--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you write great songs with meaning and…" description: "\"If you write great songs with meaning and emotion, they will last for ever because songs are the key to everything. Songs will outlast the artist and t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/elton-john-849_art_if-you-write-great-songs-with-meaning-an_2293384.jpg" --- # If you write great songs with meaning and emotion, they… ![“If you write great songs with meaning and emotion, they will last for ever because songs are the key to everything. Songs will outlast the artist and they will go on for ever if they are good.” quote by Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/elton-john-849_art_if-you-write-great-songs-with-meaning-an_2293384.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/elton-john-849_art_if-you-write-great-songs-with-meaning-an_2293384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/elton-john-849_art_if-you-write-great-songs-with-meaning-an_2293384.jpg) > “If you write great songs with meaning and emotion, they will last for ever because songs are the key to everything. Songs will outlast the artist and they will go on for ever if they are good.” [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Meaningful music endures beyond its creator, becoming timeless. **In simple terms:** Great songs outlive their makers. Key Takeaway Create lasting, heartfelt art. Themes art music legacy Mood hopeful reflective Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - film scoring - cultural preservation Key Concepts timelessness emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - What message do you want your art to carry? - How can you embed emotion in your work? A Different Perspective Not all songs achieve permanence; quality matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-songs/) [Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key/) [Key Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key-songs-4322462/) [Last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Outlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlast/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Songs Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-meaning-1320989/) [Songs Outlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-outlast-5397488/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-great/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [The kind of vocal exaggeration that I developed was based on what key songs were in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/the-kind-of-vocal-exaggeration-that-i-developed-was-based-on-what-key/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [I have the skills to pay the bills; you know, I can really sing, and write great songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd/i-have-the-skills-to-pay-the-bills-you-know-i-can-really-sing-and/) [Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd/) > [That's just a part of being an artist: you can't write great stuff all the time, because if you did, then you'd be inhuman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/that-s-just-a-part-of-being-an-artist-you-can-t-write-great-stuff-all/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I want to write songs with meaning. I have high standards for my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-want-to-write-songs-with-meaning-i-have-high-standards-for-my-work/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [“love will always outlast fear.” He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/love-will-always-outlast-fear-he/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [Wikipedians believe (and I do, too) that bits, being abstract, will outlast paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/wikipedians-believe-and-i-do-too-that-bits-being-abstract-will/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [An aging writer has the not insignificant satisfaction of a shelf of books behind him that, as they wait for their ideal readers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/an-aging-writer-has-the-not-insignificant-satisfaction-of-a-shelf-of/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I got one named Ashley. Swear she can outlast me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarion/i-got-one-named-ashley-swear-she-can-outlast-me/) [Omarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarion/) > [One of the trademarks of a champion is that he can outlast you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-trademarks-of-a-champion-is-that-he-can-outlast-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Elton John > [For me music is so passionate. I have to give it my all every time I go onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/for-me-music-is-so-passionate-i-have-to-give-it-my-all-every-time-i/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [No tears to damn you when jealousy burns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/no-tears-to-damn-you-when-jealousy-burns/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [And we have come so far like that. I mean, the advances on the medication side have been enormous, and the advances on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/and-we-have-come-so-far-like-that-i-mean-the-advances-on-the/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids, in fact it's cold as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/mars-ain-t-the-kind-of-place-to-raise-your-kids-in-fact-it-s-cold-as/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-the-idea-of-the-teachings-of-jesus-christ-and-the-beautiful/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm not bored with my life. I'm not just making the records and touring, I would find that boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-m-not-bored-with-my-life-i-m-not-just-making-the-records-and/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I love places that have an incredible history. I love the Italian way of life. I love the food. I love the people. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-places-that-have-an-incredible-history-i-love-the-italian-way/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I used to get my money at the end of the week, buy my mum something, or buy a record, and that was it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-used-to-get-my-money-at-the-end-of-the-week-buy-my-mum-something-or/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [We have a society where every hit maker and TV presenter is gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/we-have-a-society-where-every-hit-maker-and-tv-presenter-is-gay/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm very relaxed. I'm very happy with my personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-m-very-relaxed-i-m-very-happy-with-my-personal-life/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [You can beat her, but don't mistreat her. Oh, don't believe that woman please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/you-can-beat-her-but-don-t-mistreat-her-oh-don-t-believe-that-woman/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [The Backstreet Boys can sing their asses off. I'm not so sure about those other boy bands. But Backstreet Boys have my ultimate respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/the-backstreet-boys-can-sing-their-asses-off-i-m-not-so-sure-about/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I grew up at my grandmother's house, and she had a beautiful garden. I used to hate mowing the lawn and weeding, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-grew-up-at-my-grandmother-s-house-and-she-had-a-beautiful-garden-i/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [ He \[Ryan White\] had a kind of angelic aura about him. And his family, too, it's like, they are going through all this suffering,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/he-ryan-white-had-a-kind-of-angelic-aura-about-him-and-his-family-too/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Welcome to the world of bullshit, my dear. You have arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/welcome-to-the-world-of-bullshit-my-dear-you-have-arrived/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) [Explore all 352 Elton John quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you write great songs with meaning and emotion, they will last for ever because songs are the key to everything. 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