There is no such thing as a songwriter, writer, or poet (of talent) who, upon hearing or re-reading his or her own work after it's "finished" and published, doesn't immediately, like a laser, focus in on all the shortcomings, obvious edits, and "glaring" inconsistencies that should have been obvious in revision.

Which is why many amateurs never get beyond the editing stage. Drawing a final line, calling it finished, and letting go is the hardest part.

Bono really could've just stopped after Rattle & Hum.

Pocket Ninja: There is no such thing as a songwriter, writer, or poet (of talent) who, upon hearing or re-reading his or her own work after it's "finished" and published, doesn't immediately, like a laser, focus in on all the shortcomings, obvious edits, and "glaring" inconsistencies that should have been obvious in revision.


William Burroughs didn't believe in re-writes. He always felt that the first take, despite being flawed, is the most honest

Even Bukowski believed that what you're going to do next is all that matters and didnt care much to look at what he wrote previously. Personally, I applaud this attitude , although re-writes can be good, spending too much time polishing your work is usually detrimental

HappyHarryHardOn:

If you honestly believe that Williams Burroughs and Charles Bukowski didn't rewrite, revise, and edit their work before it was published, I have a really nice bridge I'd like to sell you.

Pocket Ninja: If you honestly believe that Williams Burroughs and Charles Bukowski didn't rewrite, revise, and edit their work before it was published

Holy shiat, I'd hate to be the editor of Naked Lunch... or well, anything Burroughs.

Pocket Ninja: HappyHarryHardOn:

If you honestly believe that Williams Burroughs and Charles Bukowski didn't rewrite, revise, and edit their work before it was published, I have a really nice bridge I'd like to sell you.

Well, it was Ginsberg and Kerouac who put Naked Lunch into anything close to a coherent form.

HappyHarryHardOn: William Burroughs didn't believe in re-writes. He always felt that the first take, despite being flawed, is the most honest

Even Bukowski believed that what you're going to do next is all that matters and didnt care much to look at what he wrote previously. Personally, I applaud this attitude , although re-writes can be good, spending too much time polishing your work is usually detrimental

Writers like Burroughs use unconventional structures. The stories do not need rewrite because they do not concern a specific topic and are usually meant to accurately and honestly depict the artist. For songs and poetry, which are almost necessarily conventional and revolves around a certain topic, it's impossible not to rewrite and edit. Not doing so and believing it to be "purer" just means you're lazy, delusional and overconfident in your abilities. I was so a few years ago, until I realized that what I wrote changes with my mood, the weather and the season, so that it's impossible to write a perfect song or poem that accurately and fully represents my perceptions about a topic.

Pocket Ninja 2009-02-28 11:39:17 AM
There is no such thing as a songwriter, writer, or poet (of talent) who, upon hearing or re-reading his or her own work after it's "finished" and published, doesn't immediately, like a laser, focus in on all the shortcomings, obvious edits, and "glaring" inconsistencies that should have been obvious in revision.

I was re-reading Dylan's 'Chronicles Vol. 1' the other day and he said the same thing.

And for all the haters out there, read the book; it's very very good, whether you like Dylan or not.

I have the same problem with (sonny?) bono's "music".

So I just quit listening to it.

Bono:

Next time, check Wikipedia. It's not "early morning".

"SAY IT! SAY IT! I'M NUMBER ONE!

U2 - BONO EMBARRASSED BY HIS OWN SONGS

As is the rest of the world.

As if anyone actually likes Bono anyway lol

Bono, you make me hate you more by agreeing with me.

Bono sucks. U2 sucks. I only listen to indie recordings of yodelers with emphysema inside janitor closets.

Lynoitus: I only listen to indie recordings of yodelers with emphysema inside janitor closets.

I downloaded it. Screw the RIAA.

Pocket Ninja: HappyHarryHardOn:

If you honestly believe that Williams Burroughs and Charles Bukowski didn't rewrite, revise, and edit their work before it was published, I have a really nice bridge I'd like to sell you.

i never said they dont revise or edit, Im just disagreeing with what you said about writers always wanting to get back to their work, or revise their work later on.

I think a lot of them, once it's published, move on without thinking about it or caring

Herunar: HappyHarryHardOn: William Burroughs didn't believe in re-writes. He always felt that the first take, despite being flawed, is the most honest

Even Bukowski believed that what you're going to do next is all that matters and didnt care much to look at what he wrote previously. Personally, I applaud this attitude , although re-writes can be good, spending too much time polishing your work is usually detrimental

Writers like Burroughs use unconventional structures. The stories do not need rewrite because they do not concern a specific topic and are usually meant to accurately and honestly depict the artist. For songs and poetry, which are almost necessarily conventional and revolves around a certain topic, it's impossible not to rewrite and edit. Not doing so and believing it to be "purer" just means you're lazy, delusional and overconfident in your abilities. I was so a few years ago, until I realized that what I wrote changes with my mood, the weather and the season, so that it's impossible to write a perfect song or poem that accurately and fully represents my perceptions about a topic.

I agree with everything you said. I didnt mean to sound like I m glorifying not re-writing and revising, but like you started to say at the end, if you spend too much time dwelling on it, you start getting lost

HappyHarryHardOn: Pocket Ninja: There is no such thing as a songwriter, writer, or poet (of talent) who, upon hearing or re-reading his or her own work after it's "finished" and published, doesn't immediately, like a laser, focus in on all the shortcomings, obvious edits, and "glaring" inconsistencies that should have been obvious in revision.


William Burroughs didn't believe in re-writes. He always felt that the first take, despite being flawed, is the most honest

Even Bukowski believed that what you're going to do next is all that matters and didnt care much to look at what he wrote previously. Personally, I applaud this attitude , although re-writes can be good, spending too much time polishing your work is usually detrimental

That's why Tarzan is a such piece of shiat.

Lynoitus: Bono sucks. U2 sucks. I only listen to indie recordings of yodelers with emphysema inside janitor closets.

I don't listen to to any kind of music at all. What's Bono and U2 anyway?

Bono and U2 may suck, but they're cooler than any of you.

mandingueiro:
That's why Tarzan is a such piece of shiat.

Tarzan would be at least 10 times more awesome if william burroughs wrote it

OtherLittleGuy: Bono:

Next time, check Wikipedia. It's not "early morning".

your myopia. let me show it to you.

When U2 were in Montreal, they stayed at the St-James hotel near where I work. I was walking by the hotel early one morning on my way to work and saw them getting into a limo parked outside, I waved and yelled: "HI BOBO!" He turned around and started to correct me that his name was bon-, then he realised that I was messing with him so he just rolled his eyes and got in the car. True story. If you're reading this: HI BOBO!!!!!

Pocket Ninja: There is no such thing as a songwriter, writer, or poet (of talent) who, upon hearing or re-reading his or her own work after it's "finished" and published, doesn't immediately, like a laser, focus in on all the shortcomings, obvious edits, and "glaring" inconsistencies that should have been obvious in revision.

Which is why many amateurs never get beyond the editing stage. Drawing a final line, calling it finished, and letting go is the hardest part.

sweet jumping jeebus, THIS.

Lynoitus: Bono sucks. U2 sucks. I only listen to indie recordings of yodelers with emphysema inside janitor closets.

Q: How many indie music snobs does it take to change a light bulb?

A: You mean, you don't know?

/i'll be here all week
//try the veal

RoxtarRyan: U2 - BONO EMBARRASSED BY HIS OWN SONGS

As is the rest of the world.

Yes, clearly they are unpopular and have no fans.

I don't know about the whole Bono thing but I am pleased that the spyware/virus detector on that site detected all those viruses for me! I will purchase the product to remove them so I am safe.

Thanks Fark!

HappyHarryHardOn: Pocket Ninja: There is no such thing as a songwriter, writer, or poet (of talent) who, upon hearing or re-reading his or her own work after it's "finished" and published, doesn't immediately, like a laser, focus in on all the shortcomings, obvious edits, and "glaring" inconsistencies that should have been obvious in revision.


William Burroughs didn't believe in re-writes. He always felt that the first take, despite being flawed, is the most honest

Even Bukowski believed that what you're going to do next is all that matters and didnt care much to look at what he wrote previously. Personally, I applaud this attitude , although re-writes can be good, spending too much time polishing your work is usually detrimental

Agreed. Anyone unconvinced need only look up George Lucas.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=jpil9v&s=5

Took this photo today in Dublin.

pubes: When U2 were in Montreal, they stayed at the St-James hotel near where I work. I was walking by the hotel early one morning on my way to work and saw them getting into a limo parked outside, I waved and yelled: "HI BOBO!" He turned around and started to correct me that his name was bon-, then he realised that I was messing with him so he just rolled his eyes and got in the car. True story. If you're reading this: HI BOBO!!!!!

sure...whatever

Get off that roof, Bono. You're not the Beatles.

Clapton says the same thing about his famous live version of CROSSROADS from the Cream group.

He says its all out of time, and he's shocked the common man doesn't hate it.

/sounds like just some artist trying to prove he's so much more astute than us.