---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea that I could write songs that…"
description: "\"The idea that I could write songs that people wanted to hear came from other people who said they liked what I did.\" — Benmont Tench"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/benmont-tench-18025_came_the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-p_318519.jpg"
---

#  The idea that I could write songs that people wanted to…

![“The idea that I could write songs that people wanted to hear came from other people who said they liked what I did.” quote by Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/benmont-tench-18025_came_the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-p_318519.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/benmont-tench-18025_came_the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-p_318519.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/benmont-tench-18025_came_the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-p_318519.jpg)

> “The idea that I could write songs that people wanted to hear came from other people who said they liked what I did.”

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

External validation can spark creative confidence, but true artistry relies on internal drive.

**In simple terms:** Praise can inspire, but inner motivation sustains creation.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate self‑belief beyond applause.

Themes

creativity confidence validation

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- performing
- self‑promotion

Key Concepts

self‑efficacy artist identity

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance external feedback with personal vision?
- What internal cues signal you’re ready to create?

A Different Perspective

Relying solely on others' approval may hinder originality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [“Y'know," I said, "I liked you better when I hated you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tracey/y-know-i-said-i-liked-you-better-when-i-hated-you/)

[Scott Tracey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tracey/)

> [“I didn't want to like him back. I tried to be mean to him." "I thought you were just mean," Reagan said. "I liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-didn-t-want-to-like-him-back-i-tried-to-be-mean-to-him-i-thought/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“I asked her if she liked PJ Harvey and she said that she liked her old stuff mostly and that Uh Huh Her was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rapp/i-asked-her-if-she-liked-pj-harvey-and-she-said-that-she-liked-her/)

[Adam Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rapp/)

> [I've always thought of music in the long term. I've always tried to write songs that people could listen to a couple of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/i-ve-always-thought-of-music-in-the-long-term-i-ve-always-tried-to/)

[Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/)

> [I usually don't write songs by people calling me and saying, 'Write a song about this.' Usually I'm just going with what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-warren/i-usually-don-t-write-songs-by-people-calling-me-and-saying-write-a/)

[Diane Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-warren/)

> [Who decides what is and what isn't punk? I want to write songs that people hear and feel, and I want to be successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-holland/who-decides-what-is-and-what-isn-t-punk-i-want-to-write-songs-that/)

[Dexter Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-holland/)

> [I've noticed that things aren't bad all the time. So I've tried to write songs that people will want to hear when they're getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/i-ve-noticed-that-things-aren-t-bad-all-the-time-so-i-ve-tried-to/)

[Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/)

> [I like to write songs that people can identify with and sing along to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sean/i-like-to-write-songs-that-people-can-identify-with-and-sing-along-to/)

[Jay Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sean/)

> [I write songs for people who drive in cars. I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-write-songs-for-people-who-drive-in-cars-i-really-do/)

[Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/)

> [You just want to pretend what we had was nothing? The first time we said and did all those thing's. Friends you said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haylee/you-just-want-to-pretend-what-we-had-was-nothing-the-first-time-we/)

[Haylee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haylee/)

> [She said she liked the rapper type, no matter if their black or white, And I'm like hmm, it looks like I'm gettin' ass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-webby/she-said-she-liked-the-rapper-type-no-matter-if-their-black-or-white/)

[Chris Webby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-webby/)

> [Just because I said I liked you.. Doesn't mean I want to get into a relationship with you..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-garza/just-because-i-said-i-liked-you-doesn-t-mean-i-want-to-get-into-a/)

Sabrina Garza

> [“What gets me most about these people, Daddy, isn't how ignorant they are, or how much they drink. It's the way they have of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/what-gets-me-most-about-these-people-daddy-isn-t-how-ignorant-they/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [I am my biggest critic. Even in films where people said they liked me, I have disliked myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-akkineni/i-am-my-biggest-critic-even-in-films-where-people-said-they-liked-me/)

[Samantha Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-akkineni/)

> [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/)

[Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/)

## More by Benmont Tench

> [I'm not the best singer, but I like the way I sing my songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-m-not-the-best-singer-but-i-like-the-way-i-sing-my-songs/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I did enjoy Nashville a lot of the time, because I made really good friends who were really good songwriters, and they would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-did-enjoy-nashville-a-lot-of-the-time-because-i-made-really-good/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I think I drift toward sad love songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-think-i-drift-toward-sad-love-songs/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I don't know about five guys against the world. It's more like five guys against these three chords, and we're gonna wrestle 'em down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-don-t-know-about-five-guys-against-the-world-it-s-more-like-five/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [Sometimes you work with somebody you've never heard of because you just feel like working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/sometimes-you-work-with-somebody-you-ve-never-heard-of-because-you/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I've always written songs since I was a kid - always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-ve-always-written-songs-since-i-was-a-kid-always/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [Bob Dylan's not a hype and a haircut: he's the real thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/bob-dylan-s-not-a-hype-and-a-haircut-he-s-the-real-thing/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I'm not an overly skilled piano player or organ player at all, but I think I'm the right piano and organ player for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-m-not-an-overly-skilled-piano-player-or-organ-player-at-all-but-i/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I learned to play piano in a rock n' roll context or band context from country records - you know, Floyd Cramer - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-learned-to-play-piano-in-a-rock-n-roll-context-or-band-context-from/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [Working with Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson takes you up another level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/working-with-waylon-jennings-and-willie-nelson-takes-you-up-another/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I was just writing songs because, if a song shows up, you've gotta write it. I didn't know what to do with them. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-was-just-writing-songs-because-if-a-song-shows-up-you-ve-gotta/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [There was a period when I wrote in Nashville for Maverick and then Warner/Chappell, and it was interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/there-was-a-period-when-i-wrote-in-nashville-for-maverick-and-then/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [Listen to the Beatles' 'Things We Said Today.' Ringo Starr does not play a fill in the entire song. It doesn't need it. 'A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/listen-to-the-beatles-things-we-said-today-ringo-starr-does-not-play/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [We started with Denny Cordell, and he was a great record producer. He knew exactly how to take a band that knew absolutely nothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was-a-great-record-producer-he/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [Besides, I'm fairly incompetent. I can't play that fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/besides-i-m-fairly-incompetent-i-can-t-play-that-fast/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

[Explore all 36 Benmont Tench quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

## More Came quotes

> [After '8 Mile' came out and blew up, the ball has been rolling ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-benson-miller/after-8-mile-came-out-and-blew-up-the-ball-has-been-rolling-ever-since/)

[Omar Benson Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-benson-miller/)

> [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/)

[Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/)

> [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/)

[Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/)

> [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/)

Deke Richards

> [We only call at ducks when their rear ends are towards us. If I'm looking at you and you call my name, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jase-robertson/we-only-call-at-ducks-when-their-rear-ends-are-towards-us-if-i-m/)

[Jase Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jase-robertson/)

> [Yes, I worked in Montreal. I worked there for 20 years... I came back to Beauce in 2006 to represent the Beaucerons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxime-bernier/yes-i-worked-in-montreal-i-worked-there-for-20-years-i-came-back-to/)

[Maxime Bernier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxime-bernier/)

> [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/)

[Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/)

> [As someone who came to New York in the 1970s, I was, like so many of my friends, a certified member of what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/as-someone-who-came-to-new-york-in-the-1970s-i-was-like-so-many-of-my/)

[Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/)

> [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/)

[Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/)

> [“I came back to You because I could not find the kind and decent things I found in You anywhere else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-came-back-to-you-because-i-could-not-find-the-kind-and-decent/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/)

[Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/)

> [When President Obama first came into office in 2009, I spent a fair amount of time in Michigan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-deese/when-president-obama-first-came-into-office-in-2009-i-spent-a-fair/)

[Brian Deese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-deese/)

> [I can't tell you how good it is to go from 'Homeland' to be lucky enough to find 'The Blacklist' at the right time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-klattenhoff/i-can-t-tell-you-how-good-it-is-to-go-from-homeland-to-be-lucky/)

[Diego Klattenhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-klattenhoff/)

> [I had a dream. And it came true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/i-had-a-dream-and-it-came-true/)

[Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/)

> [I don't know how 'X Factor' works. I was only there as a guest judge for a day. But I watched 'The Voice' a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/i-don-t-know-how-x-factor-works-i-was-only-there-as-a-guest-judge-for/)

[Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/)

Browse all 2,787 Came quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The idea that I could write songs that people wanted to hear came from other people who said they liked what I did.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benmont Tench"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-people-wanted-to-hear-came/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Came"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-people-wanted-to-hear-came/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/benmont-tench-18025_came_the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-p_318519.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/benmont-tench-18025_came_the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-p_318519.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/benmont-tench-18025_came_the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-p_318519.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The idea that I could write songs that people wanted to hear came from other people who said they liked what…” — Benmont Tench",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Benmont Tench",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The idea that I could write...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-people-wanted-to-hear-came/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-people-wanted-to-hear-came/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
