--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first time I wrote a song, I couldn't…" description: "\"The first time I wrote a song, I couldn't really believe - 'Can you just do that? You're just allowed?' I never thought about songs on the radio and wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/lp-9491_believe_the-first-time-i-wrote-a-song-i-couldn-t_435668.jpg" --- # The first time I wrote a song, I couldn't really believe… ![“The first time I wrote a song, I couldn't really believe - 'Can you just do that? You're just allowed?' I never thought about songs on the radio and who wrote them.” quote by LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/lp-9491_believe_the-first-time-i-wrote-a-song-i-couldn-t_435668.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/lp-9491_believe_the-first-time-i-wrote-a-song-i-couldn-t_435668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/lp-9491_believe_the-first-time-i-wrote-a-song-i-couldn-t_435668.jpg) > “The first time I wrote a song, I couldn't really believe - 'Can you just do that? You're just allowed?' I never thought about songs on the radio and who wrote them.” [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reflects on disbelief and freedom when first creating music, highlighting creative spontaneity **In simple terms:** First songwriting felt unreal and liberating Key Takeaway Embrace creative freedom early on Themes creativity artistic discovery self‑expression Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal artistic When to use this quote - music composition - personal journaling - creative workshops Key Concepts Songwriting creative confidence Questions to Reflect On - How did that freedom shape later work? - What barriers did you later encounter? A Different Perspective Early naiveté may ignore industry realities ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio/) [Radio Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio-wrote-528925/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Song Couldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-couldn-2525134/) [Songs Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-radio-443585/) [Thought Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-songs-3831554/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wrote Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-song/) ## Related quotes > [We have this song called 'Radio,' and I wrote that song when we needed one more song for a record. So I went back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-skiba/we-have-this-song-called-radio-and-i-wrote-that-song-when-we-needed/) [Matt Skiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-skiba/) > [For many people, Mrs. Brown has come from the middle of nowhere. But Mrs. Brown was first written for radio. I wrote it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-o-carroll/for-many-people-mrs-brown-has-come-from-the-middle-of-nowhere-but-mrs/) [Brendan O'Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-o-carroll/) > [I thought there were too many songs about people's personal lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/i-thought-there-were-too-many-songs-about-people-s-personal-lives/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I never thought of any of our songs as 'hits,' so to speak - we just wrote them for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-never-thought-of-any-of-our-songs-as-hits-so-to-speak-we-just-wrote/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [I used to listen to songs on the radio and play that junk back on that little keyboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-will-made-it/i-used-to-listen-to-songs-on-the-radio-and-play-that-junk-back-on/) [Mike Will Made It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-will-made-it/) > [If you asked me to write a rock song or a rap song, I couldn't do it because they're not in my fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/if-you-asked-me-to-write-a-rock-song-or-a-rap-song-i-couldn-t-do-it/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [That song, 'Couldn't Be A Better Player,' was a major turning point in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/that-song-couldn-t-be-a-better-player-was-a-major-turning-point-in-my/) [Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/) > [I wrote a thirty-second song that I couldn't finish for a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-wrote-a-thirty-second-song-that-i-couldn-t-finish-for-a-year/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [With 'Love,' after I wrote that song, I couldn't listen to it, I still can't listen to 'Love,' I just can't. Like I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/with-love-after-i-wrote-that-song-i-couldn-t-listen-to-it-i-still-can/) [Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/) > [The truth of it is that every singer out there with songs on the radio is raising the next generation, so make your words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-truth-of-it-is-that-every-singer-out-there-with-songs-on-the/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [“If I had to sum up what he did to me, I’d say it was this: he made me sing along to all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-offill/if-i-had-to-sum-up-what-he-did-to-me-i-d-say-it-was-this-he-made-me/) [Jenny Offill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-offill/) > [About 50 percent of the songs on the radio are like, 'Live like tomorrow doesn't exist. Like it's my birthday. Like it's the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/about-50-percent-of-the-songs-on-the-radio-are-like-live-like/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [I'm doing more than just making songs for the radio. I want it to be a well rounded sounding experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario/i-m-doing-more-than-just-making-songs-for-the-radio-i-want-it-to-be-a/) [Mario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario/) > [Most songs on the radio are so straightforward and it just doesn't open up people's minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/most-songs-on-the-radio-are-so-straightforward-and-it-just-doesn-t/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [Life is not a music player to listen to your favorite songs... its a radio ,you must adjust to enjoy whatever comes by!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/life-is-not-a-music-player-to-listen-to-your-favorite-songs-its-a/) [Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/) ## More by LP > [If you leave songs sitting around, you do yourself a disservice. You have to put them out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/if-you-leave-songs-sitting-around-you-do-yourself-a-disservice-you/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [When I'm singing my songs on stage, I feel like I'm doing a rock show, even though I don't think all my music is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/when-i-m-singing-my-songs-on-stage-i-feel-like-i-m-doing-a-rock-show/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > ['Girls Go Wild' was born out of a Joshua Tree excursion with some close friends after coming home from a long bit of touring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/girls-go-wild-was-born-out-of-a-joshua-tree-excursion-with-some-close/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [I'm a very emotional singer and songwriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/i-m-a-very-emotional-singer-and-songwriter/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [I'm not looking to be a gay poster child. If you're gay, and I inspire you, I don't want to put that down. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/i-m-not-looking-to-be-a-gay-poster-child-if-you-re-gay-and-i-inspire/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [I feel like how I live my life is my own political statement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/i-feel-like-how-i-live-my-life-is-my-own-political-statement/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [When I first got into the major label system, they were like, 'Hey, you're great - now write with a million people so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/when-i-first-got-into-the-major-label-system-they-were-like-hey-you/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [The two years I spent solely writing for other people kind of took me away from myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/the-two-years-i-spent-solely-writing-for-other-people-kind-of-took-me/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [There is a pop element to what I do, but I'm going for a deeper, more left-of-center vibe. That's the sound I've always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/there-is-a-pop-element-to-what-i-do-but-i-m-going-for-a-deeper-more/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [I appreciate good work no matter where it's coming from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/i-appreciate-good-work-no-matter-where-it-s-coming-from/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [I found New York too... 'vertical,' closed off, I didn't feel the muse like I did in L.A. Maybe it's the weather?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/i-found-new-york-too-vertical-closed-off-i-didn-t-feel-the-muse-like/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [I have a working-class approach to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/i-have-a-working-class-approach-to-music/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [It's interesting what a new song can do to the other songs. A new song can be the grout of the record, tie the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/it-s-interesting-what-a-new-song-can-do-to-the-other-songs-a-new-song/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [Trying to launch a career as an artist is like trying to run through a crowd holding hands with five people. It's so difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/trying-to-launch-a-career-as-an-artist-is-like-trying-to-run-through/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) > [My mom died before she knew I was gay, and my dad thought it was a phase, then realized it wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/my-mom-died-before-she-knew-i-was-gay-and-my-dad-thought-it-was-a/) [LP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) [Explore all 72 LP quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lp/) ## More Believe 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/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [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/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [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/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first time I wrote a song, I couldn't really believe - 'Can you just do that? You're just allowed?' 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