--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I got behind that pencil and nothing…" description: "\"I got behind that pencil and nothing happened for many years, but since they put me in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, I've turned around. I took a good ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/otis-blackwell-40983_behinds_i-got-behind-that-pencil-and-nothing-hap_167148.jpg" --- # I got behind that pencil and nothing happened for many… ![“I got behind that pencil and nothing happened for many years, but since they put me in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, I've turned around. I took a good look at myself and said, I think it's time to get back at work.” quote by Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/otis-blackwell-40983_behinds_i-got-behind-that-pencil-and-nothing-hap_167148.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/otis-blackwell-40983_behinds_i-got-behind-that-pencil-and-nothing-hap_167148.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/otis-blackwell-40983_behinds_i-got-behind-that-pencil-and-nothing-hap_167148.jpg) > “I got behind that pencil and nothing happened for many years, but since they put me in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, I've turned around. I took a good look at myself and said, I think it's time to get back at work.” [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognition sparked self‑assessment and renewed dedication to creative work after a period of stagnation. **In simple terms:** Fame prompted a fresh look and return to work. Key Takeaway Use success as a catalyst for growth. Themes creativity career motivation recognition Mood determined optimistic Type motivational career. When to use this quote - songwriting - career revival - personal development - goal setting Key Concepts self‑reflection productivity legacy Questions to Reflect On - How can we sustain motivation beyond accolades? - What habits keep creativity alive? A Different Perspective External validation can be fleeting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Hall of fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hall-of-fame/) [Songwriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriters/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“O Lord, turned me back upon myself. You took me from behind my own back, where I had placed myself because I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/o-lord-turned-me-back-upon-myself-you-took-me-from-behind-my-own-back/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“It was after lunch, and no one had died yet, so I took that as a good sign.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kaye-quinn/it-was-after-lunch-and-no-one-had-died-yet-so-i-took-that-as-a-good/) [Susan Kaye Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kaye-quinn/) > [I would not leave you in your times of trouble. We never could have come this far. I took the good times, I'll take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-would-not-leave-you-in-your-times-of-trouble-we-never-could-have/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I just took the good and the bad from all of the coaches I've been around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-haley/i-just-took-the-good-and-the-bad-from-all-of-the-coaches-i-ve-been/) [Charles Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-haley/) > [All it took was one good role to convince producers all over again that I could act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/all-it-took-was-one-good-role-to-convince-producers-all-over-again/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [I took a good one year off before and after Haroon's birth, so from the beginning I have been right into it. For me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranvir-shorey/i-took-a-good-one-year-off-before-and-after-haroon-s-birth-so-from/) [Ranvir Shorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranvir-shorey/) > [I like this town, it's really great. They've put me in The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. This town is about music. It's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-blackwell/i-like-this-town-it-s-really-great-they-ve-put-me-in-the-nashville/) [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) > [I've been turned down for a lot of TV because they didn't think there was a place for Divine on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-ve-been-turned-down-for-a-lot-of-tv-because-they-didn-t-think-there/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [At a certain point, you have to face the fact that you've turned into an old fart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/at-a-certain-point-you-have-to-face-the-fact-that-you-ve-turned-into/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [At Atletico, I've improved at the highest level, and in the Champions League, I've turned a corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-griezmann/at-atletico-i-ve-improved-at-the-highest-level-and-in-the-champions/) [Antoine Griezmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-griezmann/) > [I don't regret anything that I've turned down, and I don't regret anything that I've done, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-frost/i-don-t-regret-anything-that-i-ve-turned-down-and-i-don-t-regret/) [Nick Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-frost/) > [I've turned down a lot of roles to make time to record and tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-ve-turned-down-a-lot-of-roles-to-make-time-to-record-and-tour/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [I've never turned my back on country music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reba-mcentire/i-ve-never-turned-my-back-on-country-music/) [Reba McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reba-mcentire/) > [I've not had it the hardest by any means, but in terms of what I've worked for, I knew what my dream was and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-williamson/i-ve-not-had-it-the-hardest-by-any-means-but-in-terms-of-what-i-ve/) [Leah Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-williamson/) > [I wanted to prove something to everybody - that I've turned my life around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/i-wanted-to-prove-something-to-everybody-that-i-ve-turned-my-life/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) ## More by Otis Blackwell > [I'd hate to be a songwriter starting a career today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-blackwell/i-d-hate-to-be-a-songwriter-starting-a-career-today/) [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) > [I used to be with a publishing house called Roosevelt Music. A gentleman there told me he had seen Peggy Lee perform Fever in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-blackwell/i-used-to-be-with-a-publishing-house-called-roosevelt-music-a/) [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) > [I always figured it was best if I write my songs, take them to my publisher and just lay back. There used to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-blackwell/i-always-figured-it-was-best-if-i-write-my-songs-take-them-to-my/) [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) > [I'd hate to be a songwriter starting a career today...Al Stanton walked in one day and said, 'Otis, I've got an idea. Why don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-blackwell/i-d-hate-to-be-a-songwriter-starting-a-career-today-al-stanton-walked/) [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) > [There have been many times when I've been asked to appear and I'd say to myself, what am I going to talk about? Early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-blackwell/there-have-been-many-times-when-i-ve-been-asked-to-appear-and-i-d-say/) [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) > [I used to go down every year for the remembrance of Elvis' birthday. Memphis State College invited me to sit in the auditorium and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-blackwell/i-used-to-go-down-every-year-for-the-remembrance-of-elvis-birthday/) [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) > [When I started writing it was kind of hard getting people to do my stuff. They' say they couldn't do my style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-blackwell/when-i-started-writing-it-was-kind-of-hard-getting-people-to-do-my/) [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) > [I like this town, it's really great. They've put me in The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. This town is about music. It's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-blackwell/i-like-this-town-it-s-really-great-they-ve-put-me-in-the-nashville/) [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) > [When I was young, I just sat down and started playing Chopsticks at the piano. I got so far and then lost interest. Eventually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-blackwell/when-i-was-young-i-just-sat-down-and-started-playing-chopsticks-at/) [Otis Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) [Explore all 10 Otis Blackwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-blackwell/) ## More Behinds quotes > [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/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I got behind that pencil and nothing happened for many years, but since they put me in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, I've turned around. 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