--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never stopped writing music, I just…" description: "\"I never stopped writing music, I just stopped writing songs. I've been writing music continually ever since the last album of original tunes, \"River Of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/billy-joel-1000_albums_i-never-stopped-writing-music-i-just-sto_2093318.png" --- # I never stopped writing music, I just stopped writing… ![“I never stopped writing music, I just stopped writing songs. I've been writing music continually ever since the last album of original tunes, "River Of Dreams" in '93.” quote by Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/billy-joel-1000_albums_i-never-stopped-writing-music-i-just-sto_2093318.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/billy-joel-1000_albums_i-never-stopped-writing-music-i-just-sto_2093318.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/billy-joel-1000_albums_i-never-stopped-writing-music-i-just-sto_2093318.png) > “I never stopped writing music, I just stopped writing songs. I've been writing music continually ever since the last album of original tunes, "River Of Dreams" in '93.” [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist continues creating music but no longer writes conventional songs, focusing on instrumental expression. **In simple terms:** Stops writing songs, keeps making music. Key Takeaway Explore beyond traditional song structures. Themes creativity evolution music Mood inspired curious Type musical reflective When to use this quote - studio sessions - live improvisation - personal artistic shifts Key Concepts artistic growth genre experimentation Questions to Reflect On - How can instrumental music convey stories? - What drives you to change your creative process? A Different Perspective Fans may miss familiar song format. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Continually Album](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continually-album-4147137/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Continually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-continually-1651430/) [Originals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originals/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Stopped Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stopped-writing/) [Tunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tunes/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-music/) [Writing songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-songs/) ## Related quotes > [I've always had an ear for languages and music so it's something I'm continually working on but it's fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-ve-always-had-an-ear-for-languages-and-music-so-it-s-something-i-m/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [I consider myself to be an inept pianist, a bad singer, and a merely competent songwriter. ... I'm probably writing music now for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-consider-myself-to-be-an-inept-pianist-a-bad-singer-and-a-merely-2/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I stopped writing fiction the moment I started writing songs, and I miss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-shears/i-stopped-writing-fiction-the-moment-i-started-writing-songs-and-i/) [Jake Shears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-shears/) > [In my off-time, I do record. Once in a while, I'll just go into the studio if there's a really good song that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/in-my-off-time-i-do-record-once-in-a-while-i-ll-just-go-into-the/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [With writing music and writing songs and recording music and coming up with stuff, you need to kind of reengage that kind of inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kiwanuka/with-writing-music-and-writing-songs-and-recording-music-and-coming/) [Michael Kiwanuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kiwanuka/) > [I started writing songs for youth theater and stuff, and so it's really writing music for the stage that started me out, but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/i-started-writing-songs-for-youth-theater-and-stuff-and-so-it-s/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [I'm writing for the sake of writing music. Whether it gets heard or not isn't an issue for me. It keeps my own juices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-writing-for-the-sake-of-writing-music-whether-it-gets-heard-or/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I'm probably writing music now for the same reason as I started writing songs when I was 14 - to meet women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-probably-writing-music-now-for-the-same-reason-as-i-started/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [“I'd been writing for as long as I could remember, but once I read Otherworld, I'd stopped writing original stories to focus on fan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-van-diepen/i-d-been-writing-for-as-long-as-i-could-remember-but-once-i-read/) [Allison van Diepen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-van-diepen/) > [People should be stopped from writing poetry. There's far too much of it. And if they're any good, they'll go ahead anyways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/people-should-be-stopped-from-writing-poetry-there-s-far-too-much-of/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [I got so discouraged, I almost stopped writing. It was my 12-year-old son who changed my mind when he said to me, "Mother, you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-got-so-discouraged-i-almost-stopped-writing-it-was-my-12-year-old/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I stopped writing at the age of 18. I had written incessantly before that. I read, of course, because I was in university, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lipton/i-stopped-writing-at-the-age-of-18-i-had-written-incessantly-before/) [James Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lipton/) > [If I stopped writing and being at my piano, I wouldn't know how to live. It's your best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-colter/if-i-stopped-writing-and-being-at-my-piano-i-wouldn-t-know-how-to/) [Jessi Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-colter/) > [Since I stopped writing, I read more than ever. Other people's words, not my own - my words are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/since-i-stopped-writing-i-read-more-than-ever-other-people-s-words/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [“I stopped writing the book that I wanted to write, and wrote the one the book wanted to write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lewis/i-stopped-writing-the-book-that-i-wanted-to-write-and-wrote-the-one/) [Jim Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lewis/) ## More by Billy Joel > [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Only the good die young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/only-the-good-die-young/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [In a way, we are magicians. We are alchemists, sorcerers and wizards. We are a very strange bunch. But there is great fun in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/in-a-way-we-are-magicians-we-are-alchemists-sorcerers-and-wizards-we/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I don't want some pretty face to tell me pretty lies, all I want is someone to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-don-t-want-some-pretty-face-to-tell-me-pretty-lies-all-i-want-is/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I've always said about 50% of what happens at a concert has to do with the audience. If you play for a dead audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-ve-always-said-about-50-of-what-happens-at-a-concert-has-to-do-with/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [She's the quiet type who's into heavy metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/she-s-the-quiet-type-who-s-into-heavy-metal/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Rock and roll just used to be for kicks, now a days it's politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/rock-and-roll-just-used-to-be-for-kicks-now-a-days-it-s-politics/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Don't make music for some vast, unseen audience or market or ratings share or even for something as tangible as money. Though it's crucial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/don-t-make-music-for-some-vast-unseen-audience-or-market-or-ratings/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Usually when I'm writing, I try to write fairly quickly. If a song sits around too long, it starts to take on a stink.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/usually-when-i-m-writing-i-try-to-write-fairly-quickly-if-a-song-sits/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [My daughter sent me on a mission to get as many autographs as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/my-daughter-sent-me-on-a-mission-to-get-as-many-autographs-as-possible/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [ I was listening to stuff and I realized that I've had a lot of different lives. You know the theory \[that says\] every seven… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-was-listening-to-stuff-and-i-realized-that-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If you said good-bye to me tonight, There would still be music left to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-you-said-good-bye-to-me-tonight-there-would-still-be-music-left-to/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If I need a cause for celebration, Or a comfort I can use to ease my mind, I rely on my imagination, And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-i-need-a-cause-for-celebration-or-a-comfort-i-can-use-to-ease-my/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I'm carrying the weight of all the useless junk and modern man accumulates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-carrying-the-weight-of-all-the-useless-junk-and-modern-man/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [What will it take for you to believe in me, the way that I believe in you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/what-will-it-take-for-you-to-believe-in-me-the-way-that-i-believe-in/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) [Explore all 311 Billy Joel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## More Albums quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) [Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never stopped writing music, I just stopped writing songs. 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