---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It ( In My Life ) was the first song that…"
description: "\"It ( In My Life ) was the first song that I wrote that was really, consciously about my life… up until then, it had been all glib and throwaway.\" — Joh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/john-lennon-322_firsts_it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i_1081829.jpg"
---

#  It ( In My Life ) was the first song that I wrote that was…

![“It ( In My Life ) was the first song that I wrote that was really, consciously about my life… up until then, it had been all glib and throwaway.” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/john-lennon-322_firsts_it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i_1081829.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/john-lennon-322_firsts_it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i_1081829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/john-lennon-322_firsts_it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i_1081829.jpg)

> “It ( In My Life ) was the first song that I wrote that was really, consciously about my life… up until then, it had been all glib and throwaway.”

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The songwriter shifts from casual lyrics to a sincere, autobiographical reflection.

**In simple terms:** From shallow to personal songwriting.

Key Takeaway

Write honestly about your life.

Themes

authenticity self‑reflection artistic growth

Mood

introspective thoughtful

Type

musical philosophical

When to use this quote

- creative process
- music composition
- self‑discovery

Key Concepts

songwriting personal narrative

Questions to Reflect On

- What personal truths have you avoided?
- How does authenticity change your art?

A Different Perspective

Honesty can feel exposing.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/)

## Related quotes

> ['Honey' was the first song I wrote where I was really enjoying myself again after questioning the idea of being an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn/honey-was-the-first-song-i-wrote-where-i-was-really-enjoying-myself/)

[Robyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn/)

> [If I wrote what I really think, I would be so sad all the time. We create to fill a gap - not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/if-i-wrote-what-i-really-think-i-would-be-so-sad-all-the-time-we/)

[Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/)

> [You have to resign yourself to the fact that you waste a lot of trees before you write anything you really like, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-to-resign-yourself-to-the-fact-that-you-waste-a-lot-of-trees/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I just wrote a really cool script. It's called "One Track Mind." It's an origin story about the most successful and the most foul-mouthed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hardwicke/i-just-wrote-a-really-cool-script-it-s-called-one-track-mind-it-s-an/)

[Catherine Hardwicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hardwicke/)

> [I learned that the songs that mean the most to me are the songs that I write by myself. While there were people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-learned-that-the-songs-that-mean-the-most-to-me-are-the-songs-that/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [What a good novelist does with a throwaway that serves no fictional purpose is throw it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/what-a-good-novelist-does-with-a-throwaway-that-serves-no-fictional/)

[Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/)

> [People even split up by text message, they dump each other by text. Everything seems so disposable, so throwaway, but you have to engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/people-even-split-up-by-text-message-they-dump-each-other-by-text/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [There are no throwaway people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jaya/there-are-no-throwaway-people/)

[Ma Jaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jaya/)

> [I'm not into releasing throwaway music for the sake of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano/i-m-not-into-releasing-throwaway-music-for-the-sake-of-it/)

[Kano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano/)

> [I mean, that was a throwaway thought, because my focus was - my intent and my focus was to never go public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-mean-that-was-a-throwaway-thought-because-my-focus-was-my-intent/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I say throwaway, jokey things. When you're young-looking and you are presenting something that has gravitas you can't look down your nose, but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konnie-huq/i-say-throwaway-jokey-things-when-you-re-young-looking-and-you-are/)

[Konnie Huq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konnie-huq/)

> [I just had a throwaway part, really, if you think about it. I'm not a natural actor, you know? I'm a comedian, through and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-anderson/i-just-had-a-throwaway-part-really-if-you-think-about-it-i-m-not-a/)

[Louie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-anderson/)

> [Throwaway snapshots come closest to achieving the state of pure picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/throwaway-snapshots-come-closest-to-achieving-the-state-of-pure/)

[Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/)

> [Throwaway pens are no good - I never liked them. I've tried them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/throwaway-pens-are-no-good-i-never-liked-them-i-ve-tried-them-all/)

[Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/)

> [Reddit names are unconnected to real-world identities and it's commonplace for users to create 'throwaway' accounts to reveal sensitive information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zuckerman/reddit-names-are-unconnected-to-real-world-identities-and-it-s/)

[Ethan Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zuckerman/)

## More by John Lennon

> [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/as-someone-from-the-working-class-i-was-always-interested-in-russia/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [I never went to high school reunions. My thing is, out of sight, out of mind. That's my attitude toward life. So I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-never-went-to-high-school-reunions-my-thing-is-out-of-sight-out-of/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Today's folk song is rock and roll. Although it happened to emanate from America, that's not really important in the end because we wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/today-s-folk-song-is-rock-and-roll-although-it-happened-to-emanate/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [If you want to get peace, you can get it as soon as you like if we all pull together. ... Think peace, live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/if-you-want-to-get-peace-you-can-get-it-as-soon-as-you-like-if-we-all/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [The reason why kids are crazy is because nobody can face the responsibility of bringing them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-reason-why-kids-are-crazy-is-because-nobody-can-face-the/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [In my case I've never not been political, though religion tended to overshadow it in my acid days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/in-my-case-i-ve-never-not-been-political-though-religion-tended-to/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Imagine there's no heaven... it's easy if you try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/imagine-there-s-no-heaven-it-s-easy-if-you-try/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/man-you-should-have-seen-them-kicking-edgar-allan-poe/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Love is like a flower - you've got to let it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/love-is-like-a-flower-you-ve-got-to-let-it-grow/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-don-t-know-which-will-go-first-rock-n-roll-or-christianity/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [The main hangup in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can't face up to the fact of other people being naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-main-hangup-in-the-world-today-is-hypocrisy-and-insecurity-if/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

[Explore all 681 John Lennon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

## More Firsts quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/)

[Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/)

> [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/)

[A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/)

> [You sort of can't talk about the post production unless you talk about what comes first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/you-sort-of-can-t-talk-about-the-post-production-unless-you-talk/)

[Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/)

[Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/)

> [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/)

[Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/)

> [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/)

> [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/)

[Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/)

[Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/)

[Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/)

> [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/)

[Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/)

> [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/)

[Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/)

Browse all 32,432 Firsts quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It ( In My Life ) was the first song that I wrote that was really, consciously about my life… up until then, it had been all glib and throwaway.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Lennon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i-wrote-that-was-really/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Firsts"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i-wrote-that-was-really/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/john-lennon-322_firsts_it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i_1081829.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/john-lennon-322_firsts_it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i_1081829.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/john-lennon-322_firsts_it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i_1081829.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It ( In My Life ) was the first song that I wrote that was really, consciously about my life… up until then…” — John Lennon",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Lennon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It ( In My Life )...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i-wrote-that-was-really/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/it-in-my-life-was-the-first-song-that-i-wrote-that-was-really/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
