--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always thought that whether I'm…" description: "\"I've always thought that whether I'm writing or not, I've gotta pick the best songs, whether or not they're mine. I'm not gonna sing them just because ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/george-strait-3781_always_i-ve-always-thought-that-whether-i-m-wri_2842097.jpg" --- # I've always thought that whether I'm writing or not, I've… ![“I've always thought that whether I'm writing or not, I've gotta pick the best songs, whether or not they're mine. I'm not gonna sing them just because I wrote them. I've gotta find the best songs to make the best record I can.” quote by George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/george-strait-3781_always_i-ve-always-thought-that-whether-i-m-wri_2842097.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/george-strait-3781_always_i-ve-always-thought-that-whether-i-m-wri_2842097.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/george-strait-3781_always_i-ve-always-thought-that-whether-i-m-wri_2842097.jpg) > “I've always thought that whether I'm writing or not, I've gotta pick the best songs, whether or not they're mine. I'm not gonna sing them just because I wrote them. I've gotta find the best songs to make the best record I can.” [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing the best songs, regardless of authorship, creates a stronger record. **In simple terms:** Select top songs, not just yours. Key Takeaway Prioritize quality over ego. Themes artistry selection integrity Mood pragmatic inspirational Type creative professional When to use this quote - album making - songwriting - collaboration Key Concepts music production creative curation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance originality and curation? - What defines a “best” song? A Different Perspective Fans may question authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Best Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-son/) [Best Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-songs/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Gonna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gonna/) [Gotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gotta/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-because/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Mine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mine/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick/) [Pick Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick-best-510228/) [Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Songs Gonna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-gonna-1906188/) [Songs Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-make/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Whether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whether/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote/) ## Related quotes > [“Aren’t all the best songs about a girl? It doesn’t matter if it’s metal, if it’s country, if it’s blues or rock and roll;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/aren-t-all-the-best-songs-about-a-girl-it-doesn-t-matter-if-it-s/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [There's always gonna be guys who are just wonderful singers and probably shouldn't be writing songs. Then there's always gonna be guys who move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/there-s-always-gonna-be-guys-who-are-just-wonderful-singers-and/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [I think the best riffs and the best songs come when you're jamming and having a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ian/i-think-the-best-riffs-and-the-best-songs-come-when-you-re-jamming/) [Scott Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ian/) > [Some of the best songs that I know are the ones I haven't written yet, and it doesn't even matter if I don't ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/some-of-the-best-songs-that-i-know-are-the-ones-i-haven-t-written-yet/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [I write the best songs I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-write-the-best-songs-i-can/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [The best songs I write in 20 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/the-best-songs-i-write-in-20-minutes/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [I think all of the best songs are about heartbreak and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-think-all-of-the-best-songs-are-about-heartbreak-and-love/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [The best songs are the songs you write that you don't know anything about. They're an escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-best-songs-are-the-songs-you-write-that-you-don-t-know-anything/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I always said, if I got a record deal, I'd want to record the best songs I could, whether I wrote them or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-swindell/i-always-said-if-i-got-a-record-deal-i-d-want-to-record-the-best/) [Cole Swindell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-swindell/) > [Because as much as I love figuring out other people's puzzles, and love putting words together in ways that feel good to sing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robbins/because-as-much-as-i-love-figuring-out-other-people-s-puzzles-and/) [J. Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robbins/) > ['Mama I'm Coming Home' is one song that I think is incredible. One of his best songs ever written. Lemmy wrote the lyrics to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/mama-i-m-coming-home-is-one-song-that-i-think-is-incredible-one-of/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [All the best songs are, I think, the easiest write because they just come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/all-the-best-songs-are-i-think-the-easiest-write-because-they-just/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [Some of the best songs I've written, I've written in 10 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/some-of-the-best-songs-i-ve-written-i-ve-written-in-10-minutes/) [Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/) > [Sometimes the song that takes the littlest amount of time are sometimes the best songs you ever do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-mcreynolds/sometimes-the-song-that-takes-the-littlest-amount-of-time-are/) [Jonathan McReynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-mcreynolds/) > [The best songs just come unasked for. You don't have to think about them. Summer is a good time for songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/the-best-songs-just-come-unasked-for-you-don-t-have-to-think-about/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) ## More by George Strait > [I love to fish. You can go hours without anything happening, and all of a sudden a big blue marlin comes into the spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/i-love-to-fish-you-can-go-hours-without-anything-happening-and-all-of/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [If you start out trying to achieve a specific thing - like doing stadium shows or going into the studio and doing an album…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/if-you-start-out-trying-to-achieve-a-specific-thing-like-doing/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [Now we're grown up and she's my wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/now-we-re-grown-up-and-she-s-my-wife/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [I discovered in college that country music could be fun adding some swing to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/i-discovered-in-college-that-country-music-could-be-fun-adding-some/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/amarillo-by-morning-up-from-san-antone/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [On the Richter scale of love and romance, you've hit a twelve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/on-the-richter-scale-of-love-and-romance-you-ve-hit-a-twelve/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [“Life's not the breath you take, but the moments that take your breath away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/life-s-not-the-breath-you-take-but-the-moments-that-take-your-breath/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [Do you love me, do you wanna be my friend?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/do-you-love-me-do-you-wanna-be-my-friend/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [All my Ex's live in Texas, and that's why I hang my hat in Tennessee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/all-my-ex-s-live-in-texas-and-that-s-why-i-hang-my-hat-in-tennessee/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [Twenty years together, she still gets to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/twenty-years-together-she-still-gets-to-me/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [Cause I'm carryin' your love with me From West Virginia down to Tennessee I'll be movin' with the good lord speed, carryin' your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/cause-i-m-carryin-your-love-with-me-from-west-virginia-down-to/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [Across the monkey bars, to the merry-go-round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/across-the-monkey-bars-to-the-merry-go-round/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [I loved making Pure Country. It was a great learning experience for me, seeing another part of the entertainment industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/i-loved-making-pure-country-it-was-a-great-learning-experience-for-me/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [I should have checked the price tag before I gave them my last name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/i-should-have-checked-the-price-tag-before-i-gave-them-my-last-name/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [I'd say three years ago we played in my hometown of San Antonio for 55,000 people at the Alamodome and walking out there with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/i-d-say-three-years-ago-we-played-in-my-hometown-of-san-antonio-for/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) [Explore all 121 George Strait quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always thought that whether I'm writing or not, I've gotta pick the best songs, whether or not they're mine. 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