--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I fell into lyric writing because of…" description: "\"I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it.\" — Stephen Sondheim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/stephen-sondheim-1556_lyric_i-fell-into-lyric-writing-because-of-mus_758836.jpg" --- # I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into… ![“I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it.” quote by Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/stephen-sondheim-1556_lyric_i-fell-into-lyric-writing-because-of-mus_758836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/stephen-sondheim-1556_lyric_i-fell-into-lyric-writing-because-of-mus_758836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/stephen-sondheim-1556_lyric_i-fell-into-lyric-writing-because-of-mus_758836.jpg) > “I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it.” [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lyric writing emerged unintentionally, showing creative paths can be accidental. **In simple terms:** Lyric writing came by accident. Key Takeaway Stay open to unexpected creative routes. Themes creativity serendipity career Mood inspired curious Type artistic reflective When to use this quote - songwriting - playwriting - advertising - teaching Key Concepts arts psychology Questions to Reflect On - What unexpected skills have you discovered? - How can you nurture accidental talents? A Different Perspective Accidental paths may lack deliberate skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fell Lyric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fell-lyric-5888974/) [Lyric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyric/) [Lyric Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyric-writing-231098/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Backed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-backed-5888973/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-music/) ## Related quotes > [You know, there's an economy in lyric-writing that doesn't afford you, or at least me - I usually start off with nine or 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tillman-2/you-know-there-s-an-economy-in-lyric-writing-that-doesn-t-afford-you/) [J. Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman-2/) > [I feel like for me the lyric writing really comes from just what's going on in my heart and that's what consumes me; think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lee/i-feel-like-for-me-the-lyric-writing-really-comes-from-just-what-s/) [Amy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lee/) > [You know, there's an economy in lyric-writing that doesn't afford you, or at least me - I usually start off with nine or 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tillman/you-know-there-s-an-economy-in-lyric-writing-that-doesn-t-afford-you-2/) [J Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman/) > [It helped my lyric writing so much studying poetry. I thought I knew what poetry was before I immersed myself in it. Poetry is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-shires/it-helped-my-lyric-writing-so-much-studying-poetry-i-thought-i-knew/) [Amanda Shires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-shires/) > [Writing a lyric is writing a lyric, whether it's sung or recited. Perhaps the question to ask should be, has playing in a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-eady/writing-a-lyric-is-writing-a-lyric-whether-it-s-sung-or-recited/) [Cornelius Eady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-eady/) > [Although I was able to study music with teachers, I never studied lyric writing. I read poetry, and I read other lyricists. But they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/although-i-was-able-to-study-music-with-teachers-i-never-studied/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [My style of lyric-writing is very specific and has a lot of details, and I think people react most to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-finn/my-style-of-lyric-writing-is-very-specific-and-has-a-lot-of-details/) [Craig Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-finn/) > [Lyric writing is an interesting process in Sonic Youth. There's three people writing now, and we've all had a lot of interest and involvement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/lyric-writing-is-an-interesting-process-in-sonic-youth-there-s-three/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [In some ways, writing music is an art because so much of it is instinctive and sort of below consciousness, and lyric writing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/in-some-ways-writing-music-is-an-art-because-so-much-of-it-is/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Even if I'm writing music, it's with a lyric in mind, to communicate some kind of feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/even-if-i-m-writing-music-it-s-with-a-lyric-in-mind-to-communicate/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Songwriters I've always been drawn to are people who deal with something of depth in the lyric writing. ...I've always been influenced by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-hornsby/songwriters-i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-are-people-who-deal-with/) [Bruce Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-hornsby/) > [Kids think of us as being totally over the hill. Lyric writing is an interesting process in Sonic Youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/kids-think-of-us-as-being-totally-over-the-hill-lyric-writing-is-an/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [I like to separate the music- and lyric-writing processes if I can. I'll sort of noodle around on my keyboard and my computer until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/i-like-to-separate-the-music-and-lyric-writing-processes-if-i-can-i/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [Metaphors are not user-friendly. They're difficult to find and difficult to use well. Unfortunately, metaphors are a mainstay of good lyric writing-indeed of most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-pattison/metaphors-are-not-user-friendly-they-re-difficult-to-find-and/) [Pat Pattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-pattison/) > [There are parts in albums where I wrote a lot of the lyrics. There are parts on albums where Steve wrote a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-gilbert/there-are-parts-in-albums-where-i-wrote-a-lot-of-the-lyrics-there-are/) [Chad Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-gilbert/) ## More by Stephen Sondheim > [I have, by nature, an analytical mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-by-nature-an-analytical-mind/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“They all deserve to die. Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why. Because in all of the whole human race Mrs Lovett, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/they-all-deserve-to-die-tell-you-why-mrs-lovett-tell-you-why-because/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [It's not so hard to be married, I've done it three or four times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/it-s-not-so-hard-to-be-married-i-ve-done-it-three-or-four-times/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I don't find my life that interesting. The shows, maybe. But not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-don-t-find-my-life-that-interesting-the-shows-maybe-but-not-me/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Careful the things you say, Children will listen. Careful the things you do, Children will see. And learn. Children may not obey But children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/careful-the-things-you-say-children-will-listen-careful-the-things/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Because in all of the whole human race Mrs. Lovett, there are two kinds of men and only two There's the one staying put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/because-in-all-of-the-whole-human-race-mrs-lovett-there-are-two-kinds/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I love computers. I love writing on them. I love gadgetry. The thing is: I am a slow reader. So, if I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-love-computers-i-love-writing-on-them-i-love-gadgetry-the-thing-is/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-inherited-my-father-s-sense-of-humour-about-myself-it-s-a-lot/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-prefer-neurotic-people-i-like-to-hear-rumblings-beneath-the-surface/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm sure many writers have these strange, tiny little habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-sure-many-writers-have-these-strange-tiny-little-habits/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and create a suspension of disbelief, by which I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/musicals-are-by-nature-theatrical-meaning-poetic-meaning-having-to/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it takes that much money to put a show on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/nowadays-there-are-sometimes-more-producers-than-there-are-people-in/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/perpetual-anticipation-is-good-for-the-soul-but-it-s-bad-for-the-heart/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I was watching him crawl, Back over the wall-! Then bang! Crash! And the lightning flash! And- well, that's another story, Never mind- Anyway...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-was-watching-him-crawl-back-over-the-wall-then-bang-crash-and-the/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm always conscious of what I'm writing, conscious of what the actor may ask me. I have a defense for nearly every line in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-always-conscious-of-what-i-m-writing-conscious-of-what-the-actor/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) [Explore all 228 Stephen Sondheim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## More Lyric quotes > [“Lyric poets are always corrupting the young, making them choke in self-pity and indulge in reverie. Dirty sex and direspect for authority is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simic/lyric-poets-are-always-corrupting-the-young-making-them-choke-in-self/) [Charles Simic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simic/) > [One man's vulgarity is another man's lyric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall-harlan-ii/one-man-s-vulgarity-is-another-man-s-lyric/) [John Marshall Harlan II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall-harlan-ii/) > [I'm achingly aware of my own limitations as both part of the human race and as an individual. I'm just, casting this out that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-m-achingly-aware-of-my-own-limitations-as-both-part-of-the-human/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [This 'Making Mirrors' album is far more personal, even if there's a character element to the sounds I'm working with. Every song on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotye/this-making-mirrors-album-is-far-more-personal-even-if-there-s-a/) [Gotye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotye/) > [“You're mine, Lyric.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/you-re-mine-lyric/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [In our hands, even the straightest lyric sounded shady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/in-our-hands-even-the-straightest-lyric-sounded-shady/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [My job is to be some sort of music/lyric psychic, to figure out that that's the right song to not fight the lyric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/my-job-is-to-be-some-sort-of-music-lyric-psychic-to-figure-out-that/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [I am committed now to one thing: lyric sequences. I want the intensity of lyric, but the scope and arc of narrative. so, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-orr/i-am-committed-now-to-one-thing-lyric-sequences-i-want-the-intensity/) [Gregory Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-orr/) > [“Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brandt/don-t-tell-me-the-sky-s-the-limit-when-there-are-footprints-on-the/) [Paul Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brandt/) > [Most lyric poetry is about love, whether yearned after, fulfilled, or wistfully regretted; what isn't tends to consist of laments and cris du coeur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/most-lyric-poetry-is-about-love-whether-yearned-after-fulfilled-or/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [“There are only so many people capable of putting together words that stir and move and sing. When it became possible to earn a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-kornbluth/there-are-only-so-many-people-capable-of-putting-together-words-that/) [C.M. Kornbluth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-kornbluth/) > [Lyric writing is an interesting process in Sonic Youth. There's three people writing now, and we've all had a lot of interest and involvement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/lyric-writing-is-an-interesting-process-in-sonic-youth-there-s-three/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [“He quickly reached for his lyric book and started writing. You sing to me through laughter. I see it dancing in your eyes. Pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-lister/he-quickly-reached-for-his-lyric-book-and-started-writing-you-sing-to/) [Ann Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-lister/) > [I think what we like about music - and what we like about art in general…is that enterprise that stops our minds from spinning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-think-what-we-like-about-music-and-what-we-like-about-art-in/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [What makes a great song - you don't put it into words. You feel it. The perfect lyric. The perfect melody. It makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-warren/what-makes-a-great-song-you-don-t-put-it-into-words-you-feel-it-the/) [Diane Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-warren/) [Browse all 205 Lyric quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyric/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I fell into lyric writing because of music. 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