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Quote by Billy Joe Shaver

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Billy Joe Shaver
Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe Shaver is an influential American country singer-songwriter, born on August 16, 1939. His musical career began in the 1960s, and he is known for his unique lyrics and heartfelt voice. Shaver's music often explores personal struggles and the hardships of rural life, which has won the admiration of his audience. more

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“I would sooner be robbed by a fan than a company. The fan may be broke and have but one choice. There is no excuse for the way the "songwriter" is robbed by everyone from the record company to the broadcaster, by the pure bottom line, greed. If it continues, sadly, in time, the music will suffer. It takes many many years to learn how to write a song properly. Songwriters will be forced to hit the road in order to make a decent living and, in my opinion, these two careers are related but not compatible.”

IfsWayWritingYearsMayTwoSufferingSongOrderChoicesLinesCompanyOpinionCareersRecordsFansPureBottomGreedExcuseBrokeRelatedDecentSongwritingSongwritersBottom LineNo ExcusesCompatibleRecord CompaniesBroadcasters
Author:Mickey Newbury
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“If you like someone's work, the important thing is to be exposed to everything that person has been exposed to. Anyone who wants to be a songwriter should listen to as much folk music as they can, study the form and structure of stuff that has been around for 100 years.”

IfsWantShouldYearsPersonsHas BeensImportantFormStuffStudyImportant ThingsStructureFolksSongwritingExposedSongwritersFolk Music
Book:Dylan on Dylan: The Essential Interviews
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“You write down a paragraph or two describing several different subjects creating a kind of story ingredients-list, I suppose, and then cut the sentences into four or five-word sections; mix em up and reconnect them. You can get some pretty interesting idea combinations like this. You can use them as is or, if you have a craven need to not lose control, bounce off these ideas and write whole new sections.”

IfsNeedsWritingKindTwoIdeasDifferentWholeStoriesUseLosesInterestingFiveFourCuttingSubjectsCreatingSentencesListsCombinationEmsSongwritingIngredientsSectionsDescribingParagraphBounceInteresting IdeasDifferent Subjects
Author:David Bowie
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“Do I start with the lyrics? No. Quite honestly, it's the opposite. I generally get the melody first - I kinda fiddle around on the guitar and work out a melody. The lyrics are there to flesh out the tone of the music. I've tried before to do things the other way around, but it never seems to work. Obviously, I spend a lot of time on my lyrics, I take them very seriously, but they're kinda secondary. Well, equal, maybe. I think sometimes that if you write a poem, it should remain as just a poem, just... words.”

IfsThinkingWayShouldWritingFirstsWellsSometimesSeemsEqualOppositesGuitarWork OutFleshHonestlyToneMelodySongwritingFiddle
Author:Iron & Wine
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“What happens a lot with songwriting is that a melody or rhythm or something stays with you like catching a cold. And during that time what happens is that I can then fit things on to it, it all fits and glues together. Sometimes it's crazy cos it can almost be anything. But if you catch the cold then the nonsense makes sense. It's like you're getting beamed it, like with a ouija board and something's pushing your hand. It's not a pleasant experience necessarily.”

IfsI CanSometimesHandsHappensTogetherCrazyLike YouColdFitRhythmMake SenseBoardsPleasantNonsensePushingMelodySongwritingCatchingGlueOuija Board
Author:Thom Yorke
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“What comes first? The melody, always. It's all about singing the melodies live in my head. They go in circles. I guess I'm quite conservative and romantic about the power of melodies. I try not to record them on my Dictaphone when I first hear them. If I forget all about it and it pops up later on, then I know it's good enough. I let my subconscious do the editing for me.”

IfsKnowsTryingFirstsEnoughForgetRecordsSingingConservativePopsCirclesMelodySongwritingGood EnoughEditingSubconscious
Author:Bjork
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