In the past, so many of my records, really, have been sketches for records that never really got made. Robert Wyatt More Quotes by Robert Wyatt More Quotes From Robert Wyatt People are quite shocked when you remind them that Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra never wrote a song that they recorded in their lives, as far as I know. Robert Wyatt frank song people I'm not full of malice, but I do dislike Neil Diamond a lot, and I'm sorry that I've done a Neil Diamond song. Robert Wyatt done sorry song On the whole, I tend not to listen to my peers. Robert Wyatt peers whole I just saw a recent television program about art, and it was saying how from the end of the Second World War, so much of what our culture is comes from not just the United States in general, but New York in particular. In my case, I can't imagine my life without the extraordinary bebop jazz revolution in New York in late '40s and '50s. Robert Wyatt revolution war art The most effective instruments do have a vocal quality. Robert Wyatt vocal instruments quality I find writing songs hard, because it does not come naturally to me. I never set out to be a songwriter or a singer. Robert Wyatt doe writing song The things that I draw on, and the world that I feel part of, aren't particularly youth culture. Robert Wyatt youth culture world The missing links in my life's work, no less! Robert Wyatt links missing People say, oh it's a shame, you're not nostalgic about the '60s. Well actually, it's quite good, when you think of it. Wouldn't it be sad if I was sitting here wishing it back? Robert Wyatt wish people thinking There are singers that I have enjoyed, from Nina Simone and Ray Charles onward. But the music that made music the number one thing for me as a youth was jazz. Robert Wyatt rays music numbers My heroes are people like Picasso and Miro and people who at last really reach something in their old age, which they absolutely couldn't ever have done in their youth. Robert Wyatt firefighter hero people It was physically difficult, adjusting to wheelchair Robert Wyatt relief musician happiness In fact, when the fires of empire get hidden, they still stay burning underneath the moss, seething away. This is true with a lot of the countries with really difficult, impenetrable nationalist movements - countries that once had a big empire, like Turkey, England, or even in Italy, with the fascists in the middle of the last century. People who had empires, unfortunately, want them back eventually, somehow, someway. Robert Wyatt difficult country people Love is blind. My politics has been, too. I think you can fall in love with ideas, and you can fall in love with people. It's a very subjective experience. And I'm loyal to that experience. Robert Wyatt falling-in-love love-is thinking I think the people who did well, or are happy, in a youth industry, they define themselves out of the business after a decade or so. Robert Wyatt business people thinking I don't find the business easy. The moment you start talking about the business, you start sounding like someone in Spinal Tap. Robert Wyatt spinal-tap business talking Drinking was a big help with me making music, because drinking gives you courage. But it also makes you reckless, and that's the trouble. Robert Wyatt drinking helping giving If you've never felt that you quite got a hold of it, you just feel that before you die, you've got to try and get it right once. And hope that the experience you have makes up for the some of the diminishing energy. Robert Wyatt experience energy trying I know people who grow old and bitter. I want to keep making a fresh start. I don't want them to defeat me. That would be suicidal. Robert Wyatt suicidal suicide life People who had empires, unfortunately, want them back eventually, somehow, someway. Robert Wyatt empires want people
