--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a lyric journal that I write in a…" description: "\"I have a lyric journal that I write in a lot. When I'm going to play, I just sit down and have my books with me and my notes and tapes and whatever I n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/amy-ray-14697_book_i-have-a-lyric-journal-that-i-write-in-a_2300648.png" --- # I have a lyric journal that I write in a lot. When I'm… ![“I have a lyric journal that I write in a lot. When I'm going to play, I just sit down and have my books with me and my notes and tapes and whatever I need to refer to. I just play and try different things. It's a kind of discipline.” quote by Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/amy-ray-14697_book_i-have-a-lyric-journal-that-i-write-in-a_2300648.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/amy-ray-14697_book_i-have-a-lyric-journal-that-i-write-in-a_2300648.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/amy-ray-14697_book_i-have-a-lyric-journal-that-i-write-in-a_2300648.png) > “I have a lyric journal that I write in a lot. When I'm going to play, I just sit down and have my books with me and my notes and tapes and whatever I need to refer to. I just play and try different things. It's a kind of discipline.” [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative discipline involves preparing tools and notes before improvisation, allowing spontaneous expression within a structured framework. **In simple terms:** Prepare before you play. Key Takeaway Organize your resources before creating. Themes creativity discipline music improvisation Mood motivational reflective Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting sessions - studio recording - live performance - rehearsal - creative blocks Key Concepts artistic process habit formation focus Questions to Reflect On - How much planning is too much? - Can improvisation thrive without preparation? A Different Perspective Too much structure can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-things/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journal/) [Journal Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journal-write-701092/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Lyric Journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyric-journal-5436982/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Notes Tapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes-tapes-5436983/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Tape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tape/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It never failed—I'd buy a new journal, write like a madwoman for ten pages, then lose total interest in the process. Three months later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryjanice-davidson/it-never-failed-i-d-buy-a-new-journal-write-like-a-madwoman-for-ten/) [MaryJanice Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryjanice-davidson/) > [I do have a journal, that I write all my thoughts in every day. So that's kind of something. I also have a burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-cosgrove/i-do-have-a-journal-that-i-write-all-my-thoughts-in-every-day-so-that/) [Miranda Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-cosgrove/) > [I remember telling my creative writing teacher that you never want to have a journal, because if you lose it, then someone's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hedlund/i-remember-telling-my-creative-writing-teacher-that-you-never-want-to/) [Garrett Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hedlund/) > [Keep a gratitude journal. Write down at least three things a day you are either thankful for, made you smile or genuinely inspired you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-holden/keep-a-gratitude-journal-write-down-at-least-three-things-a-day-you/) [Robert Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-holden/) > [“a sort of journal which I can write in whenever I feel inclined. I do not suppose there will be much interest to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/a-sort-of-journal-which-i-can-write-in-whenever-i-feel-inclined-i-do/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [I do keep a tiny little journal in which I write passages that I read and want to hold on to. This practice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-do-keep-a-tiny-little-journal-in-which-i-write-passages-that-i-read/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [When I journal, I write about images that I've seen that I think might make good stories. I write about things that I hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/when-i-journal-i-write-about-images-that-i-ve-seen-that-i-think-might/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [“Always carry with you a pen and a notebook or a journal to write the thoughts that flashes in a moments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-giftyakita/always-carry-with-you-a-pen-and-a-notebook-or-a-journal-to-write-the/) [Lailah GiftyAkita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-giftyakita/) > [“I don't have to do this alone. If I had my gratitude journal on me now, that's what I would write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/i-don-t-have-to-do-this-alone-if-i-had-my-gratitude-journal-on-me-now/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [I listen to a lot of audio books and business-related books. All of the great businessmen have one thing in common: they write down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinder-mahal/i-listen-to-a-lot-of-audio-books-and-business-related-books-all-of/) [Jinder Mahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinder-mahal/) > [The writer who is a mother should, I think, record everything she can: make notes, keep journals, take photographs, use a tape recorder, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-ostriker/the-writer-who-is-a-mother-should-i-think-record-everything-she-can/) [Alicia Ostriker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-ostriker/) > [If you look at history, and if you look at all these different things that have threatened the movie industry - from Betamax tape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dotcom/if-you-look-at-history-and-if-you-look-at-all-these-different-things/) [Kim Dotcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dotcom/) > [The reason we have not gone to newspapers is because its a slow growth industry and I think they are dying. I'm not sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumner-redstone/the-reason-we-have-not-gone-to-newspapers-is-because-its-a-slow/) [Sumner Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumner-redstone/) > [I never thought I'd be on the cover of the 'Atlanta Journal' unless I killed someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-robinson/i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-the-cover-of-the-atlanta-journal-unless-i/) [Chris Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-robinson/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) ## More by Amy Ray > [At some point I was hanging around with the Butchies - a band I ended up playing with a lot - and it just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/at-some-point-i-was-hanging-around-with-the-butchies-a-band-i-ended/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [But the reality is that we are a folk band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/but-the-reality-is-that-we-are-a-folk-band/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [When I do solo stuff, when I do anything involving music, it's very collaborative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/when-i-do-solo-stuff-when-i-do-anything-involving-music-it-s-very/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [I live in the rural area of North Georgia, so for me, those are these best days. It has little to do with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/i-live-in-the-rural-area-of-north-georgia-so-for-me-those-are-these/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [I think art is definitely a great thing, and looked at as a way to open people up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/i-think-art-is-definitely-a-great-thing-and-looked-at-as-a-way-to/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [When people say, 'Nothing's coming to me,' they usually don't like what's coming to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/when-people-say-nothing-s-coming-to-me-they-usually-don-t-like-what-s/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [I sit down and draw from my lyric book. I sit down and start looking through it and see if there is anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/i-sit-down-and-draw-from-my-lyric-book-i-sit-down-and-start-looking/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [It's all right if things don't change today. We're gonna keep doing what we do. The world can either catch up or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/it-s-all-right-if-things-don-t-change-today-we-re-gonna-keep-doing/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [The best days I have are usually days where I'm out in the woods and something happens, like I see an amazing animal like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/the-best-days-i-have-are-usually-days-where-i-m-out-in-the-woods-and/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [I feel like there are a lot of people doing a lot of hard work. I think it's too early to judge, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/i-feel-like-there-are-a-lot-of-people-doing-a-lot-of-hard-work-i/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [Majoring in religion, listening to TV evangelists interpret the scriptures and dictate my offerings-I found my God inside myself-in every moment and piece of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/majoring-in-religion-listening-to-tv-evangelists-interpret-the/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [Yeah, we appreciate our women followng...and I love women. I mean, I just really love women. I love men, too, but you know it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/yeah-we-appreciate-our-women-followng-and-i-love-women-i-mean-i-just/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [Maybe our gender is one thing and our sexuality is another. And that's a cool thing I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/maybe-our-gender-is-one-thing-and-our-sexuality-is-another-and-that-s/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [...and when I am negative, I will be negative only for as long as I have to be, until I can understand it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/and-when-i-am-negative-i-will-be-negative-only-for-as-long-as-i-have/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) > [I mean, I really, really love playing solo. Definitely, it's like a labor of love, it's not a huge career. It's not that successful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ray/i-mean-i-really-really-love-playing-solo-definitely-it-s-like-a-labor/) [Amy Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) [Explore all 45 Amy Ray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ray/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. 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When I'm going to play, I just sit down and have my books with me and my notes and tapes and whatever I need to refer to. I just play and try different things. 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