--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it comes to sitting down and…" description: "\"When it comes to sitting down and composing, there is no hesitation, no concern, no critics breathing fire down my neck. For me, writing a song is the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29d/rufus-wainwright-2260_breathing_when-it-comes-to-sitting-down-and-compos_1695511.png" --- # When it comes to sitting down and composing, there is no… ![“When it comes to sitting down and composing, there is no hesitation, no concern, no critics breathing fire down my neck. For me, writing a song is the purest part of all. No one can mess with that.” quote by Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29d/rufus-wainwright-2260_breathing_when-it-comes-to-sitting-down-and-compos_1695511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29d/rufus-wainwright-2260_breathing_when-it-comes-to-sitting-down-and-compos_1695511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29d/rufus-wainwright-2260_breathing_when-it-comes-to-sitting-down-and-compos_1695511.png) > “When it comes to sitting down and composing, there is no hesitation, no concern, no critics breathing fire down my neck. For me, writing a song is the purest part of all. No one can mess with that.” [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author describes songwriting as a fearless, pure act free from external criticism, emphasizing personal authenticity. **In simple terms:** Writing music feels pure and unfiltered. Key Takeaway Create without fearing judgment. Themes creativity authenticity music confidence Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - songwriting sessions - performing - overcoming self‑criticism - sharing art publicly Key Concepts artistic expression inner voice creative freedom Questions to Reflect On - How does silence from critics shape your work? - What practices keep your creative space safe? A Different Perspective May overlook constructive feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Composing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composing/) [Composing Hesitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composing-hesitation-1097861/) [Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern/) [Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Hesitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hesitation/) [Mess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess/) [Necks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necks/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Sitting Composing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting-composing-1097860/) [Sitting down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting-down/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-song-256809/) ## Related quotes > [All these tales of people sitting down and composing symphonies just as though they were writing a letter are very much exaggerated; at least,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/all-these-tales-of-people-sitting-down-and-composing-symphonies-just/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [If and when I do get "down," the last thing on my mind is writing a song. Usually, being bummed just involves lying around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wooden-wand/if-and-when-i-do-get-down-the-last-thing-on-my-mind-is-writing-a-song/) [Wooden Wand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wooden-wand/) > [Writing a song is a personal thing, and you have to have a lot of trust to try things and not be embarrassed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stone/writing-a-song-is-a-personal-thing-and-you-have-to-have-a-lot-of/) [Julia Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stone/) > [Writing a song doesn't heal things. Even if the song comes up with a solution, it's still only a theory. Going out and living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/writing-a-song-doesn-t-heal-things-even-if-the-song-comes-up-with-a/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [The hardest part is writing a song as a story. A song is so short and there are only so many words that every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giveon/the-hardest-part-is-writing-a-song-as-a-story-a-song-is-so-short-and/) [Giveon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giveon/) > [I would feel really dishonest writing a song that was really sassy, or really confident, because I'm not a supremely confident being. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shura/i-would-feel-really-dishonest-writing-a-song-that-was-really-sassy-or/) [Shura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shura/) > [I started teaching myself guitar because I loved singing so much. Then one day kind of out of the blue I found I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kina-grannis/i-started-teaching-myself-guitar-because-i-loved-singing-so-much-then/) [Kina Grannis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kina-grannis/) > [When you get to say something in a song you're not directing it necessarily at one person. When it's in a song it's easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/when-you-get-to-say-something-in-a-song-you-re-not-directing-it/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I write titles of songs a lot. sometimes I'll end up writing a song that I don't have a title for and I'll say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shuggie-otis/i-write-titles-of-songs-a-lot-sometimes-i-ll-end-up-writing-a-song/) [Shuggie Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shuggie-otis/) > [A lot of time when I'm creating songs, they're in real time. When I'm writing the song, I feel what I'm feeling for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhene-aiko/a-lot-of-time-when-i-m-creating-songs-they-re-in-real-time-when-i-m/) [Jhene Aiko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhene-aiko/) > [You don't have to be the best guitar player, or have the best voice, or even be the best looking person - writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/you-don-t-have-to-be-the-best-guitar-player-or-have-the-best-voice-or/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [I think when you're in the early stages of writing a song, it's important to shut off the part of your brain that tries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-valensi/i-think-when-you-re-in-the-early-stages-of-writing-a-song-it-s/) [Nick Valensi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-valensi/) > [Writing a song is almost like cheating-writing because you don't have to finish your sentences, you don't have to use any punctuation, no one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirah/writing-a-song-is-almost-like-cheating-writing-because-you-don-t-have/) [Mirah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirah/) > [I've never had any kind of work ethic. I've never sat down with the intention of writing a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bejar/i-ve-never-had-any-kind-of-work-ethic-i-ve-never-sat-down-with-the/) [Dan Bejar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bejar/) > [If I'm writing a song for Karen Harding, I know I can't impose what I want to say onto her. I literally have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/if-i-m-writing-a-song-for-karen-harding-i-know-i-can-t-impose-what-i/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) ## More by Rufus Wainwright > [I have an ounce of Lady Gaga's full-bodied ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-have-an-ounce-of-lady-gaga-s-full-bodied-ambition/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I definitely consider 'Poses' - the whole album in fact - to be kind of a miracle. Like the last breath of that moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-definitely-consider-poses-the-whole-album-in-fact-to-be-kind-of-a/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [You know the question: 'How do you get to Carnegie Hall?' Answer: 'Practise?' Well, in my case, I got there by not practising. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/you-know-the-question-how-do-you-get-to-carnegie-hall-answer-practise/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I've had my ups and downs, and I definitely have a sense - in America, especially - that once you've made your mark and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-ve-had-my-ups-and-downs-and-i-definitely-have-a-sense-in-america/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I'll always be a boulevardier. I have an extreme reverence and romantic longing for all that is decrepit and fatalistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-ll-always-be-a-boulevardier-i-have-an-extreme-reverence-and/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I'm very blessed, mainly because even though my family is mostly in show business, it's really centered around music. My parents were very successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-m-very-blessed-mainly-because-even-though-my-family-is-mostly-in/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [Growing up, for years and years I had no idea what the plots of operas were, and that's part of what fascinated me -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/growing-up-for-years-and-years-i-had-no-idea-what-the-plots-of-operas/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [Once illness strikes, you realize there's not a lot of time for you to do what you really need to do. And there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/once-illness-strikes-you-realize-there-s-not-a-lot-of-time-for-you-to/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I basically have needed to go to the piano and give voice periodically to, you know - I'm always afraid to describe it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-basically-have-needed-to-go-to-the-piano-and-give-voice/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [And you will believe in love And all that it's supposed to be But just until the fish start to smell And you're struck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/and-you-will-believe-in-love-and-all-that-it-s-supposed-to-be-but/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [It's about how whenever I fall in love, I have these expectations of the experience being a perfect dream, which, of course, ruins it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/it-s-about-how-whenever-i-fall-in-love-i-have-these-expectations-of/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [Crazy as it sounds, I'm a believer in destiny and serendipity, and I have had cosmic experiences all my life. Something told me I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/crazy-as-it-sounds-i-m-a-believer-in-destiny-and-serendipity-and-i/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I think everybody identified at a pretty young age that I was fairly entranced with myself. And that I had to be tempered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-think-everybody-identified-at-a-pretty-young-age-that-i-was-fairly/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [The song is about knowing the end result of every situation you're in, and being able to play it out in your mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/the-song-is-about-knowing-the-end-result-of-every-situation-you-re-in/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I like to make the mundane fabulous whenever I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-like-to-make-the-mundane-fabulous-whenever-i-can/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) [Explore all 176 Rufus Wainwright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) [Marcel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-williams/) > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When it comes to sitting down and composing, there is no hesitation, no concern, no critics breathing fire down my neck. For me, writing a song is the purest part of all. 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