What Makes Music?

Song Meaning

The lyrics propose a simple, profound answer to 'What makes music?': anything can, when the listener is in the right state of mind. It’s not about instruments or trained skill, but about an internal disposition. When you're 'happy on the inside' or your 'heart is open wide,' the world transforms. Suddenly, mundane objects like an 'old tin can,' a 'frying pan,' or even a 'rubber band' become musical. This perspective suggests music is a subjective experience, a filter through which we perceive the everyday. The core tension lies between the external world and internal perception. The lyrics repeatedly ask 'What makes music?' and immediately answer 'Anything makes music,' emphasizing that the source isn't external but internal. This is reinforced by the shift from hearing 'everything you hear is music' to 'everything around is music' when the heart is open. The presence of a 'brand new friend' also triggers this musical perception, linking connection and joy to the experience of music. The most striking craft element is the deliberate juxtaposition of ordinary, even unmusical, objects with the concept of music. Listing 'a paper and a comb,' 'a washer and a thumb,' alongside a 'big trombone' highlights how the *intention* and *feeling* behind the sound, rather than the sound itself, define music here. The repetition of 'La la la la... That's music' further underscores this idea, turning simple vocalizations into a declaration of musicality. Ultimately, these lyrics resonate because they democratize music. They suggest that the capacity for musical experience is inherent in everyone, tied to emotional openness and connection. The final lines, 'And music fills the day / Like nothing else on earth can do / When I'm making music with you!' beautifully encapsulate this, framing shared experience and joy as the ultimate source of music.