Context

This quote is from the poem "The People Upstairs" by Ogden Nash.

Unless you are a hermit in a hut in the woods, you've definitely had to live with someone at some time in your life. And you've probably experienced some form of roommate problems from your wannabe DJ suitemate blasting Skrillex at 2 A.M.

Ogden Nash throws all your roommate problems into a pithy poem that's both relatable and hilarious. Even though jazz, not EDM, was the party music of choice during Nash's time, he understands that there is a time for partying and a time for meditation.

"The People Upstairs" is a passive aggressive Post-It note to your noisy neighbors with extra rhyming. Loudness has always been a universal human problem even when music was played over a phonograph and not one of the fancy schmancy surround sound systems with epic bass.

Where you've heard it

You've heard this quote when you're having lunch with your friends and they complain about their annoying neighbors or roommates. Hopefully this quote will be never be used in reference to you.

Additional Notable References:

• The People Upstairs is an alternative rock band from Florida that describe themselves as a "cross between Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sublime." Hopefully, they've taken the advice of their namesake poem and not trashed any hotels.
• These comedians have turned neighborly noise into an art form.
• Brad Craft selected this poem as one of the poems to read on his YouTube channel. Your jaw may drop at his library of books in the background.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

This isn't the worst quote to use at a dinner party, because noisy neighbors is an almost universal complaint. But don't whine too much, or you might not get invited back.