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You get to thinking that because you've written 50 or 100 songs, you think maybe you know how to do it. But when they're not coming along, you're just as in the dark as you ever were. When they're coming along, there's nothing to it. Sometimes it's so easy, it's like you're a court stenographer.
John Prine
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Creativity can be unpredictable, and even seasoned artists can experience uncertainty in their work.

In this quote, John Prine reflects on the nature of songwriting and creativity. He conveys that regardless of how many songs one has written, the process remains elusive and often unpredictable. At times, ideas flow effortlessly, while at other times, they can be hard to grasp, highlighting the inherent challenges and mysteries of the creative process.

Themes

CreativitySongwritingUncertaintyArtistic ProcessMusic

In practice

Example use cases

A musician sharing the quote during a songwriting workshop to illustrate the challenges of creativity.

More from John Prine

If heartaches was commercials, we'd all be on TV.
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One time, I went to school, and they asked us all to find out where our roots were. It's goin' around the class, and the kids were going, 'I'm Swedish-German' or 'I'm English-Irish.' They got to me and I said, 'Pure Kentuckian.'
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I just tried to come up with some honest songs. What I was writing about was real plain stuff that I wasn't sure was going to be interesting to other people. But I guess it was...I've never had any discipline whatsoever. I just wait on a song like I was waiting for lightning to strike. And eventually-usually sometime around 3 in the morning-I'll have a good idea. By the time the sun comes up, hopefully, I'll have a decent song.
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I feel basically good about my career because it's remained constant. What I do has never been especially in vogue or gotten high on the charts. At the same time, I haven't had to stop performing any of my music because it aged in style.
John PrineRead
You know that first love that leaves you? You never forget that, especially if you're a songwriter. I must have gotten nine songs out of that girl.
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The only reason I figured out I didn't like my old records to listen was I could hear how nervous I was and how uncomfortable I was. And who would want to sit around and listen to yourself being uncomfortable?
John PrineRead

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