--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a while, I felt a little…" description: "\"For a while, I felt a little self-impelled to write Lou Reed Kind of songs. I should have understood that a Lou Reed song was anything I wanted to writ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/lou-reed-1654_felt_for-a-while-i-felt-a-little-self-impelle_2670219.png" --- # For a while, I felt a little self-impelled to write Lou… ![“For a while, I felt a little self-impelled to write Lou Reed Kind of songs. I should have understood that a Lou Reed song was anything I wanted to write about.” quote by Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/lou-reed-1654_felt_for-a-while-i-felt-a-little-self-impelle_2670219.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/lou-reed-1654_felt_for-a-while-i-felt-a-little-self-impelle_2670219.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/lou-reed-1654_felt_for-a-while-i-felt-a-little-self-impelle_2670219.png) > “For a while, I felt a little self-impelled to write Lou Reed Kind of songs. I should have understood that a Lou Reed song was anything I wanted to write about.” [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker mistakenly believed they needed to emulate Lou Reed’s style, but realized any song could be Lou Reed‑like if it reflected personal intent. **In simple terms:** Thought you must copy a style, but you can create your own version of it. Key Takeaway Embrace personal voice over imitation. Themes creativity authenticity influence Mood reflective inspired Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - personal expression - genre exploration Key Concepts artistic identity musical interpretation Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor an influence without mimicking it? - What does “Lou Reed song” mean to you? A Different Perspective Copying style limits originality and may stifle personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Partying means drinking. It also means playing records by Lou Reed and Chicago, which I thought was a city but is also a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/partying-means-drinking-it-also-means-playing-records-by-lou-reed-and/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [ In adolescence I started to find out about Robert Wilson because I saw Lou Reed's "Timerocker" at \[the Brooklyn Academy of Music\]. I started… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-brookner/in-adolescence-i-started-to-find-out-about-robert-wilson-because-i/) [Aaron Brookner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-brookner/) > [I definitely have a Luddite's approach to what's going on. I find that as I get older, I get stupider. For me, the iPhone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-definitely-have-a-luddite-s-approach-to-what-s-going-on-i-find-that/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [Is it a different New York since Lou Reed died? It’s been a different New York since I saw him in his sweatpants at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klausner/is-it-a-different-new-york-since-lou-reed-died-it-s-been-a-different/) [Julie Klausner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klausner/) > [When I was growing up, I fetishised New York City. It was the land of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, it was where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/when-i-was-growing-up-i-fetishised-new-york-city-it-was-the-land-of/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [It's a miracle that David Bowie, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop are actually still alive today, given how hard they lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-rock/it-s-a-miracle-that-david-bowie-lou-reed-and-iggy-pop-are-actually/) [Mick Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-rock/) > [For a while, the gay thing seemed like such a big deal. But now, I don't think it is. It's just a comedy-drama about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/for-a-while-the-gay-thing-seemed-like-such-a-big-deal-but-now-i-don-t/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [There are beauty icons that I can never be like, sorta like a Gena Rowlands - I'll never have that look. I love Giulietta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/there-are-beauty-icons-that-i-can-never-be-like-sorta-like-a-gena/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [Rock & Roll is so great, people should start dying for it. You don't understand. The music gave you back the beat so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/legs-mcneil/rock-roll-is-so-great-people-should-start-dying-for-it-you-don-t/) [Legs McNeil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/legs-mcneil/) > [When I was a kid, my first favorite song was probably Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapaport/when-i-was-a-kid-my-first-favorite-song-was-probably-lou-reed-s-walk/) [Michael Rapaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapaport/) > [The way Lou Reed wrote and sang about drugs and sex, about the people around him — it was so matter-of-fact,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/the-way-lou-reed-wrote-and-sang-about-drugs-and-sex-about-the-people/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [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/) > [Most of the time when I have met artists who have meant a lot to me, the experience has been well above expectation. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/most-of-the-time-when-i-have-met-artists-who-have-meant-a-lot-to-me/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [The period right before punk rock where people like Lou Reed and Iggy Pop were really strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arto-lindsay/the-period-right-before-punk-rock-where-people-like-lou-reed-and-iggy/) [Arto Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arto-lindsay/) > [I think listening to a lot of Lou Reed when I was a teenager is what encouraged me to just sing however felt good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/i-think-listening-to-a-lot-of-lou-reed-when-i-was-a-teenager-is-what/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) ## More by Lou Reed > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Perfect Night is minimalistic and that's what makes it so forceful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/perfect-night-is-minimalistic-and-that-s-what-makes-it-so-forceful/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I think life is far too short to concentrate on your past. I rather look into the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-think-life-is-far-too-short-to-concentrate-on-your-past-i-rather/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The only thing constantly changing is change, and change is always changing for the worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-only-thing-constantly-changing-is-change-and-change-is-always/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The first generation of CDs sounded terrible. Any chance to remaster would make the music sound better than what was already out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-first-generation-of-cds-sounded-terrible-any-chance-to-remaster/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Perfect Night has that magic and it has the raw energy that grabs you by the throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/perfect-night-has-that-magic-and-it-has-the-raw-energy-that-grabs-you/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Eve kissed Able, that's how he got murdered by Cain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/eve-kissed-able-that-s-how-he-got-murdered-by-cain/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Music should come crashing out of your speakers and grab you, and the lyrics should challenge whatever preconceived notions that listener has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/music-should-come-crashing-out-of-your-speakers-and-grab-you-and-the/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Underachievers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose except your fright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/underachievers-of-the-world-unite-you-have-nothing-to-lose-except/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“There's a bit of magic in everything And then some loss to even things out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/there-s-a-bit-of-magic-in-everything-and-then-some-loss-to-even/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [You've gotta blow the roof off of your heart and let the universe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-ve-gotta-blow-the-roof-off-of-your-heart-and-let-the-universe-in/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Sometimes, you've got to be in a place. You're just another guy. You can just blend in. I live out in the wilds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/sometimes-you-ve-got-to-be-in-a-place-you-re-just-another-guy-you-can/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [How could you even dream or think something of someone who is as uncommercial as I am?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/how-could-you-even-dream-or-think-something-of-someone-who-is-as/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [All the people have gone to war leaving no interrogator to mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/all-the-people-have-gone-to-war-leaving-no-interrogator-to-mind/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I always thought martial arts was the most modern choreography we could have right now, and I always wanted to put it to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-always-thought-martial-arts-was-the-most-modern-choreography-we/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) [Explore all 219 Lou Reed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## More Felt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [My life was incoherent to me. I felt it quivering, spitting out broken teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-fox/my-life-was-incoherent-to-me-i-felt-it-quivering-spitting-out-broken/) [Paula Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-fox/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. 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