--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to write music that will outlive me." description: "\"I want to write music that will outlive me.\" — Ray LaMontagne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/ray-lamontagne-14474_music_i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive_1995373.jpg" --- # I want to write music that will outlive me. ![“I want to write music that will outlive me.” quote by Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/ray-lamontagne-14474_music_i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive_1995373.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/ray-lamontagne-14474_music_i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive_1995373.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/ray-lamontagne-14474_music_i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive_1995373.jpg) > “I want to write music that will outlive me.” [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire to create lasting music expresses a wish for enduring impact beyond one's lifespan. **In simple terms:** Want music to outlive you. Key Takeaway Create work that resonates beyond now. Themes legacy creativity mortality Mood hopeful determined Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - recording - publishing - archiving Key Concepts artistic ambition cultural memory Questions to Reflect On - What themes give your music timelessness? - How will you preserve your work? A Different Perspective Time may diminish relevance; audience tastes change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Outlive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-outlive-3482142/) [Outlive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlive/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-write/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-music/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My goal was always to be involved in music that would outlive me. And maybe that's actually happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-manilow/my-goal-was-always-to-be-involved-in-music-that-would-outlive-me-and/) [Barry Manilow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-manilow/) > [I want to write my own music, and I want to tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-vosbury/i-want-to-write-my-own-music-and-i-want-to-tour/) [Cole Vosbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-vosbury/) > [It's such a cliche thing to say. I want to choreograph, I want to direct, I want to act, I want to write music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/it-s-such-a-cliche-thing-to-say-i-want-to-choreograph-i-want-to/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [The thing is I write to music, so every script I have has its own playlist. Music just opens me up to the emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/the-thing-is-i-write-to-music-so-every-script-i-have-has-its-own/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I always write music if I'm feeling a bit rubbish and I don't know how to get over or through something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walker/i-always-write-music-if-i-m-feeling-a-bit-rubbish-and-i-don-t-know/) [Tom Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walker/) > [I don't think that you can write music if you don't know how to play an instrument. You have to know the basics, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/i-don-t-think-that-you-can-write-music-if-you-don-t-know-how-to-play/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) > [I think it's a bit of a myth that if you can read music you can write music. It doesn't work like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-goldfrapp/i-think-it-s-a-bit-of-a-myth-that-if-you-can-read-music-you-can-write/) [Alison Goldfrapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-goldfrapp/) > [“I've discovered the secret of revenge. Outlive the f---ers! I'll dance on their graves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/i-ve-discovered-the-secret-of-revenge-outlive-the-f-ers-i-ll-dance-on/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [Don't let me outlive this woman. Don't let me exist one moment without her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/don-t-let-me-outlive-this-woman-don-t-let-me-exist-one-moment-without/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“She'll outlive the last cockroach”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/she-ll-outlive-the-last-cockroach/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Why should honor outlive honestly? Orthello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-should-honor-outlive-honestly-orthello/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Audiences aren't going to get rid of me. One thing I can say, with absolute certainty, is that my shows will still be performed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-mackintosh/audiences-aren-t-going-to-get-rid-of-me-one-thing-i-can-say-with/) [Cameron Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-mackintosh/) > [Words outlive people, institutions, civilizations. Words spur images, associations, memories, inspirations and synapse pulsations. Words send off physical resonations of thought into the nethersphere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inga-muscio/words-outlive-people-institutions-civilizations-words-spur-images/) [Inga Muscio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inga-muscio/) > [I think a fictional invention grows according to its own development, not the author's. Characters in fiction are not simply as alive as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/i-think-a-fictional-invention-grows-according-to-its-own-development/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [One can never outlive one's vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/one-can-never-outlive-one-s-vanity/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) ## More by Ray LaMontagne > [It bugs me that people think my songs are personal because it means I have to explain myself all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/it-bugs-me-that-people-think-my-songs-are-personal-because-it-means-i/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [I need space between me and the audience - and the more space the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-need-space-between-me-and-the-audience-and-the-more-space-the-better/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [The thing I love about music is that you can take things that are painful, deep things that hurt you, and you can turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/the-thing-i-love-about-music-is-that-you-can-take-things-that-are/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [“And when all your faith is gone let it be me, if it's a friend you need let it be me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/and-when-all-your-faith-is-gone-let-it-be-me-if-it-s-a-friend-you/) [Ray Lamontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [Social situations, for me - it's very natural for me to be an observer. That's where I'm most comfortable. I observe things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/social-situations-for-me-it-s-very-natural-for-me-to-be-an-observer/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [“But everything I have to give, I'll give to you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/but-everything-i-have-to-give-i-ll-give-to-you/) [Ray Lamontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [There's a real sense of desperation when you grow up in poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/there-s-a-real-sense-of-desperation-when-you-grow-up-in-poverty/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [It's so easy to get caught up in your own experiences. They can seem so important. But there are billions and billions of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/it-s-so-easy-to-get-caught-up-in-your-own-experiences-they-can-seem/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [The label doesn't do anything but put your record in the store, that's all they do. And tell you, you don't have a single...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/the-label-doesn-t-do-anything-but-put-your-record-in-the-store-that-s/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [I'd much rather be playing songs than talking to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-d-much-rather-be-playing-songs-than-talking-to-people/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [I have a strong sense of self, but that's not a negative thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-have-a-strong-sense-of-self-but-that-s-not-a-negative-thing/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [My backstory is so tedious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/my-backstory-is-so-tedious/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [I am very self-critical, but that's a good thing because it keeps me growing as a human being and as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-am-very-self-critical-but-that-s-a-good-thing-because-it-keeps-me/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [I refused then like I do now to let anybody tie me down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-refused-then-like-i-do-now-to-let-anybody-tie-me-down/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [Well, I looked my demons in the eyes laid bare my chest, said 'Do your best, destroy me. You see, I’ve been to hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/well-i-looked-my-demons-in-the-eyes-laid-bare-my-chest-said-do-your/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) [Explore all 46 Ray LaMontagne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) [Hubert Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-laws/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I want to write music that will outlive me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ray LaMontagne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/ray-lamontagne-14474_music_i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive_1995373.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/ray-lamontagne-14474_music_i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive_1995373.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/ray-lamontagne-14474_music_i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive_1995373.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I want to write music that will outlive me.” — Ray LaMontagne", "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": "Ray LaMontagne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I want to write music that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-want-to-write-music-that-will-outlive-me/#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 } } ] } ```