--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Clapton was just picking up ideas. He…" description: "\"Clapton was just picking up ideas. He picked up some of mine like I picked up some from the people before me.\" — J. J. Cale" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/j-j-cale-6694_he_clapton-was-just-picking-up-ideas-he-pic_209118.png" --- # Clapton was just picking up ideas. He picked up some of… ![“Clapton was just picking up ideas. He picked up some of mine like I picked up some from the people before me.” quote by J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/j-j-cale-6694_he_clapton-was-just-picking-up-ideas-he-pic_209118.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/j-j-cale-6694_he_clapton-was-just-picking-up-ideas-he-pic_209118.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/j-j-cale-6694_he_clapton-was-just-picking-up-ideas-he-pic_209118.png) > “Clapton was just picking up ideas. He picked up some of mine like I picked up some from the people before me.” [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists learn by absorbing influences from predecessors and peers, creating a continuous chain of inspiration. **In simple terms:** Artists build on what came before. Key Takeaway Seek inspiration from those before you. Themes creativity influence learning Mood reflective inspired Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - musical collaboration - personal development Key Concepts musical lineage cultural transmission Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance influence with originality? - What sources shape your creative voice? A Different Perspective Original ideas still require personal interpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [When you become sufficiently expert in the state of the art, you stop picking ideas at random. You are thoughtful in how to select…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ng/when-you-become-sufficiently-expert-in-the-state-of-the-art-you-stop/) [Andrew Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ng/) > [When my hair is picked out, my whole aura is picked out, like, 'See this, see me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/when-my-hair-is-picked-out-my-whole-aura-is-picked-out-like-see-this/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [We picked on something people identified with...a decent job at work, a relationship, a boss who needs to be loved and who is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/we-picked-on-something-people-identified-with-a-decent-job-at-work-a/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [When they picked the people for 'Survivor,' they wanted 15 fouled-up people and one normal person. I was the normal person, in my opinion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-boesch/when-they-picked-the-people-for-survivor-they-wanted-15-fouled-up/) [Rudy Boesch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-boesch/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [An actor doesn't have a regular job. He is dependent upon the roles which are given him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/an-actor-doesn-t-have-a-regular-job-he-is-dependent-upon-the-roles/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) Ludwig Erhard > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [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/) > [If you're a top 10 guy you should pay a top 10 guy or even a top 5 guy what he deserves, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aljamain-sterling/if-you-re-a-top-10-guy-you-should-pay-a-top-10-guy-or-even-a-top-5/) [Aljamain Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aljamain-sterling/) > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## More by J. J. Cale > [I just play my guitar and push my songs and I'd like to keep it quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-just-play-my-guitar-and-push-my-songs-and-i-d-like-to-keep-it-quiet/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [Ask any guitar player - it's hard to feed yourself when you're picking for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/ask-any-guitar-player-it-s-hard-to-feed-yourself-when-you-re-picking/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I wanted to be able to play music, and then when I went out in my private life, my personal life, I didn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-wanted-to-be-able-to-play-music-and-then-when-i-went-out-in-my/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I cut all my early records in Nashville, so I guess that makes me country. I call it country pop, but my love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-cut-all-my-early-records-in-nashville-so-i-guess-that-makes-me/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I'm an electronic manipulator. Most people think J.J. Cale, he's organic. There ain't nothing organic about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-m-an-electronic-manipulator-most-people-think-j-j-cale-he-s-organic/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [That's kinda what happened to me: I listened to jazz, country, R&B, rock 'n' roll. And when I sat down to write a song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/that-s-kinda-what-happened-to-me-i-listened-to-jazz-country-r-b-rock/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [If you write songs long enough, you run out of material that's original to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/if-you-write-songs-long-enough-you-run-out-of-material-that-s/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [My performing and my singing leave much to be desired, but having other people record my songs is the most flattering thing that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/my-performing-and-my-singing-leave-much-to-be-desired-but-having/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [There are entertainers and there are musicians, and I never was an entertainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/there-are-entertainers-and-there-are-musicians-and-i-never-was-an/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [What my whole object was is not to really sell records. I was trying to sell songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/what-my-whole-object-was-is-not-to-really-sell-records-i-was-trying/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I'm always doing something that ain't happening, and I'm always happening when there ain't nothing going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-m-always-doing-something-that-ain-t-happening-and-i-m-always/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I sing and play guitar, but songwriting is how I pay my rent. And so I didn't really need a lot of publicity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-sing-and-play-guitar-but-songwriting-is-how-i-pay-my-rent-and-so-i/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [As the years went by and technology came in, I used a lot of technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/as-the-years-went-by-and-technology-came-in-i-used-a-lot-of-technology/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I didn't really get any success till I was 30 years old. I played music when I was young fella, but I didn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-didn-t-really-get-any-success-till-i-was-30-years-old-i-played/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [On the 'Escondido' album, I think it took us a month to make that album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/on-the-escondido-album-i-think-it-took-us-a-month-to-make-that-album/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) [Explore all 98 J. J. Cale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) ## More He quotes > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [If you're a top 10 guy you should pay a top 10 guy or even a top 5 guy what he deserves, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aljamain-sterling/if-you-re-a-top-10-guy-you-should-pay-a-top-10-guy-or-even-a-top-5/) [Aljamain Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aljamain-sterling/) > [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/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) Ludwig Erhard > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > [An actor doesn't have a regular job. He is dependent upon the roles which are given him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/an-actor-doesn-t-have-a-regular-job-he-is-dependent-upon-the-roles/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Notoriously outspoken, his sentences always punctuated with profanities, General George S. Patton was the epitome of what a leader should be like - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/notoriously-outspoken-his-sentences-always-punctuated-with/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Nick Saban's legacy is already cemented. He's won six national championships and seven if you include the one in LSU.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/nick-saban-s-legacy-is-already-cemented-he-s-won-six-national/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [You've got a lot of Tupac clones, but I don't think I'm one of them. I just think I give people a little piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-gibbs/you-ve-got-a-lot-of-tupac-clones-but-i-don-t-think-i-m-one-of-them-i/) [Freddie Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-gibbs/) > [I have great respect for Icardi and what he's done for football and Galatasaray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-osimhen/i-have-great-respect-for-icardi-and-what-he-s-done-for-football-and/) [Victor Osimhen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-osimhen/) Browse all 12,613 He quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Clapton was just picking up ideas. He picked up some of mine like I picked up some from the people before me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. J. 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