---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I get even five per cent of my ideas…"
description: "\"If I get even five per cent of my ideas out and documented before I die, I'll be lucky. I'm not in danger of running out of riffs or ideas anytime soon..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/jello-biafra-5188_before-i-die_if-i-get-even-five-per-cent-of-my-ideas_1680951.jpg"
---

#  If I get even five per cent of my ideas out and documented…

![“If I get even five per cent of my ideas out and documented before I die, I'll be lucky. I'm not in danger of running out of riffs or ideas anytime soon. They overwhelm me and it's hard to find time to deal with them.” quote by Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/jello-biafra-5188_before-i-die_if-i-get-even-five-per-cent-of-my-ideas_1680951.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/jello-biafra-5188_before-i-die_if-i-get-even-five-per-cent-of-my-ideas_1680951.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/jello-biafra-5188_before-i-die_if-i-get-even-five-per-cent-of-my-ideas_1680951.jpg)

> “If I get even five per cent of my ideas out and documented before I die, I'll be lucky. I'm not in danger of running out of riffs or ideas anytime soon. They overwhelm me and it's hard to find time to deal with them.”

[Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/)

## 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 is abundant, but documenting ideas is scarce, making the process feel overwhelming and time‑starved.

**In simple terms:** Ideas are plentiful; writing them down is hard.

Key Takeaway

Capture ideas quickly before they slip away.

Themes

creativity productivity overwhelm

Mood

frustrated determined

Type

advice reflective

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- journalism
- project planning
- personal brainstorming

Key Concepts

idea management creative process time scarcity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you streamline idea capture?
- What tools help you prioritize creative thoughts?

A Different Perspective

Even with many ideas, lack of organization can stall progress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Before i die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before-i-die/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

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> [So Bach, Beethoven, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, these are all people who would sort of rearrange or take riffs from people. Same thing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-spooky/so-bach-beethoven-duke-ellington-thelonius-monk-these-are-all-people/)

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> [If I sit down with an electric guitar, what's going to come out are Sabbath/Zeppelin type riffs, but if I'm sitting behind a piano…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zakk-wylde/if-i-sit-down-with-an-electric-guitar-what-s-going-to-come-out-are/)

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> [There's fifty bands doing my riffs for ever and ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-durango/there-s-fifty-bands-doing-my-riffs-for-ever-and-ever/)

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> [The way that we imitate each others' riffs is something that other bands don't do as much. If we're jamming with a jazz band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/the-way-that-we-imitate-each-others-riffs-is-something-that-other/)

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> [There's such a huge difference between a great arrangement of riffs and a song. Sometimes the two can be the same. But the difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/there-s-such-a-huge-difference-between-a-great-arrangement-of-riffs/)

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> [As much as I love heavy riffs, I like The Eagles, Neil Young, Elton John, Crowded House.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zakk-wylde/as-much-as-i-love-heavy-riffs-i-like-the-eagles-neil-young-elton-john/)

[Zakk Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zakk-wylde/)

> [Great melody over great riffs is, to me, the secret of it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/great-melody-over-great-riffs-is-to-me-the-secret-of-it-all/)

[Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/)

> [I would listen to Little Richard and Fats Domino and Chuck Berry, and I would listen to how they played their riffs, and after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-would-listen-to-little-richard-and-fats-domino-and-chuck-berry-and/)

[Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/)

> [Man, don't get me started on Pat Travers. That dude writes killer blues rock and roll riffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimebag-darrell/man-don-t-get-me-started-on-pat-travers-that-dude-writes-killer-blues/)

[Dimebag Darrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimebag-darrell/)

> [Using string bends instead of just playing regular, unbent notes can definitely help give certain riffs a cooler, heavier edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimebag-darrell/using-string-bends-instead-of-just-playing-regular-unbent-notes-can/)

[Dimebag Darrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimebag-darrell/)

> [I don't want to hear from a band that pretty much sounds like another band. Oh I've heared this riff before, or I've heared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-raphael/i-don-t-want-to-hear-from-a-band-that-pretty-much-sounds-like-another/)

[Gordon Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-raphael/)

> [We treated 'Psychosis' like a labor of love from the beginning, from the selection of riffs - I spent like a month just doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cavalera/we-treated-psychosis-like-a-labor-of-love-from-the-beginning-from-the/)

[Max Cavalera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cavalera/)

> [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/)

> [I love AC/ DC and I love Led Zeppelin and I love guitar riffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-campbell/i-love-ac-dc-and-i-love-led-zeppelin-and-i-love-guitar-riffs/)

[Mike Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-campbell/)

## More by Jello Biafra

> [Don't hate the media, become the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/don-t-hate-the-media-become-the-media/)

[Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/)

> [When my sixth grade teacher opened the class with subtle praise for the guardsmen shooting four people to death at Kent State, I'd given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/when-my-sixth-grade-teacher-opened-the-class-with-subtle-praise-for/)

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> [You can spend the money on new housing for poor people and the homeless, or you can spend it on a football stadium or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/you-can-spend-the-money-on-new-housing-for-poor-people-and-the/)

[Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/)

> [I think Noam Chomsky is a national treasure - make that an international treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/i-think-noam-chomsky-is-a-national-treasure-make-that-an/)

[Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/)

> [Another part of what gave me a questioning, rabble-rousing, activist heart and soul is that when all these heavy events went down, my parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/another-part-of-what-gave-me-a-questioning-rabble-rousing-activist/)

[Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/)

> [A hairstyle's not a lifestyle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/a-hairstyle-s-not-a-lifestyle/)

[Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/)

> [So basically the understanding on these so-called reissues is that they were done behind my back, without my permission, and the band informed me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/so-basically-the-understanding-on-these-so-called-reissues-is-that/)

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> [I got out of that immediately was that now, all of a sudden, rock music had become a spectator sport, that corporate labels and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/i-got-out-of-that-immediately-was-that-now-all-of-a-sudden-rock-music/)

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> [It depends on the situation. I mean, on one hand there's the argument that people should be left alone on the other hand, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/it-depends-on-the-situation-i-mean-on-one-hand-there-s-the-argument/)

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> [It's very irresponsible as a parent to follow Tipper Gore or the Religious Right's advice and just take the offending CD or game away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/it-s-very-irresponsible-as-a-parent-to-follow-tipper-gore-or-the/)

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> [Any alternative culture that inspires a lot of passion and inspiration is also in danger of being set in its ways, almost from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/any-alternative-culture-that-inspires-a-lot-of-passion-and/)

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> [I am an anarchist in my personal life. I try to live my life in a way that I don't need cops or baby-sitters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/i-am-an-anarchist-in-my-personal-life-i-try-to-live-my-life-in-a-way/)

[Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/)

[Explore all 102 Jello Biafra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/)

## More Before i die quotes

> [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/)

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[Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/)

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> [ \[...\] "I recall what you said to me once," Will went on. "That words have the power to change us. Your words have changed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-recall-what-you-said-to-me-once-will-went-on-that-words-have-the/)

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[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/they-may-take-our-lives-but-they-ll-never-take-our-freedom/)

[Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/)

> [If you shoot, I will kill her before I die." Yes," Kitai said in a patient tone. "Which is why I have not shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/if-you-shoot-i-will-kill-her-before-i-die-yes-kitai-said-in-a-patient/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [If I had only one more sermon to preach before I died, it would be about my Lord Jesus Christ. And I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-i-had-only-one-more-sermon-to-preach-before-i-died-it-would-be/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [“He falls asleep quickly. I lie awake and listen to lights being switched off all over the town. Whispered goodnights. The drowsy creak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/he-falls-asleep-quickly-i-lie-awake-and-listen-to-lights-being/)

[Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/)

> [I smoke pot because I want to go to heaven before I die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-smoke-pot-because-i-want-to-go-to-heaven-before-i-die/)

[Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/)

> [Most of us are tiptoeing through life so we can reach death safely. We should be praying, "If I should wake before I die.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/most-of-us-are-tiptoeing-through-life-so-we-can-reach-death-safely-we/)

[Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/)

> [And though the years before I die Stretch out interminably, I Shall only count my life in truth As that brief hour of happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/and-though-the-years-before-i-die-stretch-out-interminably-i-shall/)

[Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/)

> [Before I die, I want to fight for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/before-i-die-i-want-to-fight-for-life/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

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