--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cut the crap. Just don't try to be…" description: "\"Cut the crap. Just don't try to be anything that you aren't, have ambition but when it comes to lyrics especially just be honest and write from the hea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/max-bemis-32228_ambition_cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anythi_91321.jpg" --- # Cut the crap. Just don't try to be anything that you… ![“Cut the crap. Just don't try to be anything that you aren't, have ambition but when it comes to lyrics especially just be honest and write from the heart almost to an awkward degree, at least that's what works for me.” quote by Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/max-bemis-32228_ambition_cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anythi_91321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/max-bemis-32228_ambition_cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anythi_91321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/max-bemis-32228_ambition_cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anythi_91321.jpg) > “Cut the crap. Just don't try to be anything that you aren't, have ambition but when it comes to lyrics especially just be honest and write from the heart almost to an awkward degree, at least that's what works for me.” [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authenticity in songwriting demands abandoning pretenses, embracing ambition, and allowing vulnerability to shape lyrics, even if it feels uncomfortable. **In simple terms:** Write lyrics honestly, even when it feels awkward. Key Takeaway Genuine expression outweighs polished pretense. Themes songwriting authenticity vulnerability ambition honesty Mood raw introspective determined Type advice personal credo When to use this quote - songwriting retreats - lyric workshops - personal diary to lyric conversion - therapy sessions for artists Key Concepts creative honesty psychology of self‑expression Practical Applications - practice free‑writing to capture raw emotion - set limits on editing during first drafts Questions to Reflect On - When does vulnerability become self‑indulgence? - How can artists balance honesty with audience accessibility? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on raw honesty can produce self‑indulgent or inaccessible lyrics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Being honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Lyrics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyrics/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“To be honest, I write for myself. Therapy, I suppose people would call it. So when someone buys and reads one of my stories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-black/to-be-honest-i-write-for-myself-therapy-i-suppose-people-would-call/) [Robert Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-black/) > [I write because I love to. I'm very, very fortunate to have found something that I love doing that also earns my living. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paul-curtis/i-write-because-i-love-to-i-m-very-very-fortunate-to-have-found/) [Christopher Paul Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paul-curtis/) > [With songs, I've always pledged to be honest. I write my songs because I've lived them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/with-songs-i-ve-always-pledged-to-be-honest-i-write-my-songs-because/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [Songs are not better just because they're emotionally honest. To write a song well, you have to put some work into it and grind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-dylan/songs-are-not-better-just-because-they-re-emotionally-honest-to-write/) [Jakob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-dylan/) > [I don't really see how any song can not feel contrived if it isn't honest, and how could I write honest songs if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/i-don-t-really-see-how-any-song-can-not-feel-contrived-if-it-isn-t/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [We write about everything; we are very honest when we write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perrie-edwards/we-write-about-everything-we-are-very-honest-when-we-write/) [Perrie Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perrie-edwards/) > [There are certainly a lot of people - and I won't name names - who are getting by simply on expression. And I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-dylan/there-are-certainly-a-lot-of-people-and-i-won-t-name-names-who-are/) [Jakob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-dylan/) > [There is that small chance I’ll get what I want; to be someone to relate to for anyone who is as alienated, awkward, spastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/there-is-that-small-chance-i-ll-get-what-i-want-to-be-someone-to/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [“Write it on your heart you are the most beautiful soul of the Universe. Realize it, honor it and celebrate the life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/write-it-on-your-heart-you-are-the-most-beautiful-soul-of-the/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [I write with all my heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-write-with-all-my-heart/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Where are they written?" "In the world around us. Merely be attentive to what happens in your life, and you will discover where, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/where-are-they-written-in-the-world-around-us-merely-be-attentive-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“When you're (traveling) with someone else, you share each discovery, but when you are alone, you have to carry each experience with you like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/when-you-re-traveling-with-someone-else-you-share-each-discovery-but/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/write-it-on-your-heart-that-every-day-is-the-best-day-in-the-year/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If even I write it out from my heart I want u to know I love you still promise me you wont forget and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-johnson/if-even-i-write-it-out-from-my-heart-i-want-u-to-know-i-love-you/) [Natalya Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-johnson/) > [I’m going to trust this, I’m going to follow my path and my passion and I’m going to write from my heart...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/i-m-going-to-trust-this-i-m-going-to-follow-my-path-and-my-passion/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) ## More by Max Bemis > [It's healthy for a band to become slightly less relevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/it-s-healthy-for-a-band-to-become-slightly-less-relevant/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [There is that small chance I’ll get what I want; to be someone to relate to for anyone who is as alienated, awkward, spastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/there-is-that-small-chance-i-ll-get-what-i-want-to-be-someone-to/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [In comics, the writer is also the director in a certain way. So if this were a film, you wouldn't tell the cinematographer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/in-comics-the-writer-is-also-the-director-in-a-certain-way-so-if-this/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [I'm living a life until I die so there will be no shortage of things to sing about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/i-m-living-a-life-until-i-die-so-there-will-be-no-shortage-of-things/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [Don't be afraid to put anything on paper because the best art has some element of danger to it and if you hold back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/don-t-be-afraid-to-put-anything-on-paper-because-the-best-art-has/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [My marriage is the most important thing in my life, but in a weird way I'm able to focus on other things more clearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/my-marriage-is-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-but-in-a-weird-way/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [I'm sort of religious, actually. God can be interpreted many ways, I think. If others were more open-minded about what god can be, instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/i-m-sort-of-religious-actually-god-can-be-interpreted-many-ways-i/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [Try to overcome your doubt. Believe you are beautiful. Look at yourself through someone else's green eyes. Believe someone out there will find you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/try-to-overcome-your-doubt-believe-you-are-beautiful-look-at-yourself/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [I used to download a lot of music, and I understand it in this economy, but personally I buy my music. It feels good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/i-used-to-download-a-lot-of-music-and-i-understand-it-in-this-economy/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [You have to compensate for the luck thing by working as hard as you can and doing the very best you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/you-have-to-compensate-for-the-luck-thing-by-working-as-hard-as-you/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [Don't decide that you're going to be a writer or musician and just expect it to happen because it's a big gamble and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/don-t-decide-that-you-re-going-to-be-a-writer-or-musician-and-just/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [My grandparents are holocaust survivors so I was really aware at a young age how horrible human beings can be to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/my-grandparents-are-holocaust-survivors-so-i-was-really-aware-at-a/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [I think life awards you if have your priorities in the right place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/i-think-life-awards-you-if-have-your-priorities-in-the-right-place/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [I like to play music that people can feel deeply but it's also interesting to listen to - a nice balance between cathartic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/i-like-to-play-music-that-people-can-feel-deeply-but-it-s-also/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) [Explore all 15 Max Bemis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cut the crap. Just don't try to be anything that you aren't, have ambition but when it comes to lyrics especially just be honest and write from the heart almost to an awkward degree, at least that's what works for me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max Bemis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anything-that-you-aren-t-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anything-that-you-aren-t-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/max-bemis-32228_ambition_cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anythi_91321.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/max-bemis-32228_ambition_cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anythi_91321.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/max-bemis-32228_ambition_cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anythi_91321.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cut the crap. Just don't try to be anything that you aren't, have ambition but when it comes to lyrics…” — Max Bemis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Max Bemis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Cut the crap. Just don't try...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anything-that-you-aren-t-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/cut-the-crap-just-don-t-try-to-be-anything-that-you-aren-t-have/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```