--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We [with Rick Rubin] would focus on the…" description: "\"We [with Rick Rubin] would focus on the ones that we did like, that felt right and sounded right. And if I didn't like the performance on that song, I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/johnny-cash-1517_comfortable_we-with-rick-rubin-would-focus-on-the-on_2199964.jpg" --- # We \[with Rick Rubin\] would focus on the ones that we did… ![“We [with Rick Rubin] would focus on the ones that we did like, that felt right and sounded right. And if I didn't like the performance on that song, I would keep trying it and do take after take until it felt comfortable with me and felt that it was coming out of me and my guitar and my voice as…” quote by Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/johnny-cash-1517_comfortable_we-with-rick-rubin-would-focus-on-the-on_2199964.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/johnny-cash-1517_comfortable_we-with-rick-rubin-would-focus-on-the-on_2199964.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/johnny-cash-1517_comfortable_we-with-rick-rubin-would-focus-on-the-on_2199964.jpg) > “We \[with Rick Rubin\] would focus on the ones that we did like, that felt right and sounded right. And if I didn't like the performance on that song, I would keep trying it and do take after take until it felt comfortable with me and felt that it was coming out of me and my guitar and my voice as one, that it was right for my soul.” [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes aligning performance with personal authenticity, iterating until the music feels like an extension of self. **In simple terms:** Seek authenticity in art through repeated practice. Key Takeaway Iterate until it feels true. Themes authenticity music craft perseverance Mood reflective determined Type artistic process When to use this quote - recording sessions - live performances - songwriting - personal growth Key Concepts self‑expression musical integrity iteration Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when a performance is authentic? - What limits does endless iteration impose? A Different Perspective May become stuck in perfectionism, delaying release. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coming out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-out/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [I never actually learned the rules of grammar, relying instead only on what sounded right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-never-actually-learned-the-rules-of-grammar-relying-instead-only-on/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [If you give it good concentration, good energy, good heart and good performance, the song will play you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levon-helm/if-you-give-it-good-concentration-good-energy-good-heart-and-good/) [Levon Helm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levon-helm/) > [If you were a performer that only had an acoustic instrument, back in the day you couldn't hide behind your guitar pedals or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-sheff/if-you-were-a-performer-that-only-had-an-acoustic-instrument-back-in/) [Will Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-sheff/) > [Rick Rubin said, well, I don't know that we will sell records. He said, I would like you to go with me and sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/rick-rubin-said-well-i-don-t-know-that-we-will-sell-records-he-said-i/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [ What I said, what are you \[Rick Rubin\] going to do with me that nobody else has been able to do to sell records… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/what-i-said-what-are-you-rick-rubin-going-to-do-with-me-that-nobody/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [My contract with mercury PolyGram Nashville was about to expire. And I never had really been happy. The company, the record company, just didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/my-contract-with-mercury-polygram-nashville-was-about-to-expire-and-i/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Rick Rubin came to my concert in Orange County, Calif. I believe this was, like, '83 when he first came and listened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/rick-rubin-came-to-my-concert-in-orange-county-calif-i-believe-this/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [That was American Recordings. I said, I like the name, maybe it'd be OK. So I said, I'd like to meet the guy \[Rick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/that-was-american-recordings-i-said-i-like-the-name-maybe-it-d-be-ok/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [ When I finally stopped \[singing\], he had been saying, like, the last day or so, he'd been saying, now, I think we should put… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/when-i-finally-stopped-singing-he-had-been-saying-like-the-last-day/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Rick Rubin had his hair - I don't think it's ever been cut and very - dresses like a hobo, usually - clean but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/rick-rubin-had-his-hair-i-don-t-think-it-s-ever-been-cut-and-very/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Anything that is related to my work will affect me. If someone tells me they didn't like my performance, it will affect me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/disha-patani/anything-that-is-related-to-my-work-will-affect-me-if-someone-tells/) [Disha Patani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/disha-patani/) > [Whether you like it or not, a performance's triumphs and belly flops come to seem excruciatingly intimate, as if you were somehow partly responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-brantley/whether-you-like-it-or-not-a-performance-s-triumphs-and-belly-flops/) [Ben Brantley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-brantley/) > [I treat every time I walk on the stage like it's the performance of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-benet/i-treat-every-time-i-walk-on-the-stage-like-it-s-the-performance-of/) [Eric Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-benet/) > [If you want to criticise me, just say that you don't like my performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/if-you-want-to-criticise-me-just-say-that-you-don-t-like-my/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [I like a performance, a live performance, so I like little mistakes because that's what makes perfect - the mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorja-smith/i-like-a-performance-a-live-performance-so-i-like-little-mistakes/) [Jorja Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorja-smith/) ## More by Johnny Cash > [I read novels but I also read the Bible. And study it, you know? And the more I learn, the more excited I get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-read-novels-but-i-also-read-the-bible-and-study-it-you-know-and-the/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [You're so heavenly minded, you're no earthly good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/you-re-so-heavenly-minded-you-re-no-earthly-good/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing. It covers a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/of-emotions-of-love-of-breakup-of-love-and-hate-and-death-and-dying/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Until things are brighter.. I'm the man in black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/until-things-are-brighter-i-m-the-man-in-black/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I'm thankful for a pair of shoes that feel really good on my feet; I like my shoes. I'm thankful for the birds; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-m-thankful-for-a-pair-of-shoes-that-feel-really-good-on-my-feet-i/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I knew I wanted to sing when I was a very small boy. When I was probably 4 years old. My mother played a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-knew-i-wanted-to-sing-when-i-was-a-very-small-boy-when-i-was/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [No matter how much you've sinned, no matter how much you've stumbled, no matter how much you fall, no matter how far you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/no-matter-how-much-you-ve-sinned-no-matter-how-much-you-ve-stumbled/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [ I met Sam Phillips when he came in \[studio\] and I said, I'm John Cash. I'm the one who's been calling. And if you'd… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-met-sam-phillips-when-he-came-in-studio-and-i-said-i-m-john-cash-i/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [My mother told me to keep on singing, and that kept me working through the cotton fields. She said God has his hand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/my-mother-told-me-to-keep-on-singing-and-that-kept-me-working-through/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I started to write the song. And I was in Gladewater, Texas, one night with Carl Perkins and I said, I've got a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-started-to-write-the-song-and-i-was-in-gladewater-texas-one-night/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Don't take voice lessons. Do it your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/don-t-take-voice-lessons-do-it-your-way/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I expect my life to end pretty soon. You know, I'm 71 years old. I have great faith, though. I have unshakable faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-expect-my-life-to-end-pretty-soon-you-know-i-m-71-years-old-i-have/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I say I'm not a singer, so that means I can't sing. But - doesn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-say-i-m-not-a-singer-so-that-means-i-can-t-sing-but-doesn-t-it/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [However, neither he nor anyone else could have become the star Elvis was. Ain't nobody like Elvis. Never was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/however-neither-he-nor-anyone-else-could-have-become-the-star-elvis/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Everybody was wearing rhinestones, all those sparkly clothes, and cowboy boots. I decided to wear a black shirt and pants and see if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/everybody-was-wearing-rhinestones-all-those-sparkly-clothes-and/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) [Explore all 232 Johnny Cash quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) ## More Comfortable quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [How much more comfortable it is to say 'Yes, and...' than 'Yes, but...'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-fagg/how-much-more-comfortable-it-is-to-say-yes-and-than-yes-but/) [Lawrence Fagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-fagg/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [Money is only used for two things. One, it's to make you comfortable, and the more comfortable you are the more creative you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/money-is-only-used-for-two-things-one-it-s-to-make-you-comfortable/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [I am comfortable talking about sex scenes and stuff, but to me, when it's physically explicit, I do feel prudish and uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-am-comfortable-talking-about-sex-scenes-and-stuff-but-to-me-when-it/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [There's always gonna be people with a lot of money making film, and the goal is to make profit and carry on. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-howard/there-s-always-gonna-be-people-with-a-lot-of-money-making-film-and/) [Clint Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-howard/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [It's like my second home, 'It.' And I would like to return to it, because I feel very comfortable with it, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/it-s-like-my-second-home-it-and-i-would-like-to-return-to-it-because/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [I was a bit overweight as a teenager, which may be why I'm more comfortable playing with clothes than showing my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orla-brady/i-was-a-bit-overweight-as-a-teenager-which-may-be-why-i-m-more/) [Orla Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orla-brady/) > [When you're comfortable with someone you love, the silence is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/when-you-re-comfortable-with-someone-you-love-the-silence-is-the-best/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [Our families and our homes are the center of American life, Everything we do is to make those homes-and the lives in them-more beautiful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/our-families-and-our-homes-are-the-center-of-american-life-everything/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [You build the bonds through the community and police force, build bonds of understanding, and then when people feel comfortable in their communities, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/you-build-the-bonds-through-the-community-and-police-force-build/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) Browse all 4,560 Comfortable quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We [with Rick Rubin] would focus on the ones that we did like, that felt right and sounded right. 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