up in Wales was a pretty Draconian experience with religion.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

We gave up on the idea of trying to make the record a good representation of the live performance.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

If I’m interested in what I’m doing, other people will be interested in it.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

That’s what my life is, writing songs.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

If you’re all loaded up on love, you haven’t got anywhere else to go.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

All of the sudden the audiences started getting younger and the spread of the attendance was really wide. I think it’s as a result of the records selling more that they started following our careers.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

I’m impatient. I get twitchy. When I get that feeling I just go out and make something happen.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

When somebody grabs a movement, you’re kind of locked into it. It’s all par for the course.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

The only reason we wore sunglasses onstage was because we couldn’t stand the sight of the audience.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

What I enjoy most about being on stage is that the natural instruments give you a greater freedom with texture. When you use natural instruments they have their own resonance.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

Time plays a role in almost every decision. And some decisions define your attitude about time.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer

People sort of know me for that solo piano music I did.

John Cale

Welsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer