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Much of songwriting is simply a mystery.
Paul Simon
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Songwriting is often an enigmatic process that cannot be fully understood.

Paul Simon suggests that songwriting involves an element of mystery, highlighting that creativity and inspiration can sometimes be elusive and difficult to define. The process of creating music often transcends logical explanation, suggesting a magical quality to artistic expression.

Themes

SongwritingMysteryCreativityArtMusic

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech at a songwriting workshop, this quote can illustrate the unpredictability of creative inspiration.

More from Paul Simon

I don't feel any pressure from fans. But I'm always in some kind of state of emotional turmoil. I would not describe myself as happy-go-lucky. That's not to say that I'm not happy.
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I sort of recognize it, as opposed to shaping it. Oh, that's a good idea, that's a good line. I wonder where I can use that. And when you get into a rhyme group like 'not,' you got a lot of rhymes, you got a lot of choices. The more you do it, the luckier you get.
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I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told, and I have squandered my resistance, for a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises. All lies in jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest...la-la-la-la-la-la-la-lala-la-la-la-la...
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Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
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I don't believe what the papers are saying They're just out to capture my dime, Exaggerating this, exaggerating that.
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Improvisation is too good to leave to chance.
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