--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would say I'd rather dig a ditch, you…" description: "\"I would say I'd rather dig a ditch, you know, do hard, manual labor than write lyrics.\" — Natalie Merchant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/natalie-merchant-15980_hard_i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-k_2008931.jpg" --- # I would say I'd rather dig a ditch, you know, do hard… ![“I would say I'd rather dig a ditch, you know, do hard, manual labor than write lyrics.” quote by Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/natalie-merchant-15980_hard_i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-k_2008931.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/natalie-merchant-15980_hard_i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-k_2008931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/natalie-merchant-15980_hard_i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-k_2008931.jpg) > “I would say I'd rather dig a ditch, you know, do hard, manual labor than write lyrics.” [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist prefers physical labor over songwriting, valuing tangible work over creative expression. **In simple terms:** Prefers manual work to writing songs. Key Takeaway Balance creative and practical pursuits. Themes work creativity values Mood thoughtful reflective Type artistic practical When to use this quote - career choices - hobby development - self‑esteem Key Concepts manual labor vs artistic creation Questions to Reflect On - What draws you to hands‑on tasks? - Can both be combined? A Different Perspective Manual work may limit artistic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Lyrics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyrics/) [Manual labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manual-labor/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not scared to dig myself into a ditch and try to find a way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-m-not-scared-to-dig-myself-into-a-ditch-and-try-to-find-a-way-out/) [Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/) > [“Dig yourself a ditch, six feet deep, and bury everything that you've ever said, everything that you've never meant, and everything that has burned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinji-moon/dig-yourself-a-ditch-six-feet-deep-and-bury-everything-that-you-ve/) [Shinji Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinji-moon/) > [I'd rather dig a ditch than go to a dinner party with people I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-than-go-to-a-dinner-party-with-people-i-don-t/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [We can dig ourselves out of the ditch that the progressives and Obama-ites have driven us into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ehrlich/we-can-dig-ourselves-out-of-the-ditch-that-the-progressives-and-obama/) [Bob Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ehrlich/) > [“If you dig one ditch you better dig two cause the trap you set just may be for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/if-you-dig-one-ditch-you-better-dig-two-cause-the-trap-you-set-just/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [“When people tell me to go fly a kite I tell them to go dig a ditch. They say "why dig a ditch"? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/when-people-tell-me-to-go-fly-a-kite-i-tell-them-to-go-dig-a-ditch/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [Manual labor to my father was not only good and decent for it's own sake but, as he was given to saying, it straightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-chase/manual-labor-to-my-father-was-not-only-good-and-decent-for-it-s-own/) [Mary Ellen Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-chase/) > [I worked full time jobs, basically doing manual labor until I could make enough money supporting myself as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/i-worked-full-time-jobs-basically-doing-manual-labor-until-i-could/) [Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/) > [Coming from a working-class background, where my father did manual labor, was a good grounding; I was obsessed with getting a job or getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-marr/coming-from-a-working-class-background-where-my-father-did-manual/) [Johnny Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-marr/) > [Do you see these hands?" Jo said, holding them up. "These were made for caressing handsome men and meant to be adorned with pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/do-you-see-these-hands-jo-said-holding-them-up-these-were-made-for/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I always say the wrestlers provide the music and the announcers write the lyrics. You have to feel what you're seeing and experiencing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/i-always-say-the-wrestlers-provide-the-music-and-the-announcers-write/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [I write most of my own lyrics for my album and I am helping to produce some of the songs as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lohan/i-write-most-of-my-own-lyrics-for-my-album-and-i-am-helping-to/) [Lindsay Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lohan/) > [I wrote out the lyrics that I would do at MAMA 4~5 days in advance. After I said that, Zico hyung told me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-nam-joon/i-wrote-out-the-lyrics-that-i-would-do-at-mama-4-5-days-in-advance/) [Kim Nam-joon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-nam-joon/) > [I used to say it was painful to write lyrics about myself and looking inward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/i-used-to-say-it-was-painful-to-write-lyrics-about-myself-and-looking/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [Whenever I write lyrics and an Americanism slips in, I always cut it straight out. I can't use the word 'babe,' for instance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-o-sullivan/whenever-i-write-lyrics-and-an-americanism-slips-in-i-always-cut-it/) [Gilbert O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-o-sullivan/) ## More by Natalie Merchant > [By calling it a memoir, I meant is as a collection of memories. I thought it was (a more) artful (title) than documentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/by-calling-it-a-memoir-i-meant-is-as-a-collection-of-memories-i/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I don't have a lot of thrilling anecdotes about my career or personal life. All the stuff that is interesting is private and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-don-t-have-a-lot-of-thrilling-anecdotes-about-my-career-or-personal/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I feel we all have the obligation, myself. I want to live in a more humane, civilized society, and I feel like the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-feel-we-all-have-the-obligation-myself-i-want-to-live-in-a-more/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [It's funny, I remember doing the Johnny Carson show, and, uh, I couldn't afford my rent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-carson-show-and-uh-i-couldn-t/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I've found out how overwhelming the media is and the way it drills things into your head, it's almost like a mind control. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-ve-found-out-how-overwhelming-the-media-is-and-the-way-it-drills/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I wish I had appreciated my youth - I should have worn tighter clothing when I could have!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-wish-i-had-appreciated-my-youth-i-should-have-worn-tighter-clothing/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [My mother was a single working mother; she started having children very young. There was a tension inside her about who she wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/my-mother-was-a-single-working-mother-she-started-having-children/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I don't think women's prisons are environments for dance routines, and I don't think mass murder is humorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-don-t-think-women-s-prisons-are-environments-for-dance-routines-and/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [Be true to yourself, and, um, don't worry about some large companies' quarterly profit index.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/be-true-to-yourself-and-um-don-t-worry-about-some-large-companies/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I've never sold my publishing. I have 100% control of all of my publishing and that includes everything, every use of my songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-ve-never-sold-my-publishing-i-have-100-control-of-all-of-my/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [For your kindness, I'm in debt to you. For your selflessness, my admiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/for-your-kindness-i-m-in-debt-to-you-for-your-selflessness-my/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [For they told you life is hard Misery from the start, It's dull, it's slow, it's painful But I tell you life is sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/for-they-told-you-life-is-hard-misery-from-the-start-it-s-dull-it-s/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [When it came time to sequence the album, the new arrangements really demanded a different order. They were so different than they were before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/when-it-came-time-to-sequence-the-album-the-new-arrangements-really/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I don't want to live in a culture of despair. I'd like to live in a culture of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-don-t-want-to-live-in-a-culture-of-despair-i-d-like-to-live-in-a/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I've raised my daughter with no television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-ve-raised-my-daughter-with-no-television/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) [Explore all 41 Natalie Merchant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) ## More Ditch quotes > [If combat means living in a ditch, females have biological problems staying in a ditch for 30 days because they get infections... Males are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/if-combat-means-living-in-a-ditch-females-have-biological-problems/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [If you're in a ditch, and you're looking down, you can see where you're going but you can't see the way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/if-you-re-in-a-ditch-and-you-re-looking-down-you-can-see-where-you-re/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [“A line in the sand can become a rut. A rut can become a ditch, and a ditch can be worn down into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-epperson/a-line-in-the-sand-can-become-a-rut-a-rut-can-become-a-ditch-and-a/) Deborah Epperson > [I say we are climbing out of a ditch and we are climbing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/i-say-we-are-climbing-out-of-a-ditch-and-we-are-climbing-up/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [“I was out of sorts. They are deep, my sorts, a deep ditch, and I am not often out of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-was-out-of-sorts-they-are-deep-my-sorts-a-deep-ditch-and-i-am-not/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [We don't want to go back to the same policies and the same practices that drove our economy into a ditch, that punished the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/we-don-t-want-to-go-back-to-the-same-policies-and-the-same-practices/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [One thing I quickly discovered as a female pilot - ditch the heels!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoey-tur/one-thing-i-quickly-discovered-as-a-female-pilot-ditch-the-heels/) [Zoey Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoey-tur/) > [If we know we're just going to have sex and then ditch the guy, it can be fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-perry/if-we-know-we-re-just-going-to-have-sex-and-then-ditch-the-guy-it-can/) [Rachel Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-perry/) > [I had been in the ditch for 2 and a half min. I wondered if my friends missed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/i-had-been-in-the-ditch-for-2-and-a-half-min-i-wondered-if-my-friends/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [“smeared with grime. His attention was on the rise and fall of the breakers and his uncovered hands were clasped tightly at his back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudy-conn/smeared-with-grime-his-attention-was-on-the-rise-and-fall-of-the/) [Claudy Conn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudy-conn/) > [Ah come on, these streams of light are not so subtle. All along the ditch, signs of life in sinking puddles!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-harmer/ah-come-on-these-streams-of-light-are-not-so-subtle-all-along-the/) [Sarah Harmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-harmer/) > [I find Suez astonishing for the first hour. It is a ditch in a desert, but a stunning one. The sensation of being hemmed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-george/i-find-suez-astonishing-for-the-first-hour-it-is-a-ditch-in-a-desert/) [Rose George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-george/) > [Perhaps someone will have seen mine, the one I’m waiting for, just as I saw him, in a ditch when his hands were making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/perhaps-someone-will-have-seen-mine-the-one-i-m-waiting-for-just-as-i/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [I've never been in a ditch so low that a run wouldn't pop me out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-parent/i-ve-never-been-in-a-ditch-so-low-that-a-run-wouldn-t-pop-me-out-of-it/) [Marc Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-parent/) > [I hit two trees and fell down a ditch. And that was just walking from the lodge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/i-hit-two-trees-and-fell-down-a-ditch-and-that-was-just-walking-from/) [Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/) Browse all 70 Ditch quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would say I'd rather dig a ditch, you know, do hard, manual labor than write lyrics.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Merchant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-know-do-hard-manual-labor-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ditch" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-know-do-hard-manual-labor-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/natalie-merchant-15980_hard_i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-k_2008931.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/natalie-merchant-15980_hard_i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-k_2008931.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/natalie-merchant-15980_hard_i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-k_2008931.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would say I'd rather dig a ditch, you know, do hard, manual labor than write lyrics.” — Natalie Merchant", "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": "Natalie Merchant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would say I'd rather dig...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-know-do-hard-manual-labor-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-would-say-i-d-rather-dig-a-ditch-you-know-do-hard-manual-labor-than/#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 } } ] } ```