--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wrote 'She's a Lady' on the back of a…" description: "\"I wrote 'She's a Lady' on the back of a TWA menu, flying back from London after doing Tom Jones's TV show. Jones's manager wanted me to write him a son..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/paul-anka-22494_after_i-wrote-she-s-a-lady-on-the-back-of-a-tw_1209827.jpg" --- # I wrote 'She's a Lady' on the back of a TWA menu, flying… ![“I wrote 'She's a Lady' on the back of a TWA menu, flying back from London after doing Tom Jones's TV show. Jones's manager wanted me to write him a song. If I have an idea and I don't have a pad of paper, I'll write on whatever is available. What's the difference? Paper is paper.” quote by Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/paul-anka-22494_after_i-wrote-she-s-a-lady-on-the-back-of-a-tw_1209827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/paul-anka-22494_after_i-wrote-she-s-a-lady-on-the-back-of-a-tw_1209827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/paul-anka-22494_after_i-wrote-she-s-a-lady-on-the-back-of-a-tw_1209827.jpg) > “I wrote 'She's a Lady' on the back of a TWA menu, flying back from London after doing Tom Jones's TV show. Jones's manager wanted me to write him a song. If I have an idea and I don't have a pad of paper, I'll write on whatever is available. What's the difference? Paper is paper.” [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creativity can be sparked anywhere; the medium is less important than the idea itself. **In simple terms:** Ideas matter more than the tools used. Key Takeaway Capture ideas wherever they arise. Themes creativity resourcefulness spontaneity Mood energetic inspirational Type practical anecdotal When to use this quote - songwriting - travel - busy environments - improvisation Key Concepts Artistic process inspiration Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure ideas are refined after capture? - What habits help you keep a portable idea log? A Different Perspective May undervalue the role of structured drafting and revision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [Pad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pad/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Things began to pick up for me record-wise when in 1971 I wrote 'She's a Lady' for Tom Jones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/things-began-to-pick-up-for-me-record-wise-when-in-1971-i-wrote-she-s/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [I wrapped my Christmas presents early this year, but I used the wrong paper. See, the paper I used said 'Happy Birthday' on it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-wrapped-my-christmas-presents-early-this-year-but-i-used-the-wrong/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [ “This \[waxed paper\] is the paper that is perfect for keeping air-dried hams fresh. You could use cling film but it often causes the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-slater/this-waxed-paper-is-the-paper-that-is-perfect-for-keeping-air-dried/) [Nigel Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-slater/) > [“You see how fake it all is. It's not even hard enough to be made out of plastic. It's a paper town. I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-see-how-fake-it-all-is-it-s-not-even-hard-enough-to-be-made-out-2/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [My pockets got paper on paper. This shit just look like a novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/my-pockets-got-paper-on-paper-this-shit-just-look-like-a-novel/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Not every money is a paper, and not every paper is money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerthu/not-every-money-is-a-paper-and-not-every-paper-is-money/) Kerthu > [If I feel good about my parenting, I have no interest in judging other people's choices. If I feel good about my body, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-i-feel-good-about-my-parenting-i-have-no-interest-in-judging-other/) [Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I look cooking! Particularly pad thai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-weston-jones/i-look-cooking-particularly-pad-thai/) [Tom Weston-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-weston-jones/) > [My first girlfriend broke up with me on a yellow legal pad. 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There's the requisite leather couch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rodrick/matt-leinart-s-l-a-duplex-looks-more-like-a-chuck-e-cheese-safe-house/) [Stephen Rodrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rodrick/) > [For the last 15 years that I have been performing, all I ever wanted to do was transcend poetry to the world. See, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemon-andersen/for-the-last-15-years-that-i-have-been-performing-all-i-ever-wanted/) [Lemon Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemon-andersen/) > [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) ## More by Paul Anka > [My father, my mother, and then my father was always on top of me - 'Keep your nose clean. Do you love what you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/my-father-my-mother-and-then-my-father-was-always-on-top-of-me-keep/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [My family was a good family, I had a great Canadian education and I came up in a great, little town like Ottawa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/my-family-was-a-good-family-i-had-a-great-canadian-education-and-i/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [The technology is good and it's bad. You know what you're dealing with out there musically, but my head stops at this electronic stuff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/the-technology-is-good-and-it-s-bad-you-know-what-you-re-dealing-with/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [I don't think you can get an idea of what Israel is like until you get here. People don't realize what a great place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/i-don-t-think-you-can-get-an-idea-of-what-israel-is-like-until-you/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [I had this talent for these stupid little teenage songs. 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I like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/i-respect-jay-z-i-like-him/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [I just couldn't get anyone to sing my songs, so I had to sing my own tunes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/i-just-couldn-t-get-anyone-to-sing-my-songs-so-i-had-to-sing-my-own/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [As long as you're growing in your profession and you're respected, you're going to stay as clean as you can, because you've got something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/as-long-as-you-re-growing-in-your-profession-and-you-re-respected-you/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [I've always believed that if you don't stay moving, they will throw dirt on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/i-ve-always-believed-that-if-you-don-t-stay-moving-they-will-throw/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [The thing is to be able to outlast the trends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/the-thing-is-to-be-able-to-outlast-the-trends/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [I had this talent for these stupid little teenage songs. I just couldn't get anyone to sing my songs, so I had to sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/i-had-this-talent-for-these-stupid-little-teenage-songs-i-just-couldn-2/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [You know, my grandmother used to say, 'While I'm down here planning, God's up there laughing.' I guess the thing with most things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/you-know-my-grandmother-used-to-say-while-i-m-down-here-planning-god/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [And now the end is near And so I face the final curtain, My friends, I'll say it clear, I'll state my case of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/and-now-the-end-is-near-and-so-i-face-the-final-curtain-my-friends-i/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) > [Canada is a good country to be from. It has a gentler slower pace - it lends perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anka/canada-is-a-good-country-to-be-from-it-has-a-gentler-slower-pace-it/) [Paul Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) [Explore all 27 Paul Anka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anka/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. 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But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/) Bert Lahr > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. 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