--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I need some kind of emotional stake in it…" description: "\"I need some kind of emotional stake in it to write my lyrics, assuming that place. It might just be an emotion I understand but am not currently experi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/john-mayer-1620_assuming_i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-i_1125446.jpg" --- # I need some kind of emotional stake in it to write my… ![“I need some kind of emotional stake in it to write my lyrics, assuming that place. It might just be an emotion I understand but am not currently experiencing necessarily.” quote by John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/john-mayer-1620_assuming_i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-i_1125446.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/john-mayer-1620_assuming_i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-i_1125446.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/john-mayer-1620_assuming_i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-i_1125446.jpg) > “I need some kind of emotional stake in it to write my lyrics, assuming that place. It might just be an emotion I understand but am not currently experiencing necessarily.” [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Songwriters need a personal emotional connection to create authentic lyrics, even if the feeling isn’t currently present. **In simple terms:** Write from a feeling you understand, not just what you feel now. Key Takeaway Tap into past or imagined emotions for lyrical depth. Themes creativity authenticity emotion Mood reflective introspective Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - therapy - performance - teaching songwriting Key Concepts emotional resonance artistic process Questions to Reflect On - How can you safely recall past emotions for writing? - What techniques help you feel the emotion you need? A Different Perspective Relying on imagined emotion may lead to inauthentic or forced lyrics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [One, something emotional has to be at stake. There has to be something important for me that I'm writing about. And then two, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/one-something-emotional-has-to-be-at-stake-there-has-to-be-something/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [“People who have no emotional stake in a decision can see what needs to be done sooner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-grove/people-who-have-no-emotional-stake-in-a-decision-can-see-what-needs/) Andrew Grove > [I don't write lyrics, the lyrics write Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-don-t-write-lyrics-the-lyrics-write-thom-yorke/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > ['Chandelier' took, like, four minutes to write the chords, then, like, 12-15 minutes to write the lyrics. Probably 10 or 15 minutes to cut the vocals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/chandelier-took-like-four-minutes-to-write-the-chords-then-like-12-15/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [Usually when I write lyrics I try to read a lot and listen to a lot of other stuff. Some of my favourite lyricists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vanwyngarden/usually-when-i-write-lyrics-i-try-to-read-a-lot-and-listen-to-a-lot/) [Andrew VanWyngarden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vanwyngarden/) > [We all decided that from the start, me and Richey can't write music but we can write lyrics and look pretty tarty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-wire/we-all-decided-that-from-the-start-me-and-richey-can-t-write-music/) [Nicky Wire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-wire/) > [I came out here to do the acting, and then after a year of auditions and not getting anything, I met these Italian guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/i-came-out-here-to-do-the-acting-and-then-after-a-year-of-auditions/) [Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/) > [The weirdest place I have ever written a song is probably in an airport, and I got an idea so fast that I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-weirdest-place-i-have-ever-written-a-song-is-probably-in-an/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Whenever I write lyrics, in the back of my mind I always see a guy driving to work, driving to a really bad job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/whenever-i-write-lyrics-in-the-back-of-my-mind-i-always-see-a-guy/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I always say the wrestlers provide the music and the announcers write the lyrics. You have to feel what you're seeing and experiencing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/i-always-say-the-wrestlers-provide-the-music-and-the-announcers-write/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [I write most of my own lyrics for my album and I am helping to produce some of the songs as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lohan/i-write-most-of-my-own-lyrics-for-my-album-and-i-am-helping-to/) [Lindsay Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lohan/) > [I wrote out the lyrics that I would do at MAMA 4~5 days in advance. After I said that, Zico hyung told me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-nam-joon/i-wrote-out-the-lyrics-that-i-would-do-at-mama-4-5-days-in-advance/) [Kim Nam-joon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-nam-joon/) > [I used to say it was painful to write lyrics about myself and looking inward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/i-used-to-say-it-was-painful-to-write-lyrics-about-myself-and-looking/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [Whenever I write lyrics and an Americanism slips in, I always cut it straight out. I can't use the word 'babe,' for instance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-o-sullivan/whenever-i-write-lyrics-and-an-americanism-slips-in-i-always-cut-it/) [Gilbert O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-o-sullivan/) > [Sometimes when I write lyrics there are images in them, usually on a quite simplistic level, like colors. But most often music comes first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/sometimes-when-i-write-lyrics-there-are-images-in-them-usually-on-a/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) ## More by John Mayer > [I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-getting-to-a-point-where-everything-is-becoming-streamlined-in-my/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I'm a good man with a good heart had a tough time, got a rough start But I finally learned to let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-a-good-man-with-a-good-heart-had-a-tough-time-got-a-rough-start/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I just sort of lost my head for a little while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-just-sort-of-lost-my-head-for-a-little-while/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [Anybody who's made it will tell you, you can make it. Anyone who hasn't made it will tell you, you can't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/anybody-who-s-made-it-will-tell-you-you-can-make-it-anyone-who-hasn-t/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I have these accidents, these mistakes, these self-inflicted wounds, and then I tear my head to shreds about it for days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-have-these-accidents-these-mistakes-these-self-inflicted-wounds-and/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [Who I am as a guitarist is defined by my failure to become Jimi Hendrix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/who-i-am-as-a-guitarist-is-defined-by-my-failure-to-become-jimi/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I knew what I wanted to do when I was 13 and I had to go through four years of high school to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-knew-what-i-wanted-to-do-when-i-was-13-and-i-had-to-go-through-four/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [We're supposed to lose our friends to time, at an age when we're ready to agree to the terms of having lived a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/we-re-supposed-to-lose-our-friends-to-time-at-an-age-when-we-re-ready/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I need to learn how to start saying no. Like when someone says ‘please stop choking me.’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-need-to-learn-how-to-start-saying-no-like-when-someone-says-please/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [By the time I recognize this moment, this moment will be gone. . . But I will bend the light, pretend that it somehow lingered on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/by-the-time-i-recognize-this-moment-this-moment-will-be-gone-but-i/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [Everybody is just a stranger, but that's the danger in going my own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/everybody-is-just-a-stranger-but-that-s-the-danger-in-going-my-own-way/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [Ninety-nine percent of my life is still completely common. I do have a golden helicopter. I fly it to Malibu. But other than that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/ninety-nine-percent-of-my-life-is-still-completely-common-i-do-have-a/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I really don't want to be a hunk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-really-don-t-want-to-be-a-hunk/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I get recognized somewhere in between like local meteorologist and national meteorologist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-get-recognized-somewhere-in-between-like-local-meteorologist-and/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I mean, I’m quite happy. I’m happy in all aspects of my life. I'm very happy in all aspects of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-mean-i-m-quite-happy-i-m-happy-in-all-aspects-of-my-life-i-m-very/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) [Explore all 222 John Mayer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I need some kind of emotional stake in it to write my lyrics, assuming that place. It might just be an emotion I understand but am not currently experiencing necessarily.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Mayer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-it-to-write-my-lyrics-assuming/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-it-to-write-my-lyrics-assuming/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/john-mayer-1620_assuming_i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-i_1125446.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/john-mayer-1620_assuming_i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-i_1125446.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/john-mayer-1620_assuming_i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-i_1125446.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I need some kind of emotional stake in it to write my lyrics, assuming that place. It might just be an…” — John Mayer", "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 Mayer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I need some kind of emotional...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-it-to-write-my-lyrics-assuming/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-need-some-kind-of-emotional-stake-in-it-to-write-my-lyrics-assuming/#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 } } ] } ```