It's always about the music, never about anything else.

“It’s always about the music, never about anything else.” So spoke Eddie Van Halen, a master of the guitar whose fingers struck fire from strings and whose heart beat only for sound. In these words lies a truth older than kings and nations: that true art is not about riches, applause, or fleeting glory, but about the sacred essence of the craft itself. Music, in its purest form, is a language of the soul, a bridge between the mortal and the eternal. To place anything above it—fame, fortune, vanity—is to betray its spirit.

The ancients would have said: “The lyre sings not for the crown, but for the gods.” For they knew that music, like poetry and painting, is first an offering, not a possession. Eddie Van Halen’s words remind us that when the artist bends his will to praise or profit, his art grows hollow, but when he bows only to the music itself, then his art becomes immortal. To say it is “always about the music” is to declare allegiance to truth, to passion, to the very flame of inspiration that cannot be bought or sold.

History reveals this lesson in the tale of Ludwig van Beethoven. Deafness overtook him, the cruelest fate for a composer, yet he did not surrender. Though he could not hear the notes, he continued to write them, guided by the fire within. He was not moved by wealth—indeed, he often struggled in poverty—nor by the fickle approval of patrons. It was always about the music. And so, even in silence, he composed symphonies that shook the earth and reached the heavens. His life testifies that when an artist serves the art above all else, even the darkest trials cannot extinguish their creation.

Eddie Van Halen himself embodied this creed. Though surrounded by fame, though revered as one of the greatest guitarists of his age, he often reminded the world that his joy came not from the spotlight but from the sound. His innovations—the two-handed tapping, the searing solos, the unyielding energy—were born not from a desire to impress, but from a relentless love of the instrument. He poured himself into his guitar, and in return, it sang for generations. His words are a call to strip away distraction and return to the heart of creation.

The meaning is clear: to devote oneself to art—or to any craft—is to guard against corruption. The world will tempt you with wealth, with recognition, with false crowns. But these are passing shadows. Music, or whatever your true calling may be, must remain your center. If you lose sight of it, you may gain the world, but you will lose your soul. To remain faithful to the craft itself is to walk the path of authenticity, the only path that leads to true greatness.

The lesson, then, is both simple and profound: whatever your purpose in life, let it always be about the essence, never about the distractions. If you are a teacher, let it be about the teaching, not the titles. If you are a healer, let it be about the healing, not the praise. If you are a builder, let it be about the building, not the wealth it brings. For when you remain true to the center, your work gains a purity that cannot be taken away.

Practical counsel follows: each day, ask yourself—why do I do this? Is it for approval, or is it for the craft itself? Return again and again to the joy of the work, the fire of creation, the purity of purpose. Strip away the noise, and serve only the essence. For in doing so, you will create works that endure, as Van Halen did, as Beethoven did, as every true artist has done since the dawn of time.

So remember this, O children of tomorrow: it is not about the riches, nor the applause, nor the fleeting crowns of men. It is always about the music—about the truth of your calling, the fire in your craft, the song in your soul. Serve that truth faithfully, and your legacy will not fade, but echo through the ages.