---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to write music that would be…"
description: "\"I wanted to write music that would be around for a long time.\" — John Waite"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/john-waite-7196_around_i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-ar_2620593.png"
---

#  I wanted to write music that would be around for a long…

![“I wanted to write music that would be around for a long time.” quote by John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/john-waite-7196_around_i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-ar_2620593.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/john-waite-7196_around_i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-ar_2620593.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/john-waite-7196_around_i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-ar_2620593.png)

> “I wanted to write music that would be around for a long time.”

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

## About This Quote

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

Creating timeless music requires depth and resonance that endures beyond trends, aiming for lasting cultural impact.

**In simple terms:** Make music that lasts.

Key Takeaway

Focus on lasting quality.

Themes

art legacy creativity

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

philosophical creative

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- film scoring
- branding
- personal projects
- archival work

Key Concepts

music theory culture longevity

Questions to Reflect On

- What makes a song timeless?
- How can you embed lasting meaning?

A Different Perspective

Trends fade, depth endures.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-long-603690/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wanted Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-write/) [Write Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-music/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [I studied classical music for a long time, maybe 10 years, and I realized finally I was never going to have the hands to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-studied-classical-music-for-a-long-time-maybe-10-years-and-i/)

[Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/)

> [I just wanted to write about music if I wasn't going to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jpegmafia/i-just-wanted-to-write-about-music-if-i-wasn-t-going-to-make-it/)

[JPEGMAFIA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jpegmafia/)

> [I didn't really want anyone to know that I wanted to write music or make songs because, in a way, I didn't necessarily know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shura/i-didn-t-really-want-anyone-to-know-that-i-wanted-to-write-music-or/)

[Shura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shura/)

> [In the back of your mind, when you say you want to write music for the movies, you're saying that you want a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-conti/in-the-back-of-your-mind-when-you-say-you-want-to-write-music-for-the/)

[Bill Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-conti/)

> [I wanted to be a musician. I just wanted to be famous because I wanted to escape from what I felt was my limitation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-wanted-to-be-a-musician-i-just-wanted-to-be-famous-because-i-wanted/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [I love music so much, and as long as I got all this enthusiasm and ambition, and passion for this music; as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wall/i-love-music-so-much-and-as-long-as-i-got-all-this-enthusiasm-and/)

[Paul Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wall/)

> [I've been making music for a long time, since I was very young, but at the same time, I'm still exploring what works for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zedd/i-ve-been-making-music-for-a-long-time-since-i-was-very-young-but-at/)

[Zedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zedd/)

> [When I have sat at home with this God-given talent for music for a long time, somebody approaches me out of the blue and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-spencer/when-i-have-sat-at-home-with-this-god-given-talent-for-music-for-a/)

[Jeremy Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-spencer/)

> [The thing I love about music is, if you do it long enough, you get better and better at translating what's in your head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/the-thing-i-love-about-music-is-if-you-do-it-long-enough-you-get/)

[El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/)

> [I think it's just my personality, or maybe just because I've been playing music for so long and working so hard at it, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-prass/i-think-it-s-just-my-personality-or-maybe-just-because-i-ve-been/)

[Natalie Prass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-prass/)

> [I've been fascinated by music for as long as I can remember. I was the kid on the playground in the third grade who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-groban/i-ve-been-fascinated-by-music-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-the/)

[Josh Groban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-groban/)

> [The thing I stress to my fans is that I've been making big, universally friendly-type music for a long time now. I never really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machine-gun-kelly/the-thing-i-stress-to-my-fans-is-that-i-ve-been-making-big/)

[Machine Gun Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machine-gun-kelly/)

> [I love exploring the hypnotic elements of music, and because of that there are very long tracks on 'Immunity.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-love-exploring-the-hypnotic-elements-of-music-and-because-of-that/)

[Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/)

> [We always focus on the quality of music because as long as the content is good, then the interest will be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/we-always-focus-on-the-quality-of-music-because-as-long-as-the/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [I've been wrestling and making music for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-truth/i-ve-been-wrestling-and-making-music-for-a-long-time/)

[R-Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-truth/)

## More by John Waite

> [I was staring at a wall of photos and thought, 'What would that sound like if it was music?' And I guess that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-was-staring-at-a-wall-of-photos-and-thought-what-would-that-sound/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [There's an easy way to tell if you have a good song. You get hit in the head with a message, and you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/there-s-an-easy-way-to-tell-if-you-have-a-good-song-you-get-hit-in/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [Songs, and songwriting keeps me inspired, moving forward. I tend to scribble down notes, lyrics or just random thoughts on pieces of paper, backs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/songs-and-songwriting-keeps-me-inspired-moving-forward-i-tend-to/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [When you play live, everything goes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/when-you-play-live-everything-goes-up/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [I was going to be a painter. I went to art school - but every 16-year-old wants to be a painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-was-going-to-be-a-painter-i-went-to-art-school-but-every-16-year/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [I really expected things to be different. But being in Bad English was too much of a compromise. Instead of being true to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-really-expected-things-to-be-different-but-being-in-bad-english-was/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [I thought my wife and I would grow old together, but it just didn't work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-thought-my-wife-and-i-would-grow-old-together-but-it-just-didn-t/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [You know, I still find music as inspiring and exciting as I did when I was 15.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/you-know-i-still-find-music-as-inspiring-and-exciting-as-i-did-when-i/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [Music comes from a whole different place. It tells the story of your life and it's probably the closest thing I have to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/music-comes-from-a-whole-different-place-it-tells-the-story-of-your/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [I think rock 'n' roll is very visual. All of the best bands, like The Stones, The Who and Small Faces, were very valid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-think-rock-n-roll-is-very-visual-all-of-the-best-bands-like-the/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [I always thought that the Babys were five years ahead of everybody else, I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-always-thought-that-the-babys-were-five-years-ahead-of-everybody/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [I like imperfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-like-imperfection/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [There's a lot of compromises, but that's what a great record should be, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/there-s-a-lot-of-compromises-but-that-s-what-a-great-record-should-be/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [Rock seems a little bit redundant now because it really is what country is. It's the voice of America and rock 'n' roll used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/rock-seems-a-little-bit-redundant-now-because-it-really-is-what/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

> [We had huge success at first - really, really big. You could not turn on AM radio and not hear 'Every Time I Think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/we-had-huge-success-at-first-really-really-big-you-could-not-turn-on/)

[John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

[Explore all 93 John Waite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/)

## More Around quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [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/)

> [I guess I'm attracted to things that are fun. I guess what is fun about this role in 'Suburgatory' is that there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/i-guess-i-m-attracted-to-things-that-are-fun-i-guess-what-is-fun/)

[Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/)

> [When I was a teen, I would draw a really, really long line around my eyes with eyeliner, like Lola Flores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/when-i-was-a-teen-i-would-draw-a-really-really-long-line-around-my/)

[Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/)

> [I think the issues around diversity of all kinds are really a huge problem in the startup world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/i-think-the-issues-around-diversity-of-all-kinds-are-really-a-huge/)

[Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/)

> [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/)

[Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [I can look around a room and tell you if there are hidden cameras or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-can-look-around-a-room-and-tell-you-if-there-are-hidden-cameras-or/)

[Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/)

> [You couldn't get me to go travel around and sit in a hotel room again. I have no interest in doing that. So everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-everly/you-couldn-t-get-me-to-go-travel-around-and-sit-in-a-hotel-room-again/)

[Phil Everly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-everly/)

> [I drink maple syrup. Then I'm hyper so I just run around like crazy and work it all off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-mcadams/i-drink-maple-syrup-then-i-m-hyper-so-i-just-run-around-like-crazy/)

[Rachel McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-mcadams/)

> [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/)

[Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/)

> [I have to say, I grew up with fashion because my mother was a seamstress, and she had an atelier. She would cut the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-have-to-say-i-grew-up-with-fashion-because-my-mother-was-a/)

[Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/)

> [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/)

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

> [I became an MP in 2017 and have been around to watch Liberal Democrat party membership soar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/i-became-an-mp-in-2017-and-have-been-around-to-watch-liberal-democrat/)

[Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/)

[Browse all 7,275 Around quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I wanted to write music that would be around for a long time.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Waite"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-around-for-a-long-time/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Around"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-around-for-a-long-time/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/john-waite-7196_around_i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-ar_2620593.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/john-waite-7196_around_i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-ar_2620593.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/john-waite-7196_around_i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-ar_2620593.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I wanted to write music that would be around for a long time.” — John Waite",
                "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 Waite",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I wanted to write music that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-around-for-a-long-time/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-wanted-to-write-music-that-would-be-around-for-a-long-time/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
