Tom Glazer Quotes

Powerful Tom Glazer for Daily Growth

About Tom Glazer

Tom Glazer (1928-2017) was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and television producer, best known for his contributions to the world of folk music. Born in New York City on April 6, 1928, he grew up in a musical family that nurtured his love for music from an early age. His father was a violinist with the New York Philharmonic, and his mother, a classical pianist. Glazer attended Dartmouth College but dropped out to pursue his passion for music. He began his career as a songwriter in the late 1940s, writing jingles for commercials and later moving into more serious musical pursuits. In the early 1950s, he co-wrote the hit "Tea for Two" with Jimmy Kennedy. Glazer's career took a significant turn in the 1960s when he became a central figure in the American folk revival. He performed at venues like Carnegie Hall and the Newport Folk Festival, and his music was heavily influenced by the social and political issues of the time. His most famous works from this period include "The Ballad of Hank Johnson" and "Cocaine." In addition to his musical career, Glazer worked as a television producer for shows like "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Tonight Show," and "Hullabaloo." He also appeared in several films, including "A Hard Day's Night" and "That Darn Cat!" Glazer's impact on the music industry was profound. His songs were covered by artists like Peter, Paul and Mary, Judy Collins, and Johnny Cash. His influence can still be felt today, particularly in the folk revival movements that continue to emerge. Tom Glazer passed away on July 13, 2017, but his music and legacy live on.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Laughter is instant love."

Tom Glazer's quote, "Laughter is instant love," suggests that sharing laughter with someone quickly fosters a feeling of affection or bonding. It implies that humor can be a powerful tool for connecting with others, creating a sense of warmth and closeness in an instant. This connection can be stronger than slow-building feelings of love as it transcends language barriers and societal norms, making people feel understood and appreciated. Ultimately, laughter serves as a universal language that speaks to the human spirit, bringing people together.

"Life is short, smile while you still have teeth."

This quote by Tom Glazer underscores the importance of enjoying life's simple pleasures, such as smiling, especially when we can still do so freely and without impediment. It serves as a reminder that life may be fleeting, and we should strive to find happiness in our everyday experiences. The suggestion to smile while you still have teeth might also symbolize the idea of cherishing what we have today, recognizing that things can change over time. In essence, it's a call to live joyfully, seize opportunities for contentment, and appreciate the present moment.

"Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable."

The quote by Tom Glazer illustrates the evolution of love over time, comparing it to a fire. In its early stages, love is passionate, intense, and fiery like a flame, full of excitement and spark. However, as it matures and deepens, love becomes more stable and enduring, likened to a steady coal that burns deeply and unquenchably. This symbolizes the transition from a romantic infatuation towards a long-lasting and mature emotional bond.

"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."

This quote emphasizes the idea that we cannot alter the past, but we have control over our present and future actions. It suggests that instead of regretting or dwelling on past mistakes, we should focus on making positive changes starting from where we are now. The "ending" in this context refers to the outcome of one's life, which can be improved by taking action and making better choices today. Essentially, it's a call to take responsibility for our lives and make the most out of the present moment.

"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder."

This quote suggests that seeking happiness directly can often lead to disappointment or frustration as it may feel out of reach. Instead, by focusing on other aspects of life - personal growth, relationships, experiences, and so forth - we create an environment where happiness naturally comes to us, much like a butterfly landing softly on our shoulder unexpectedly. In essence, the wisdom here is to embrace a balanced approach to life, allowing happiness to emerge organically rather than forcing it or chasing after it directly.

When people ask me what I do, strangers on a plane, perhaps, I tell them that I think. Thinking is excellent exercise, as much as swimming or jogging.

- Tom Glazer

Think, I Think, Plane, Jogging

Participation, I think, or one of the best methods of educating.

- Tom Glazer

Think, Participation, Educating

I was asked by a group to write a song on the theme of brotherhood. This was before women's liberation, when brotherhood meant men and women both, so I wrote the song. Since I had always been very fond of the Passion Chorale, I wrote words to that great piece.

- Tom Glazer

Been, Before, Very, Liberation

I'm afraid I talk a lot, too much, perhaps. I should have been a lawyer or a college professor or a windy politician, though I'm glad I am not any of these.

- Tom Glazer

College, Legal, Been, Windy

I have a great interest in a number of things, perhaps too many. I admire people who seem to concentrate on only one fixed discipline to the exclusion of almost everything else.

- Tom Glazer

Almost Everything, Almost, Fixed

When I became more involved in music, I had to give up some of my writing in the literary sense. However, on occasion, I would write something for my own pleasure or I would write notes and introductory remarks in the songbooks I put together.

- Tom Glazer

Occasion, However, Became, Introductory

I met my wife in Washington, D.C. I was a senior in college. WW II was about to descend upon us. Jobs were starting to open up after a prolonged depression.

- Tom Glazer

Wife, College, Descend, Prolonged

For hundreds of years people have talked about artists having inspiration, but often, some persons would say, write us a symphony or write us a song, on commission. The artists would come up with a masterpiece without waiting to have their muse inspire them.

- Tom Glazer

Waiting, Some, About, Symphony

A characteristic of older folksongs, in most cases, is that we don't know their composers or authors. Older folksongs were written often with no commercial purpose in mind. They were passed down by word of mouth, from generation to generation.

- Tom Glazer

Mind, Generation, Composers, Authors

I wrote the Brotherhood song for no money out of my deep feelings about humanity, and because I was flattered that whatever talents I had, had been recognized.

- Tom Glazer

Deep, Song, Been, Feelings

I published, privately, a collection of my serious poetry I had written over the years. I only published 50 copies, which I gave to friends, in a special deluxe edition. It was ridiculously expensive but I'm glad that I did it.

- Tom Glazer

Had, Edition, Ridiculously, Privately

Music was around in my family in two ways. My mother would occasionally sing to me, but I was mostly stimulated by the classical music my father had left behind. I had an ear for music, I suppose, so that's what began my interest in music.

- Tom Glazer

Behind, Mostly, Stimulated, Classical Music

When I listen to music today, it is about 99 percent classical. I rarely even listen to folk music, the music of my own specialty, because folk music is to me more limited than classical music.

- Tom Glazer

My Own, Limited, Specialty, Classical Music

I obtained a job at the Library of Congress. I loved books, so I felt at home. I was going to end up, I thought, majoring in English and teach at the college level.

- Tom Glazer

College, Thought, Congress, Obtained

I taught myself to drive. I hope that the child in me never dies.

- Tom Glazer

Never, Taught, I Hope That, Dies

My Dad died during the flu epidemic in 1918 when I was 4 years old. He left a lot of classical recordings behind that I began listening to at an early age, so he must have been a music lover.

- Tom Glazer

Behind, Been, Dad, Early Age

With sincere modesty, if there is such a thing, I have never thought of legacy at all. I am always grateful if people like what I have done. A legacy is something no one can forsee.

- Tom Glazer

Grateful, Legacy, Always, Such A Thing

When I am seriously composing, sometimes a phrase will come into my head, a catch phrase. When I was writing pop songs for a few years, as a career, separate from my folksinging career, I used to write songs for pop singers.

- Tom Glazer

Career, Sometimes, Separate, Composing

Things are forgotten and then perhaps picked up again, if we're lucky, it lasts... if not, then it's in the lap of the gods. The important thing was to do some work that I liked and hopefully that some others might also like, whether for a minute, a week, a month, a year.

- Tom Glazer

Lucky, Some, Lasts, Lap

Technically, I've been retired for some time now. All I ever do is occasionally write songs for friends, such as one, for a friend who had just turned 80. I wrote a song for him called, The First 80 Years are The Hardest.

- Tom Glazer

Some, Been, Turned, Occasionally

I ended up performing on a full time basis and I never got to Julliard at all.

- Tom Glazer

Never, Performing, Ended, Full Time

They say poets write mostly for themselves; if anyone else likes it, well and good, if not, it doesn't matter; certainly, not to me.

- Tom Glazer

Say, Certainly, Mostly, Poets

When I was in Philadelphia during the Depression in 1930 or '31, I got a very sad job as a night watchman in a garage. The cars in the garage had been abandoned by their owners, since they had lost their jobs and couldn't keep up the payments.

- Tom Glazer

Been, Very, Payments, Philadelphia

Just this morning, out of a large memory for songs, and having been obsessed by them since childhood, suddenly, at the age of 84, I thought of a song I hadn't thought of in over 50 years. It came into my head unbidden.

- Tom Glazer

Memory, Thought, Been, Suddenly

As I grew up, I was interested in other areas, too, especially literature. It became a major love of mine. Later, it became a difficult choice for me as to whether to major in music or literature. It wasn't until my 30s that I began a profession in music.

- Tom Glazer

Love, Other, Became, Major

Most performers don't admit this, because it sounds negative and performers are not supposed to be negative, but when I was on the road, I was lonely.

- Tom Glazer

Negative, Performers, Most, Sounds

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