Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American musician John Hartford.
Last updated on April 20, 2025.
John Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country, and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore. His most successful song is "Gentle on My Mind", which won three Grammy Awards and was listed in "BMI's Top 100 Songs of the Century". Hartford performed with a variety of ensembles throughout his career, and is perhaps best known for his solo performances where he would interchange the guitar, banjo, and fiddle from song to song. He also invented his own shuffle tap dance move, and clogged on an amplified piece of plywood while he played and sang.
You read about somebody, and it doesn't really matter whether or not they really exist - the point is that you get into them like real characters.
The best way to express rhythm is music.
The whole universe is based on rhythms. Everything happens in circles, in spirals.
I'm like a child trying to do everything, say everything and be everything all at once.
Time is the most important thing there is. That is the only element that you can't withdraw from the situation and still have the situation exist. Everything depends on time.
After you start learning all about the mechanics of piloting a riverboat, you stop seeing all the pretty sunsets and you start thinking about the weather.
Style is based on limitations.
Just when you think it can't get no better, then it does.
You cannot run a successful retail business from memory.
You read about somebody, and doesn't really matter whether or not they really exist - the point is that you get into them like real characters.
Mike Compton knows more about Bill Monroe style mandolin than the Father of Bluegrass himself.
She dries her eyes and bakes her pies and leaves 'em on the window sill
What's the use in being different when it's being different that's the same.
A banjo will get you through times of no money, but money won't get you through times of no banjo
Sometimes when a new piece of knowledge comes along you suddenly change your priorities and focus on something completely different instead.