--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to write songs with meaning. I…" description: "\"I want to write songs with meaning. I have high standards for my work.\" — Brett Dennen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/912/brett-dennen-11865_high-standards_i-want-to-write-songs-with-meaning-i-hav_111290.jpg" --- # I want to write songs with meaning. I have high standards… ![“I want to write songs with meaning. I have high standards for my work.” quote by Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/912/brett-dennen-11865_high-standards_i-want-to-write-songs-with-meaning-i-hav_111290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/912/brett-dennen-11865_high-standards_i-want-to-write-songs-with-meaning-i-hav_111290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/912/brett-dennen-11865_high-standards_i-want-to-write-songs-with-meaning-i-hav_111290.jpg) > “I want to write songs with meaning. I have high standards for my work.” [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author as to create songs that carry depth and uphold high personal standards for artistic quality. **In simple terms:** He wants meaningful, high‑quality music. Key Takeaway Quality and purpose matter in art. Themes artistic integrity creativity personal standards Mood reflective aspirational Type creative manifesto artist’s credo When to use this quote - songwriting sessions - album production - performance reviews Key Concepts meaningful expression self‑discipline Practical Applications - Set clear lyrical themes before composing - Use peer feedback to maintain standards Questions to Reflect On - What defines ‘meaning’ in a song? - How can standards be balanced with creative freedom? A Different Perspective High standards can lead to perfectionism, stifling experimentation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [High standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-standards/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [All I want to do is write songs about funny characters I made up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-borland/all-i-want-to-do-is-write-songs-about-funny-characters-i-made-up/) [Wes Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-borland/) > [I try to write songs. At our concerts, we take the cream of the crop from my back catalogue and I don't know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-lightfoot/i-try-to-write-songs-at-our-concerts-we-take-the-cream-of-the-crop/) [Gordon Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-lightfoot/) > [A good song's a good song, and well known songs take on meaning in people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-segall/a-good-song-s-a-good-song-and-well-known-songs-take-on-meaning-in/) [Ty Segall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-segall/) > [I would agree with that. But when I write lyrics, personally I don't care if the person who is listening to it understands what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-marsden/i-would-agree-with-that-but-when-i-write-lyrics-personally-i-don-t/) [David W. Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-marsden/) > [For me, the intent in a song is to sing it. I compose songs, meaning I'm writing words to be set to music; I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-eady/for-me-the-intent-in-a-song-is-to-sing-it-i-compose-songs-meaning-i-m/) [Cornelius Eady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-eady/) > [If melody is going out of our songs, if meaning of lyrics are getting trivialized, if golden voice is missing from our music and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-sanu/if-melody-is-going-out-of-our-songs-if-meaning-of-lyrics-are-getting/) [Kumar Sanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-sanu/) > [If you write great songs with meaning and emotion, they will last for ever because songs are the key to everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/if-you-write-great-songs-with-meaning-and-emotion-they-will-last-for-2/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [If you write great songs with meaning and emotion, they will last for ever because songs are the key to everything. Songs will outlast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/if-you-write-great-songs-with-meaning-and-emotion-they-will-last-for/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [My aim is always catchy songs, or songs with meaning and I want to write music people can relate to, about things anyone could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/my-aim-is-always-catchy-songs-or-songs-with-meaning-and-i-want-to/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [I want to write songs, and I would like to play and sing them. I'm not a politician; I'm not a comedian. I hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-jane-grace/i-want-to-write-songs-and-i-would-like-to-play-and-sing-them-i-m-not/) [Laura Jane Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-jane-grace/) > [What is it that makes you want to write songs? In a way you want to stretch yourself into other people’s hearts. You want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/what-is-it-that-makes-you-want-to-write-songs-in-a-way-you-want-to/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I love writing songs, but I don't want to write the songs everyone else is asking me to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-perry/i-love-writing-songs-but-i-don-t-want-to-write-the-songs-everyone/) [Linda Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-perry/) > [I feel like I want to write some songs and I don't know how to go about doing it. Usually it's the lyrics that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/i-feel-like-i-want-to-write-some-songs-and-i-don-t-know-how-to-go/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [The last thing you want to do is write songs about being in a band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/the-last-thing-you-want-to-do-is-write-songs-about-being-in-a-band/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I don't know what makes a guy want to write songs and sing, but if you've got a message, you want to get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ledoux/i-don-t-know-what-makes-a-guy-want-to-write-songs-and-sing-but-if-you/) [Chris LeDoux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ledoux/) ## More by Brett Dennen > [Things aren't always as they appear. I've been believing things to be a certain way because I want them to be that way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve-been-believing-things-to-be/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [What I strive to do with songwriting is be really honest, authentic and try to be open and share that with people. I choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/what-i-strive-to-do-with-songwriting-is-be-really-honest-authentic/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [When you get to say something in a song you're not directing it necessarily at one person. When it's in a song it's easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/when-you-get-to-say-something-in-a-song-you-re-not-directing-it/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Paul Simon is my absolute hero. He's one of a kind. He wrote his own ticket in life by being himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/paul-simon-is-my-absolute-hero-he-s-one-of-a-kind-he-wrote-his-own/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I sing the best when I'm really in my voice. It's kind of like I'm meditating but I sort of imagine my voice as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-sing-the-best-when-i-m-really-in-my-voice-it-s-kind-of-like-i-m/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [“The wind blows wild and i may move, politicians lie and i am not fooled you don't need a razor or a three piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/the-wind-blows-wild-and-i-may-move-politicians-lie-and-i-am-not/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I know musicians who think that drumming and guitaring can be very meditative, but singing is different because when you think about things, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-know-musicians-who-think-that-drumming-and-guitaring-can-be-very/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Nothing has happened too fast, nothing has happened too slow. It has been a mellow rise, and I'm thankful for that. I haven't lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/nothing-has-happened-too-fast-nothing-has-happened-too-slow-it-has/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Songs don't really feel like me unless I somehow shed a little secret or open myself somehow or be vulnerable. When I'm singing these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/songs-don-t-really-feel-like-me-unless-i-somehow-shed-a-little-secret/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Blessed is this life and I'm going to celebrate being alive!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/blessed-is-this-life-and-i-m-going-to-celebrate-being-alive/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I love being creative, and for me it doesn't matter what it is - whether it's art or music or just daydreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-love-being-creative-and-for-me-it-doesn-t-matter-what-it-is-whether/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I can't really write unless I'm full of inspiration. And even then I can't write unless I have some alone time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-can-t-really-write-unless-i-m-full-of-inspiration-and-even-then-i/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [If I hear a really good song it's like, oh man, I want to write a song that good. But the urge to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/if-i-hear-a-really-good-song-it-s-like-oh-man-i-want-to-write-a-song/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Everyone wants to know what kind of music their favorite artist listens to. It feels good to. I don't try to dwell on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/everyone-wants-to-know-what-kind-of-music-their-favorite-artist/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [A sunny, happy day is beautiful, but when it's moody, and storm is coming, there's an energy in the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/a-sunny-happy-day-is-beautiful-but-when-it-s-moody-and-storm-is/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) [Explore all 57 Brett Dennen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) ## More High standards quotes > [We can't win the struggle for high standards if we just talk a good game . . . we've got to play a good game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/we-can-t-win-the-struggle-for-high-standards-if-we-just-talk-a-good/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Because of my tremendous respect for Bob Barker and for the show's high standards of professionalism I consider this a tremendous honor that few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-west/because-of-my-tremendous-respect-for-bob-barker-and-for-the-show-s/) [Randy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-west/) > [Being authentic can be a good thing in that often people who are fixated on that are also fixated on having very high standards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-meyer/being-authentic-can-be-a-good-thing-in-that-often-people-who-are/) [Edgar Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-meyer/) > [If you can't be honest or don't have integrity, then you won't have a high standards without good discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/if-you-can-t-be-honest-or-don-t-have-integrity-then-you-won-t-have-a/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) > [Please. She sighed. 'Can't a girl have high standards? I don't want an ordinary boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/please-she-sighed-can-t-a-girl-have-high-standards-i-don-t-want-an/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Keep your heels high and your standards higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marylan-menroe/keep-your-heels-high-and-your-standards-higher/) Marylan Menroe > [Whereas religions may serve a benign purpose by letting many people feel comfortable with the level of morality they themselves can attain, no religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/whereas-religions-may-serve-a-benign-purpose-by-letting-many-people/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [People can live up to high standards, but they can't live up to perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/people-can-live-up-to-high-standards-but-they-can-t-live-up-to/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“Of all the crap, crap, crappy nights I've ever had in the whole of my crap life. On a scale of one to 10,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/of-all-the-crap-crap-crappy-nights-i-ve-ever-had-in-the-whole-of-my/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [Those things that are basically foundational - hard work, high standards, playing for your teammates, putting the team first - those things are ingrained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-flores/those-things-that-are-basically-foundational-hard-work-high-standards/) [Brian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-flores/) > [You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/you-have-competition-every-day-because-you-set-such-high-standards/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Ueli Steck, I'm absolutely certain, had a very strong inner drive to keep pushing. He set very high standards for himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/ueli-steck-i-m-absolutely-certain-had-a-very-strong-inner-drive-to/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [When you lose for the All Blacks it's not a nice feeling. Expectations on us are pretty high. We have high standards and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beauden-barrett/when-you-lose-for-the-all-blacks-it-s-not-a-nice-feeling-expectations/) [Beauden Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beauden-barrett/) > [Having high standards when it comes to choosing a boyfriend/girlfriend doesn't mean that you're picky. It means that you know what you deserve and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-high-standards-when-it-comes-to-choosing-a-boyfriend/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man of true honor protects the unwritten word which binds his conscience more scrupulously, if possible, than he does the bond a breach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/a-man-of-true-honor-protects-the-unwritten-word-which-binds-his/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) [Browse all 273 High standards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-standards/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I want to write songs with meaning. 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