Some have written a book for money: I have not. Some for fame; I have not. Some for love; I have not. Some for kindlings; I have not. I have not written a book for any of these reasons or for all of them together. In fact, gentle borrower, I have not written a book at all–I have merely cleaned house. All that is left is out on the clothes line,–but it’s good for a man’s vanity to have the neighbors see him–on the clothes line.

The printing of this collection was undertaken primarily in order to have a few clear copies that could be sent to friends who, from time to time, have been interested enough to ask for copies of some of the songs; but the job has grown into something different–it contains plenty of songs which have not been and will not be asked for. It stands now, if it stands for anything, as a kind of ‘buffer state,’ –an opportunity for evading a question, somewhat embarrassing to answer,–"Why do you write so much–, which no one ever sees?" There are several good reasons, none of which are worth recording.

 

– Charles Ives

from 114 Songs, AMP/Peer/Presser Edition, 1975 (Ives gave this book away, now it is reprinted in an expensive edition).