Meaning: This quote by Rick Danko, a talented musician known for his work as a member of The Band, reflects on the bittersweet nature of creating music. In these few words, Danko captures the essence of the musician's relationship with their own creations and the emotional weight that comes with it.

When Danko mentions putting a song on the record or on tape, he is referring to the act of recording and preserving a piece of music for posterity. In the past, musicians would record their songs onto vinyl records or magnetic tapes, which would then be distributed and sold to fans. This act of capturing a song in a fixed, tangible form marks a significant point in the life of a musical creation. It shifts the song from being a transient, live performance to a permanent, reproducible artifact.

Once a song is recorded, Danko suggests that the act of singing it changes. The song becomes separated from the artist's immediate expression and takes on a life of its own. The musician no longer "sings it" in the same way they did before, as the recorded version now stands as the definitive representation of the song. This change in the relationship between the musician and the song can indeed evoke a sense of sadness or nostalgia. The song, once a living, evolving entity in the artist's repertoire, becomes frozen in time, forever tied to the recording.

This sentiment highlights the complex emotions that musicians may experience as they navigate their careers. On one hand, the act of recording a song allows it to reach a wider audience and become immortalized in the annals of music history. On the other hand, it marks a departure from the intimate, spontaneous nature of live performance. The artist's connection to the song undergoes a transformation, and they must come to terms with the fact that the recorded version will outlive their own performances of it.

Danko's words also touch upon the dichotomy between the public and private aspects of a musician's relationship with their work. When a song is recorded and released, it becomes a part of the public domain, accessible to anyone who wishes to listen to it. However, the act of singing a song in private, away from the public eye, holds a different kind of personal significance for the artist. It may serve as a form of introspection, a way to revisit the emotions and experiences that inspired the song in the first place.

In conclusion, Rick Danko's quote encapsulates the complex emotions that musicians experience when they commit their songs to record. It speaks to the dual nature of music as a public art form and a deeply personal form of expression. The act of recording a song marks a significant transition in the life of a musical creation, and Danko's reflection on this process offers a poignant insight into the inner world of a musician.