--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people, like Leonard Cohen, write…" description: "\"Some people, like Leonard Cohen, write one album every 10 years, and labor over a song for five years at a time.\" — PJ Harvey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/pj-harvey-3601_albums_some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one_1445092.jpg" --- # Some people, like Leonard Cohen, write one album every 10… ![“Some people, like Leonard Cohen, write one album every 10 years, and labor over a song for five years at a time.” quote by PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/pj-harvey-3601_albums_some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one_1445092.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/pj-harvey-3601_albums_some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one_1445092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/pj-harvey-3601_albums_some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one_1445092.jpg) > “Some people, like Leonard Cohen, write one album every 10 years, and labor over a song for five years at a time.” [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the rarity and dedication of artists like Leonard Cohen who take years to perfect a single album, emphasizing patience and craftsmanship. **In simple terms:** Great art can take many years to create. Key Takeaway Value patience and deep work in creative pursuits. Themes art patience craftsmanship dedication music Mood thoughtful admiring Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - producing a concept album - refining a song over years - building a legacy - managing creative burnout - setting realistic timelines Key Concepts album cycles artistic process long-term focus Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to spend years on a project? - How do you stay inspired over long periods? A Different Perspective Not all artists can afford such long cycles due to market pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [ It seems to me that \[Andy Cohen\] can write these diaries forever. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/it-seems-to-me-that-andy-cohen-can-write-these-diaries-forever/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [Anytime I have an idea, I'll make sure that I put it down so that when we do sit down to write an album,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/anytime-i-have-an-idea-i-ll-make-sure-that-i-put-it-down-so-that-when/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [To write an album takes so much focus and selfish time, to just write and think about your life. For me. Maybe not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-stefani/to-write-an-album-takes-so-much-focus-and-selfish-time-to-just-write/) [Gwen Stefani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-stefani/) > [As far as k. d. lang is concerned, she grew up devouring my music. She sent me a song when she was 8 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-murray/as-far-as-k-d-lang-is-concerned-she-grew-up-devouring-my-music-she/) [Anne Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-murray/) > [“The song of the years, the melody of life. Everything else - is not you, all others are strangers. And you yourself, who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-sokolov/the-song-of-the-years-the-melody-of-life-everything-else-is-not-you/) [Sasha Sokolov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-sokolov/) > [A great song is something that you go back to in twenty years and it's still so influential to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-nott/a-great-song-is-something-that-you-go-back-to-in-twenty-years-and-it/) [Georgia Nott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-nott/) > ['The Last Five Years' is this quintessential piece, and every song is an actor's song, and every song is incredibly difficult and incredibly powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-jordan/the-last-five-years-is-this-quintessential-piece-and-every-song-is-an/) [Jeremy Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-jordan/) > [I wrote my first song when I was 6 years old. It was actually called 'Six Years Old.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/i-wrote-my-first-song-when-i-was-6-years-old-it-was-actually-called/) [Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/) > [I wrote my first song at 9 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lainey-wilson/i-wrote-my-first-song-at-9-years-old/) [Lainey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lainey-wilson/) > [I made my first song when I was 9 years old. Just beating on garbage cans, having people beat box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/i-made-my-first-song-when-i-was-9-years-old-just-beating-on-garbage/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [I sang the 'Sunday Night Football' theme song two years in a row - my first part in American culture, although I still don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/i-sang-the-sunday-night-football-theme-song-two-years-in-a-row-my/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [I always say it took me 10 minutes to write 'Cars,' but if I am honest it could have been even less than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-always-say-it-took-me-10-minutes-to-write-cars-but-if-i-am-honest/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I'm always writing, the past 10 years. A lot has changed, in that it's something I do every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-m-always-writing-the-past-10-years-a-lot-has-changed-in-that-it-s/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [You could say, 'Oh, we're gonna write the heaviest album of all time' or 'We're gonna write an album that sounds like 'Iowa.'' Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/you-could-say-oh-we-re-gonna-write-the-heaviest-album-of-all-time-or/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [When a situation rises just write it into an album. Singing straight, too cold I don't really like my flow, no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-republic/when-a-situation-rises-just-write-it-into-an-album-singing-straight/) [One Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-republic/) ## More by PJ Harvey > [I feel like I make a soundtrack for the come up, and I feel like there's so many people that's trying to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-feel-like-i-make-a-soundtrack-for-the-come-up-and-i-feel-like-there/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [Like I have to pretend like I'm a male rapper, that I got stacks and we're in the club, and what do I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/like-i-have-to-pretend-like-i-m-a-male-rapper-that-i-got-stacks-and/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I just started writing and writing for people. And then, like I guess after (a) year of getting some placements, I kinda got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-just-started-writing-and-writing-for-people-and-then-like-i-guess/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [You can sing a very aggressive word in such a way that it's very funny. You can change words, completely turn them around on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/you-can-sing-a-very-aggressive-word-in-such-a-way-that-it-s-very/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [ The first song I heard from me was Meek Mill \["I Don't Know"\], it was his first single before he went (to jail). I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/the-first-song-i-heard-from-me-was-meek-mill-i-don-t-know-it-was-his/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [The way I make music is unique to myself and the way I have lived my life - no one else would tell that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/the-way-i-make-music-is-unique-to-myself-and-the-way-i-have-lived-my/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [People have this idea of me being some kind of monster, and that's the complete opposite of who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/people-have-this-idea-of-me-being-some-kind-of-monster-and-that-s-the/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I like things that are beaten up, that have lived a little. I like things that are real. I like things that are made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-like-things-that-are-beaten-up-that-have-lived-a-little-i-like/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [If you want to be good at anything, you have to work hard at it. It doesn't just fall from the sky. I work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/if-you-want-to-be-good-at-anything-you-have-to-work-hard-at-it-it/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I see men come and go, but there'll be one who'll collect my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-see-men-come-and-go-but-there-ll-be-one-who-ll-collect-my-soul/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [At this point in my life, I'm probably not gonna be able to stop writing because it's gonna help me be able to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/at-this-point-in-my-life-i-m-probably-not-gonna-be-able-to-stop/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I was really influenced by a lot of Disney soundtracks, because that's what I used to watch all the time, and they always put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-was-really-influenced-by-a-lot-of-disney-soundtracks-because-that-s/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I do write a lot of prose. It's not disciplined enough yet that it's actually become stories, or short stories. The idea of writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-do-write-a-lot-of-prose-it-s-not-disciplined-enough-yet-that-it-s/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I think Ive got a pretty good sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-think-ive-got-a-pretty-good-sense-of-humor/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I never feel that I have to adopt a character. It's more the way I choose to present the music and that's always based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-never-feel-that-i-have-to-adopt-a-character-it-s-more-the-way-i/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) [Explore all 126 PJ Harvey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) ## More Albums quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) [Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some people, like Leonard Cohen, write one album every 10 years, and labor over a song for five years at a time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "PJ Harvey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one-album-every-10-years-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Albums" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one-album-every-10-years-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/pj-harvey-3601_albums_some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one_1445092.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/pj-harvey-3601_albums_some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one_1445092.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/pj-harvey-3601_albums_some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one_1445092.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some people, like Leonard Cohen, write one album every 10 years, and labor over a song for five years at a…” — PJ Harvey", "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": "PJ Harvey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some people, like Leonard Cohen, write...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one-album-every-10-years-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/some-people-like-leonard-cohen-write-one-album-every-10-years-and/#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 } } ] } ```