--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's much easier to write a song for a…" description: "\"It's much easier to write a song for a musical than just writing a song because, writing for a musical, you know what the story is about, so you know w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/leslie-bricusse-27152_about_it-s-much-easier-to-write-a-song-for-a-m_1753580.jpg" --- # It's much easier to write a song for a musical than just… ![“It's much easier to write a song for a musical than just writing a song because, writing for a musical, you know what the story is about, so you know what the songs have got to say.” quote by Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/leslie-bricusse-27152_about_it-s-much-easier-to-write-a-song-for-a-m_1753580.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/leslie-bricusse-27152_about_it-s-much-easier-to-write-a-song-for-a-m_1753580.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/leslie-bricusse-27152_about_it-s-much-easier-to-write-a-song-for-a-m_1753580.jpg) > “It's much easier to write a song for a musical than just writing a song because, writing for a musical, you know what the story is about, so you know what the songs have got to say.” [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing for a musical provides narrative context, making songwriting more purposeful. **In simple terms:** Story guides song meaning. Key Takeaway Align lyrics with narrative. Themes storytelling songwriting collaboration Mood analytical creative Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - musical theater - film scoring - advertising jingles - brand storytelling Key Concepts narrative structure thematic cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How does context shape your creative process? - When do you need a story to inspire music? A Different Perspective Standalone songs can lack direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Song writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-writing/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [In musical theater, if you have a song, it has to advance the plot. If you have a song in a musical and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/in-musical-theater-if-you-have-a-song-it-has-to-advance-the-plot-if/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [But I'm not adverse to the idea of Torch Song as a musical. It would just be different. Because the play will always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/but-i-m-not-adverse-to-the-idea-of-torch-song-as-a-musical-it-would/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [“If you're horrible to me, I'm going to write a song about it, and you won't like it. That's how I operate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/if-you-re-horrible-to-me-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-about-it-and-you/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I'd spent five hours that morning trying to write a song that was meaningful and good, and I finally gave up and lay down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-d-spent-five-hours-that-morning-trying-to-write-a-song-that-was/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Sometimes I was in a mood to write a song as if I was writing in my journal and reveal certain parts of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/sometimes-i-was-in-a-mood-to-write-a-song-as-if-i-was-writing-in-my/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I always look for a "rhythm" in my writing. A cadence to the sentences. Sometimes I think of pieces I write in a song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/i-always-look-for-a-rhythm-in-my-writing-a-cadence-to-the-sentences/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Trying to write my first song ever, working on the lyrics right now Dedicated to all the girls who've ever self harmed. Stay strong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blue-eyes/trying-to-write-my-first-song-ever-working-on-the-lyrics-right-now/) Blue Eyes > [Well, I really enjoyed drama classes at school, but I left at 16 and started writing a musical with my brother. Because of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-hope-fletcher/well-i-really-enjoyed-drama-classes-at-school-but-i-left-at-16-and/) [Carrie Hope Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-hope-fletcher/) > [I could hear music playing in the background of works by certain authors, like Poe and Shakespeare. And I discovered Nikki Giovanni when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-could-hear-music-playing-in-the-background-of-works-by-certain/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [Deciding what is to be sung and what is not to be sung is really what writing a musical is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/deciding-what-is-to-be-sung-and-what-is-not-to-be-sung-is-really-what/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm writing a musical. I am. I was able to buy the rights to 'The Preacher's Wife,' which starred Whitney Houston... I'm writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-m-writing-a-musical-i-am-i-was-able-to-buy-the-rights-to-the/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [I've always felt a great affinity with music. I've felt myself to be more of a musician than anything else, though I'm not proficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-ve-always-felt-a-great-affinity-with-music-i-ve-felt-myself-to-be/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [We decided we didn't want to do a musical for TV because the idea of writing a musical that would be seen on television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-tennant/we-decided-we-didn-t-want-to-do-a-musical-for-tv-because-the-idea-of/) [Neil Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-tennant/) > [I feel very much a part of what I'm writing about, and I'm writing about things that concern me on a daily basis. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-feel-very-much-a-part-of-what-i-m-writing-about-and-i-m-writing/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## More by Leslie Bricusse > [Writing songs and lyrics is not that different from doing the 'Times' crossword every morning. They both give you a good mental workout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/writing-songs-and-lyrics-is-not-that-different-from-doing-the-times/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [As a complete score, I love 'Sherlock Holmes' - but we cast it badly. We put Ron Moody into the part - a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/as-a-complete-score-i-love-sherlock-holmes-but-we-cast-it-badly-we/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [“It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life for me And I'm feeling good”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/it-s-a-new-dawn-it-s-a-new-day-it-s-a-new-life-for-me-and-i-m-feeling/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [When I wake up, if I can't figure something out during the daytime and then wake up at 4 A.M., it's there immediately. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/when-i-wake-up-if-i-can-t-figure-something-out-during-the-daytime-and/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [I'm musical in the sense that I can write a song, but I realised when I was learning the piano as a child that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/i-m-musical-in-the-sense-that-i-can-write-a-song-but-i-realised-when/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > ['Retirement' is a dirty word. Luckily, I can carry on working until I drop, provided I retain my mental abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/retirement-is-a-dirty-word-luckily-i-can-carry-on-working-until-i/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [I fell in love with the idea of writing songs when I was a child. I thought I was going to be a journalist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/i-fell-in-love-with-the-idea-of-writing-songs-when-i-was-a-child-i/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [It takes a while to get a show on, and I've a number that have not yet been produced. I want to see all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/it-takes-a-while-to-get-a-show-on-and-i-ve-a-number-that-have-not-yet/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [I was talking to a TV bigwig, and he said, 'Nobody under 35 knows who Sammy Davis is.' Well, you'll hear angry denials of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/i-was-talking-to-a-tv-bigwig-and-he-said-nobody-under-35-knows-who/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [I never try to predict what will happen to any project, ever. There are so many factors. Does the public like the subject matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/i-never-try-to-predict-what-will-happen-to-any-project-ever-there-are/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [When I write a song, I hear the music and words at the same time - one suggests the form of the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/when-i-write-a-song-i-hear-the-music-and-words-at-the-same-time-one/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [I wanted to grow up to be George and Ira Gershwin from the age of about six.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/i-wanted-to-grow-up-to-be-george-and-ira-gershwin-from-the-age-of/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [My view is that the great songwriting happened between 1920 and 1960. We're all, in our different ways, descended from the great songwriters of that era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/my-view-is-that-the-great-songwriting-happened-between-1920-and-1960/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [I think we have to assume we have one life. Though, having said that, I did write a song called 'You Only Live Twice.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/i-think-we-have-to-assume-we-have-one-life-though-having-said-that-i/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [If you can't get a word at first, it's always waiting somewhere, and it's just a case of finding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/if-you-can-t-get-a-word-at-first-it-s-always-waiting-somewhere-and-it/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) [Explore all 21 Leslie Bricusse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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