--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to write songs just for the song…" description: "\"I try to write songs just for the song itself. I don't try and think about where it's going to end up, that way you're writing for the good of the song..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/jon-foreman-2854_ends_i-try-to-write-songs-just-for-the-song-i_140438.png" --- # I try to write songs just for the song itself. I don't try… ![“I try to write songs just for the song itself. I don't try and think about where it's going to end up, that way you're writing for the good of the song.” quote by Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/jon-foreman-2854_ends_i-try-to-write-songs-just-for-the-song-i_140438.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/jon-foreman-2854_ends_i-try-to-write-songs-just-for-the-song-i_140438.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/jon-foreman-2854_ends_i-try-to-write-songs-just-for-the-song-i_140438.png) > “I try to write songs just for the song itself. I don't try and think about where it's going to end up, that way you're writing for the good of the song.” [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Songwriting should serve the music itself, not external expectations or outcomes. **In simple terms:** Write for the song, not for fame or profit. Key Takeaway Focus on the art, not the destination. Themes creativity authenticity process music artistry Mood introspective passionate Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - studio sessions - solo writing - collaborations Key Concepts aesthetics intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay true to the music? - What distracts you from pure creation? A Different Perspective Commercial pressure may dilute art. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't write the songs; I just write 'em down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-don-t-write-the-songs-i-just-write-em-down/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I write all my own songs and they are just simple melodies with a lot of lyrics. They usually have to do with current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/i-write-all-my-own-songs-and-they-are-just-simple-melodies-with-a-lot/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [When I write songs, I try to write in a way to reach as many people as I can, to be a lighthouse versus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-tomlin/when-i-write-songs-i-try-to-write-in-a-way-to-reach-as-many-people-as/) [Chris Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-tomlin/) > [I try to write songs. At our concerts, we take the cream of the crop from my back catalogue and I don't know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-lightfoot/i-try-to-write-songs-at-our-concerts-we-take-the-cream-of-the-crop/) [Gordon Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-lightfoot/) > [I just try to keep making good records, try to write songs the best way I can and take my job seriously. Like most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-just-try-to-keep-making-good-records-try-to-write-songs-the-best/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I try not to write songs. I would rather emote them, and I found myself going back to my room every night while on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-try-not-to-write-songs-i-would-rather-emote-them-and-i-found-myself/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I did the best that I could to try to write you songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/i-did-the-best-that-i-could-to-try-to-write-you-songs/) [A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/) > [As a songwriter, you're never off - for me, anyway. 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Some songs just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/songs-need-to-have-the-ability-to-change-and-to-grow-for-sure-they/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Songs that are just a vehicle for a guitar solo are very empty, just an excuse for a guitarist to show what scales he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/songs-that-are-just-a-vehicle-for-a-guitar-solo-are-very-empty-just/) [Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/) > [Some songs just fall out of you. And some you have to wrestle out like an abscess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/some-songs-just-fall-out-of-you-and-some-you-have-to-wrestle-out-like/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [F.U.B.U.' is one of my favorite songs ever. It just like touches me - I almost like cry when I heard that song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amine/f-u-b-u-is-one-of-my-favorite-songs-ever-it-just-like-touches-me-i/) [Amine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amine/) > [If I was writing songs just for me I'd only play them in my living room, alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/if-i-was-writing-songs-just-for-me-i-d-only-play-them-in-my-living/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [The best of my songs are more than just a joke. There's something else going on - a character, or it's not just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-newman/the-best-of-my-songs-are-more-than-just-a-joke-there-s-something-else/) [Randy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-newman/) ## More by Jon Foreman > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [All music is worship. It just depends on what you’re worshipping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/all-music-is-worship-it-just-depends-on-what-you-re-worshipping/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [I'm always looking to find order within the chaos. And sometimes when my life gets fairly chaotic, I'll take a walk outside. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/i-m-always-looking-to-find-order-within-the-chaos-and-sometimes-when/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [If we spend our time obsessing with the future or regretting the past, then we will never live. Tomorrow will always be tomorrow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/if-we-spend-our-time-obsessing-with-the-future-or-regretting-the-past/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [We were meant to live for so much more,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/we-were-meant-to-live-for-so-much-more/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [I think sometimes we can use spirituality as a vehicle to go closer to the things that frighten us and sometimes we can use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/i-think-sometimes-we-can-use-spirituality-as-a-vehicle-to-go-closer/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [I've always been fascinated with the strong emotional ties that music can have. A song can bring you back to a place or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-with-the-strong-emotional-ties-that-music/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [Eventually everything fails me, but when I look at the sunset or the sky, I'm reminded what it's like to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/eventually-everything-fails-me-but-when-i-look-at-the-sunset-or-the/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [The easiest thing to do is throw a rock. It's a lot harder to create a stained glass window. I used to get upset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/the-easiest-thing-to-do-is-throw-a-rock-it-s-a-lot-harder-to-create-a/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [I've experienced more sunrises with my bandmates and friends out on the road than with my wife, because we're always up at these strange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/i-ve-experienced-more-sunrises-with-my-bandmates-and-friends-out-on/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [You wake up, you wake up, another day, you wake up, you wake up, traffic still moving at the same speed, our eyes looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/you-wake-up-you-wake-up-another-day-you-wake-up-you-wake-up-traffic/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [I usually write from my own experience, and that's definitely a true statement for me. I think having a song about desiring to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/i-usually-write-from-my-own-experience-and-that-s-definitely-a-true/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [I yearn to live and love and burn, and yet so much of my time is spent faking and forgetting, faking and forgetting I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/i-yearn-to-live-and-love-and-burn-and-yet-so-much-of-my-time-is-spent/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [That's what life is, a continual state of journey. You are a river passing downstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/that-s-what-life-is-a-continual-state-of-journey-you-are-a-river/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [Hope is not a substitute for pain. Hope is in spite of pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/hope-is-not-a-substitute-for-pain-hope-is-in-spite-of-pain/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) [Explore all 147 Jon Foreman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) ## More Ends quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) Browse all 20,790 Ends quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try to write songs just for the song itself. 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