--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you write songs long enough, you run…" description: "\"If you write songs long enough, you run out of material that's original to yourself.\" — J. J. Cale" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/j-j-cale-6694_enough_if-you-write-songs-long-enough-you-run-o_219650.png" --- # If you write songs long enough, you run out of material… ![“If you write songs long enough, you run out of material that's original to yourself.” quote by J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/j-j-cale-6694_enough_if-you-write-songs-long-enough-you-run-o_219650.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/j-j-cale-6694_enough_if-you-write-songs-long-enough-you-run-o_219650.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/j-j-cale-6694_enough_if-you-write-songs-long-enough-you-run-o_219650.png) > “If you write songs long enough, you run out of material that's original to yourself.” [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. Creative output can become repetitive; originality may dwindle over time. **In simple terms:** Writing may lose originality. Key Takeaway Seek fresh inspiration. Themes creativity originality fatigue Mood introspective inspired Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - songwriting - long‑term projects - creative blocks Key Concepts artistic burnout innovation Questions to Reflect On - What new experiences could spark fresh ideas? - How can collaboration refresh your voice? A Different Perspective Originality can be revived with collaboration or new experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Original](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't write songs for a very long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/i-didn-t-write-songs-for-a-very-long-time/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) > [You never want to have a movie be derivative, because that's the worst if you ask me. I always want to be in original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/you-never-want-to-have-a-movie-be-derivative-because-that-s-the-worst/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [For me it is the direct contact of artist to material which is original, and it is the earth and his contact to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isamu-noguchi/for-me-it-is-the-direct-contact-of-artist-to-material-which-is/) [Isamu Noguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isamu-noguchi/) > [As long as there are annoying people in the world, I won't run out of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/as-long-as-there-are-annoying-people-in-the-world-i-won-t-run-out-of/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Well, I think Hollywood, to be quite honest, I think they've run out of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-epps/well-i-think-hollywood-to-be-quite-honest-i-think-they-ve-run-out-of/) [Mike Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-epps/) > [I run the material, always with two people, sometimes three. We all see things so differently, so to get a couple of people's perspectives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-ellis/i-run-the-material-always-with-two-people-sometimes-three-we-all-see/) [Jay Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-ellis/) > [Songs seem to take me a long time. I don't know why; they're not especially excellent for taking so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/songs-seem-to-take-me-a-long-time-i-don-t-know-why-they-re-not/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [No matter how famous and established they were or however blessed they were with great songs or long careers, if they lived alone, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-brickell/no-matter-how-famous-and-established-they-were-or-however-blessed/) [Edie Brickell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-brickell/) > [ As far as what made it on there \[The Art of Elegance record\], it was tough. It's probably one or two songs too long,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-chenoweth/as-far-as-what-made-it-on-there-the-art-of-elegance-record-it-was/) [Kristin Chenoweth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-chenoweth/) > [I have enjoyed writing songs for so long... it felt like in order to make music that I could relate to myself, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgit-mendler/i-have-enjoyed-writing-songs-for-so-long-it-felt-like-in-order-to/) [Bridgit Mendler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgit-mendler/) > [I didn't really gig my way in. I was just in my bedroom writing songs for so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-lewis/i-didn-t-really-gig-my-way-in-i-was-just-in-my-bedroom-writing-songs/) [Dean Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-lewis/) > [With Joe Walsh, that was kind of random. I'd written 'Hi-Roller Baby' for myself while I was at Island/Def Jam; literally, four years later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/with-joe-walsh-that-was-kind-of-random-i-d-written-hi-roller-baby-for/) LP > [I love hearing the same songs over and over again - as long as queens challenge themselves to come up with new ways of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-velour/i-love-hearing-the-same-songs-over-and-over-again-as-long-as-queens/) [Sasha Velour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-velour/) > [My problem with eighties songs is they take too long to get to the chorus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-luke/my-problem-with-eighties-songs-is-they-take-too-long-to-get-to-the/) [Dr. Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-luke/) > [The fact that my songs take a long time to write is no guarantee of their excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-fact-that-my-songs-take-a-long-time-to-write-is-no-guarantee-of/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) ## 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/) > [Clapton was just picking up ideas. He picked up some of mine like I picked up some from the people before me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/clapton-was-just-picking-up-ideas-he-picked-up-some-of-mine-like-i/) [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 Enough quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [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've been lucky enough to, for the most part, surround myself with a lot of people who are more talented than me and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-for-the-most-part-surround-myself-with-a/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) Rena Kornreich Gelissen > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-ve-been-to-manchester-enough-to-know-it-s-a-real-place-it-s-not/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) Browse all 23,898 Enough quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you write songs long enough, you run out of material that's original to yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. J. 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