Violinist: What’s the use? Nobody’s listening to us anyway.
Wallace Hartley: Well, they don’t listen to us at dinner, either. Come on, let’s play. Keep us warm.
Where does this quote come from? (Source)
This quote comes from the movie ‘Titanic’. The movie came out in 1997 and has since been re-released a few times when new technology would come out (3D, 4K). Titanic (1997) was produced by Paramount Pictures & 20th Century Fox.
- Movie: Titanic (1997)
- Production: Paramount Pictures (& 20th Century Fox)
Why we collected this quote
We had to include this iconic quote from the musicians. It’s a beautiful symbol of dignity and peace in the middle of a disaster.
What does this quote mean? (Meaning & Context)
As the panic on board gets worse, the band continues to play. One musician wonders what the point is if nobody is listening, but the leader, Wallace Hartley, makes this dry and brave joke. They decide to keep playing to stay warm and provide a tiny bit of calm for the people.
Fun facts & Trivia
This is a tribute to the real band led by Wallace Hartley. Survivors reported that the band really did play upbeat ragtime music during the sinking to keep people calm, and none of the eight musicians survived.
