--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I still maintain the fact that when I…" description: "\"I still maintain the fact that when I write songs, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't think about it pragmatically. I say what's in my brain, and som..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ce/charli-xcx-1863_brain_i-still-maintain-the-fact-that-when-i-wr_2997421.jpg" --- # I still maintain the fact that when I write songs, I don't… ![“I still maintain the fact that when I write songs, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't think about it pragmatically. I say what's in my brain, and sometimes it's great, and sometimes it's terrible.” quote by Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ce/charli-xcx-1863_brain_i-still-maintain-the-fact-that-when-i-wr_2997421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ce/charli-xcx-1863_brain_i-still-maintain-the-fact-that-when-i-wr_2997421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ce/charli-xcx-1863_brain_i-still-maintain-the-fact-that-when-i-wr_2997421.jpg) > “I still maintain the fact that when I write songs, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't think about it pragmatically. I say what's in my brain, and sometimes it's great, and sometimes it's terrible.” [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Admits songwriting is instinctive, not pragmatic, leading to varied quality. **In simple terms:** Songs are written instinctively, not analytically. Key Takeaway Embrace spontaneity while seeking improvement. Themes creativity music process Mood experimental introspective Type artistic personal When to use this quote - studio sessions - live performance - collaborations - creative workshops Key Concepts intuition artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How does intuition shape your art? - What role does critique play in creative work? A Different Perspective Lack of structure can hinder consistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [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 > [“Body: what the hell did she just say? Brain: it's from those books... Body: I can't focus on the pleasure if she keeps thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mclean/body-what-the-hell-did-she-just-say-brain-it-s-from-those-books-body/) [Jay McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mclean/) > [They say the brain never ages its a shame it can't teach the body that trick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/they-say-the-brain-never-ages-its-a-shame-it-can-t-teach-the-body/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [“It would be more accurate to say that we see with our brain rather than with our eyes. However, the more interesting point is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/it-would-be-more-accurate-to-say-that-we-see-with-our-brain-rather/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [“It was a gross, tasteless thing to say – my brain had been burping up such inappropriate thoughts at inopportune moments. Mental gas I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/it-was-a-gross-tasteless-thing-to-say-my-brain-had-been-burping-up/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [“They say the brain can block painful memories, leaving gaps and voids in place of them, but it didn’t work like that for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/they-say-the-brain-can-block-painful-memories-leaving-gaps-and-voids/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) > [“It’s like this: Me: Hey, brain. Let’s think of something cool to say! Brain: UHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Me: Okay, it doesn’t have to be cool. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/it-s-like-this-me-hey-brain-let-s-think-of-something-cool-to-say/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“They say the brain never ages it’s a shame it can't teach the body that trick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/they-say-the-brain-never-ages-it-s-a-shame-it-can-t-teach-the-body/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [“We say “brain fart” when we should really say “cache miss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-christian/we-say-brain-fart-when-we-should-really-say-cache-miss/) [Brian Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-christian/) > [I count myself as not only just an artist, not only as a singer, but a business woman. I write my own songs; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-count-myself-as-not-only-just-an-artist-not-only-as-a-singer-but-a/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [I think sometimes - not always - I write songs that are accessible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-think-sometimes-not-always-i-write-songs-that-are-accessible/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [It was a lot easier to write songs before I had a record deal, because the record labels and the industry doesn't mean to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/it-was-a-lot-easier-to-write-songs-before-i-had-a-record-deal-because/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [Sometimes, but the year I lived in France I started to write songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/sometimes-but-the-year-i-lived-in-france-i-started-to-write-songs/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [I write songs from the heart, and I don't hold back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-write-songs-from-the-heart-and-i-don-t-hold-back/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I don't really write songs anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-don-t-really-write-songs-anymore/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [I wanted to write songs that were as good as the covers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-thorogood/i-wanted-to-write-songs-that-were-as-good-as-the-covers/) [George Thorogood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-thorogood/) ## More by Charli XCX > [The first show I did with Coldplay was really scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/the-first-show-i-did-with-coldplay-was-really-scary/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [Females should stand by each other, especially in an industry which seems to try so hard to pin us up against each other and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/females-should-stand-by-each-other-especially-in-an-industry-which/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [I always think about fashion when it comes to making music and music videos... what the colours will look like, what the material will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-always-think-about-fashion-when-it-comes-to-making-music-and-music/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [Pop music is getting so emo. It's great. Emotional girl for life. I see myself in the centre of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/pop-music-is-getting-so-emo-it-s-great-emotional-girl-for-life-i-see/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [I wrote a song for Icona Pop which boosted my confidence quite a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-wrote-a-song-for-icona-pop-which-boosted-my-confidence-quite-a-lot/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [I just want people to feel the emotion that's in the record. For me it's very raw and beautiful, I guess it's kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-just-want-people-to-feel-the-emotion-that-s-in-the-record-for-me-it/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [When I got signed, I had just turned 16. I felt like I had to continuously have these confrontations with older men who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/when-i-got-signed-i-had-just-turned-16-i-felt-like-i-had-to/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [From the moment I stepped into this industry, I've always had to fight for my ideas and for my voice to be heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/from-the-moment-i-stepped-into-this-industry-i-ve-always-had-to-fight/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [To be honest, for me, my main workout is when I'm on stage. Even though I make pop music, I don't think I perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/to-be-honest-for-me-my-main-workout-is-when-i-m-on-stage-even-though/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [I don't want to be a pop star. I want to be a nursery-rhyme star!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-pop-star-i-want-to-be-a-nursery-rhyme-star/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [I've wanted to write good pop music, beautiful pop music - not just throwaways. I've always wanted to make it sound luscious and beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-ve-wanted-to-write-good-pop-music-beautiful-pop-music-not-just/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [I had this dream to be a rapper when I was younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-had-this-dream-to-be-a-rapper-when-i-was-younger/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [I started writing my own things when I was about 8. I used to try to bully my friends into imitating the Spice Girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-started-writing-my-own-things-when-i-was-about-8-i-used-to-try-to/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [I've always played it my way. I failed media training, for example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-ve-always-played-it-my-way-i-failed-media-training-for-example/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [My one thing is respect. I don't care about anything else. You should respect everyone around you - the people who work for you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/my-one-thing-is-respect-i-don-t-care-about-anything-else-you-should/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) [Explore all 203 Charli XCX quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I still maintain the fact that when I write songs, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't think about it pragmatically. 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