--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a kid and writing more…" description: "\"When I was a kid and writing more acoustic songs, I was doing it more for the attention than for the love of the music. I knew I needed to change somet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf7/jack-garratt-8089_change_when-i-was-a-kid-and-writing-more-acoust_2758058.jpg" --- # When I was a kid and writing more acoustic songs, I was… ![“When I was a kid and writing more acoustic songs, I was doing it more for the attention than for the love of the music. I knew I needed to change something because I wasn't having fun and wasn't liking the songs I was writing.” quote by Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf7/jack-garratt-8089_change_when-i-was-a-kid-and-writing-more-acoust_2758058.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf7/jack-garratt-8089_change_when-i-was-a-kid-and-writing-more-acoust_2758058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf7/jack-garratt-8089_change_when-i-was-a-kid-and-writing-more-acoust_2758058.jpg) > “When I was a kid and writing more acoustic songs, I was doing it more for the attention than for the love of the music. I knew I needed to change something because I wasn't having fun and wasn't liking the songs I was writing.” [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author realized they were creating music for external validation, not personal enjoyment, and recognized the need to shift focus to regain passion. **In simple terms:** Creating for applause, not love, leads to unhappiness. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal joy in creation. Themes creativity selfawareness motivation Mood reflective determined Type advice personal growth When to use this quote - songwriting - personal projects - career decisions - mental health - artist development Key Concepts intrinsic motivation authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What drives your creative work? - How can you reconnect with the love of your craft? A Different Perspective Changing mindset may not instantly restore fun; external pressures persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Having fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-fun/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Needed change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-change/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My dad, who plays guitar and piano and was in cover bands, along with my older brother, Matt, taught me guitar and stuff. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/my-dad-who-plays-guitar-and-piano-and-was-in-cover-bands-along-with/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I write almost all my songs on an acoustic guitar, even if they turn into rock songs, hard rock songs, metal songs, heavy metal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-write-almost-all-my-songs-on-an-acoustic-guitar-even-if-they-turn/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [I'm not the kind of writer that can wake up and say, "Okay, I'm gonna write a song today," and have that song be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/i-m-not-the-kind-of-writer-that-can-wake-up-and-say-okay-i-m-gonna/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [I find that I end up liking songs if I really have an idea of something I wat to write about-some problem in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rivers-cuomo/i-find-that-i-end-up-liking-songs-if-i-really-have-an-idea-of/) [Rivers Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rivers-cuomo/) > [There are songs which even if you listen to repeatedly, you don't end up liking them, but there are some songs which have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeeda-sheikh/there-are-songs-which-even-if-you-listen-to-repeatedly-you-don-t-end/) [Sanjeeda Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeeda-sheikh/) > [Music shouldn't be based around money or politics. Music should be a bunch of people that really do great songs together doing them together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/music-shouldn-t-be-based-around-money-or-politics-music-should-be-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm always writing new songs and doing them live, and I may do it for a week or two, and then never do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schneider/i-m-always-writing-new-songs-and-doing-them-live-and-i-may-do-it-for/) [Bob Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schneider/) > [Most filmmakers give me the reference of my own songs; doing the same thing over and over again doesn't push you to do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-janya/most-filmmakers-give-me-the-reference-of-my-own-songs-doing-the-same/) [Arjun Janya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-janya/) > [That's something that I think as a songwriter you have to ask yourself - why you're doing it. The world certainly doesn't need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/that-s-something-that-i-think-as-a-songwriter-you-have-to-ask/) [Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/) > [I went along and basically learned a few of the songs they were doing at the time, which were quite a few of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-deacon/i-went-along-and-basically-learned-a-few-of-the-songs-they-were-doing/) [John Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-deacon/) > [When I started writing songs, I was doing it for myself and a small circle of friends. And gradually, over the years, an audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/when-i-started-writing-songs-i-was-doing-it-for-myself-and-a-small/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I think if you listen to our records, they come at different points in your life. When people say to me that Stars records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/i-think-if-you-listen-to-our-records-they-come-at-different-points-in/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [I love A Day to Remember. They really had that style down of doing heavy songs mixed with pop songs when nobody was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-radke/i-love-a-day-to-remember-they-really-had-that-style-down-of-doing/) [Ronnie Radke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-radke/) > [Anytime you've got artists singing songs, doing grooves that they don't want to do, it's terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-pickett/anytime-you-ve-got-artists-singing-songs-doing-grooves-that-they-don/) [Wilson Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-pickett/) > [I've never felt like I needed to change...I've always thought, 'if you want someone different, pick somebody else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-never-felt-like-i-needed-to-change-i-ve-always-thought-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jack Garratt > [I find it hard to not like music if it has passion behind it and good integrity. Only if it's made for the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/i-find-it-hard-to-not-like-music-if-it-has-passion-behind-it-and-good/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [It's difficult sometimes to go and see a show and enjoy it and not go and see a show and critique it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/it-s-difficult-sometimes-to-go-and-see-a-show-and-enjoy-it-and-not-go/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [I watch cartoons a lot. I'm a big 'Rick and Morty' and 'South Park' fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/i-watch-cartoons-a-lot-i-m-a-big-rick-and-morty-and-south-park-fan/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [Ever since I was a little kid, my ears and my hands would talk to each other very well, so I could pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/ever-since-i-was-a-little-kid-my-ears-and-my-hands-would-talk-to-each/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [People forget that, for example, Adele wasn't always the Adele we know. Sam Smith wasn't always the Sam Smith that we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/people-forget-that-for-example-adele-wasn-t-always-the-adele-we-know/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [My mum would play Stevie Wonder around the house, and I remember just loving the songs and feeling so blown away by how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/my-mum-would-play-stevie-wonder-around-the-house-and-i-remember-just/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [I don't listen to much music on the go because I tend either to be writing my own music or wanting a break from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/i-don-t-listen-to-much-music-on-the-go-because-i-tend-either-to-be/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [The only intention I've ever had creatively, as a musician, is to be as different from myself as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/the-only-intention-i-ve-ever-had-creatively-as-a-musician-is-to-be-as/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [The thing that was most constant when I was growing up was just complete support and adoration from my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/the-thing-that-was-most-constant-when-i-was-growing-up-was-just/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [The reason I'm scared of flying is because I'm not in charge. Being so far out of control terrifies me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/the-reason-i-m-scared-of-flying-is-because-i-m-not-in-charge-being-so/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [Lyrics are really, really hard, I think, or at least they're really hard for me. Some people can channel lyrics faster. I find them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/lyrics-are-really-really-hard-i-think-or-at-least-they-re-really-hard/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [With every milestone that I've come across, there's always been a little note at the bottom that's said, 'Don't worry, there's another milestone coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/with-every-milestone-that-i-ve-come-across-there-s-always-been-a/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [I feel the best way to respect my audience is to not give them what they expect from me... 'cause it's fun that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/i-feel-the-best-way-to-respect-my-audience-is-to-not-give-them-what/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [Performing outside is always kind of strange. Usually, you can't hear something, whether it's your voice or instrument, but it's a fun challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/performing-outside-is-always-kind-of-strange-usually-you-can-t-hear/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [I don't want to write the song that I wrote yesterday, and I don't want to write the song I'm going to write tomorrow;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/i-don-t-want-to-write-the-song-that-i-wrote-yesterday-and-i-don-t/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) [Explore all 84 Jack Garratt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. 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