--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm always writing music. I sort of do it…" description: "\"I'm always writing music. I sort of do it obsessively, for good or for bad. It's good that it keeps me going, but it's bad because it really is sort of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/hamilton-leithauser-23061_music_i-m-always-writing-music-i-sort-of-do-it_2553989.jpg" --- # I'm always writing music. I sort of do it obsessively, for… ![“I'm always writing music. I sort of do it obsessively, for good or for bad. It's good that it keeps me going, but it's bad because it really is sort of like an obsession where you can't stop sometimes and it'll keep you up at night and ruin your weekend.” quote by Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/hamilton-leithauser-23061_music_i-m-always-writing-music-i-sort-of-do-it_2553989.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/hamilton-leithauser-23061_music_i-m-always-writing-music-i-sort-of-do-it_2553989.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/hamilton-leithauser-23061_music_i-m-always-writing-music-i-sort-of-do-it_2553989.jpg) > “I'm always writing music. I sort of do it obsessively, for good or for bad. It's good that it keeps me going, but it's bad because it really is sort of like an obsession where you can't stop sometimes and it'll keep you up at night and ruin your weekend.” [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work becomes an obsessive drive, both motivating and exhausting the creator. **In simple terms:** Obsessive creativity fuels and drains. Key Takeaway Balance passion with rest. Themes creativity obsession wellbeing Mood introspective conflicted Type personal musical When to use this quote - songwriting - night work - weekend plans Key Concepts addiction flow state Questions to Reflect On - What limits do you set on creative work? - How to recognize healthy vs unhealthy drive? A Different Perspective Obsessions can harm mental health and relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Weekend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weekend/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-music/) ## Related quotes > [Killing prostitutes had become an obsession with me. I could not stop myself. It was like a drug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sutcliffe/killing-prostitutes-had-become-an-obsession-with-me-i-could-not-stop/) Peter Sutcliffe > [“At some point, it's time to stop fighting with death, my thighs and the way things are. And to realize that emotional eating in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/at-some-point-it-s-time-to-stop-fighting-with-death-my-thighs-and-the/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I have spent the last five months obsessively working on Outlaw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/i-have-spent-the-last-five-months-obsessively-working-on-outlaw/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [I was writing music when we finished the last Walkmen record, Heaven, and a few of these songs may have even been started before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/i-was-writing-music-when-we-finished-the-last-walkmen-record-heaven/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [This obsession with dignity can ruin your life if you let it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ann-shaffer/this-obsession-with-dignity-can-ruin-your-life-if-you-let-it/) [Mary Ann Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ann-shaffer/) > [When I'm working, I'm obsessively working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/when-i-m-working-i-m-obsessively-working/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [If India hadn't become a troubled space for me, somehow I wouldn't have any reason to write about it. So the fact that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-mahajan/if-india-hadn-t-become-a-troubled-space-for-me-somehow-i-wouldn-t/) [Karan Mahajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-mahajan/) > [“People, at least a few like me, have this weird tendency of running away from things when they are their own, and racing after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mita-jain/people-at-least-a-few-like-me-have-this-weird-tendency-of-running/) [Mita Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mita-jain/) > [“Hell, I’d keep her in Bubble Wrap if it weren’t so damn creepy and also inconvenient, considering I had a terrible habit of obsessively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/hell-i-d-keep-her-in-bubble-wrap-if-it-weren-t-so-damn-creepy-and/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“...even though he's supposed to be obsessively in love with me. Not that I want him to be in love with me, obviously. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/even-though-he-s-supposed-to-be-obsessively-in-love-with-me-not-that/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I travel light obsessively. I take hardly any clothes or shoes because I think that all I need is a couple of work outfits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-travel-light-obsessively-i-take-hardly-any-clothes-or-shoes-because/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [“I loved them in the way one loves at any age — if it’s real at all — obsessively, painfully, with wild exaltation, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-loved-them-in-the-way-one-loves-at-any-age-if-it-s-real-at-all/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [I treat myself as one of the sources. And, again, I think that’s accurate. One of the poets I read most frequently is myself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chiasson/i-treat-myself-as-one-of-the-sources-and-again-i-think-that-s/) [Dan Chiasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chiasson/) > [I think that obsessively documenting everything sometimes gives me a reason to go out and experience things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilson/i-think-that-obsessively-documenting-everything-sometimes-gives-me-a/) [John Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilson/) > [Once you start writing something obsessively, it's almost like someone has to rip it from your hands in order for you to put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/once-you-start-writing-something-obsessively-it-s-almost-like-someone/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) ## More by Hamilton Leithauser > [I write songs now I look at my strengths and I start there. In The Walkmen, we'd start with the live stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/i-write-songs-now-i-look-at-my-strengths-and-i-start-there-in-the/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [I was writing music when we finished the last Walkmen record, Heaven, and a few of these songs may have even been started before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/i-was-writing-music-when-we-finished-the-last-walkmen-record-heaven/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [I really don't feel as connected to Heaven as I do to the ones where I was there from start to finish. And on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/i-really-don-t-feel-as-connected-to-heaven-as-i-do-to-the-ones-where/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [When you spend your whole life traveling it does get really tedious and exhausting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/when-you-spend-your-whole-life-traveling-it-does-get-really-tedious/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [When we got to the step when we'd normally start collaborating, we started having these talks about how it was not worth getting together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/when-we-got-to-the-step-when-we-d-normally-start-collaborating-we/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [You feel like half of your life is a vacation when you go to these Barcelona music festivals and have all day to sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/you-feel-like-half-of-your-life-is-a-vacation-when-you-go-to-these/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [You're always trying to find new stuff and new inspiration. If you don't really push and you don't try something that feels exciting, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/you-re-always-trying-to-find-new-stuff-and-new-inspiration-if-you-don/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [The great thing is that when you hire string players you always get really great players. I don't know why that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/the-great-thing-is-that-when-you-hire-string-players-you-always-get/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [Everyone in Seattle is a total pussy when it comes to snow. The whole city shut down, the place looked like an apocalyptic movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/everyone-in-seattle-is-a-total-pussy-when-it-comes-to-snow-the-whole/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [When you're in your twenties you always think that 30 is a long ways off, and maybe you'll have things in line when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-you-always-think-that-30-is-a-long-ways/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [I was staying at my friend's house and he told me about the drug Prednisone. It took me 14 years to discover it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/i-was-staying-at-my-friend-s-house-and-he-told-me-about-the-drug/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [I used to put the vocals on top and piece it together. Now I start with the vocals and the string parts I write;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/i-used-to-put-the-vocals-on-top-and-piece-it-together-now-i-start/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [I'm really not into the idea of just faking songs with a synthesizer. That just isn't the music I'm making at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/i-m-really-not-into-the-idea-of-just-faking-songs-with-a-synthesizer/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [When I got to L.A. I woke up and I was losing my voice because of the dry air. It was like, "Oh my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/when-i-got-to-l-a-i-woke-up-and-i-was-losing-my-voice-because-of-the/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [You look back and see pictures of yourself, or hear an old song, and you know where that came from or why you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/you-look-back-and-see-pictures-of-yourself-or-hear-an-old-song-and/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) [Explore all 26 Hamilton Leithauser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [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'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) Hubert Laws > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [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/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm always writing music. I sort of do it obsessively, for good or for bad. 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