--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm not writing songs about things…" description: "\"If I'm not writing songs about things I've actually been through, it ruins the idea of making music to me.\" — Austin Carlile" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/austin-carlile-19668_about_if-i-m-not-writing-songs-about-things-i_2853309.jpg" --- # If I'm not writing songs about things I've actually been… ![“If I'm not writing songs about things I've actually been through, it ruins the idea of making music to me.” quote by Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/austin-carlile-19668_about_if-i-m-not-writing-songs-about-things-i_2853309.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/austin-carlile-19668_about_if-i-m-not-writing-songs-about-things-i_2853309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/austin-carlile-19668_about_if-i-m-not-writing-songs-about-things-i_2853309.jpg) > “If I'm not writing songs about things I've actually been through, it ruins the idea of making music to me.” [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believes authentic songwriting requires personal experience; otherwise music feels false. **In simple terms:** Songwriting should reflect personal experiences. Key Takeaway Write from genuine life events. Themes authenticity creativity music industry Mood introspective passionate Type musical creative When to use this quote - composing lyrics - sharing personal stories - avoiding generic themes Key Concepts personal narrative artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How does personal experience shape artistic expression? - Can you write compelling music without lived experience? 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The things that happen to you in high school are the same things that happen your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/i-don-t-think-of-them-as-teenage-songs-the-things-that-happen-to-you/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [My music does say a lot about me and what I went through. All the songs are about things I have gone through and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalaine/my-music-does-say-a-lot-about-me-and-what-i-went-through-all-the/) [Lalaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalaine/) > [Many of my fans often tell me that they listen to my songs to get through things. And therefore, obviously, I hope that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora/many-of-my-fans-often-tell-me-that-they-listen-to-my-songs-to-get/) [Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora/) > [I've often said this - that you can get through a tragedy, and... you trudge on, but the pain never really goes away. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-morgan/i-ve-often-said-this-that-you-can-get-through-a-tragedy-and-you/) [Lorrie Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-morgan/) > [All my songs are things that have happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mabel/all-my-songs-are-things-that-have-happened-to-me/) [Mabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mabel/) > [I'm mostly inspired by relationships and things that are going on in my everyday life. It's hard for me to write songs about things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meiko/i-m-mostly-inspired-by-relationships-and-things-that-are-going-on-in/) [Meiko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meiko/) > [Most of what I've written songs about are things that come out of the confusing emotional, spiritual and psychological period of time when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-anderson/most-of-what-i-ve-written-songs-about-are-things-that-come-out-of-the/) [Ian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-anderson/) > [The songs are about things that we were thinking and we wrote 'em down, and when you listen to 'em, whatever you think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layne-staley/the-songs-are-about-things-that-we-were-thinking-and-we-wrote-em-down/) [Layne Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layne-staley/) > [I was always more interested in story songs, things with a point of view... and things that informed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nanci-griffith/i-was-always-more-interested-in-story-songs-things-with-a-point-of/) [Nanci Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nanci-griffith/) > [I have a lot of reactions to the outside world that I don't feel like would be appropriate for songs: things I'm not interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-have-a-lot-of-reactions-to-the-outside-world-that-i-don-t-feel-like/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I write songs about things that I'm simultaneously trying not to think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-write-songs-about-things-that-i-m-simultaneously-trying-not-to/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [The Men at Work thing is always there, it's always going to be there. It's not something I consciously think that much about anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hay/the-men-at-work-thing-is-always-there-it-s-always-going-to-be-there/) [Colin Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hay/) > [I don't think I could write about something I've never experienced or felt; all my songs are about things I've been through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie/i-don-t-think-i-could-write-about-something-i-ve-never-experienced-or/) [Anne-Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie/) > [I've written songs about things that nobody else has ever written about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/i-ve-written-songs-about-things-that-nobody-else-has-ever-written/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [A lot of my songs are about things that concern me personally, not a heightened version of myself or any of the characters that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berry/a-lot-of-my-songs-are-about-things-that-concern-me-personally-not-a/) [Matt Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berry/) ## More by Austin Carlile > [You will leave this world with exactly what you came with. Nothing. Enjoy memories. Not materials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/you-will-leave-this-world-with-exactly-what-you-came-with-nothing/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [I'm actually at home when I'm not on tour, and I have a lot of downtime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/i-m-actually-at-home-when-i-m-not-on-tour-and-i-have-a-lot-of-downtime/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [Linkin Park has been a band for such a long time, for me, in my eyes. I was 16 years old when I first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/linkin-park-has-been-a-band-for-such-a-long-time-for-me-in-my-eyes-i/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [You have many options in life, never make giving up one of them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/you-have-many-options-in-life-never-make-giving-up-one-of-them/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [When I think of nu-metal, I think of Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot and even Chevelle - those types of bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/when-i-think-of-nu-metal-i-think-of-linkin-park-limp-bizkit-slipknot/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [Be your own person because no-one can take that away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/be-your-own-person-because-no-one-can-take-that-away-from-you/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [I had actually hurt my neck, and because I went a while without getting it taken care of - it was pushing up against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/i-had-actually-hurt-my-neck-and-because-i-went-a-while-without/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [People can say what they want but it doesn't stop me from doing what I'm crazy about doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/people-can-say-what-they-want-but-it-doesn-t-stop-me-from-doing-what/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [Be your own person because no one can ever take that away from you, no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/be-your-own-person-because-no-one-can-ever-take-that-away-from-you-no/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [I think that the people who put caps and the people who put genres on music are the people who are killing our music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/i-think-that-the-people-who-put-caps-and-the-people-who-put-genres-on/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [Its disheartening to read the really negative stuff, but at the same time, I know who I am, and Im comfortable with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/its-disheartening-to-read-the-really-negative-stuff-but-at-the-same/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [What I think of when I think of nu-metal: structured, heavy music that has a point. It's angry just like all the other music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/what-i-think-of-when-i-think-of-nu-metal-structured-heavy-music-that/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [To me, music is emotion and if when you're listening to it and it doesn't make you feel that, then it's not music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/to-me-music-is-emotion-and-if-when-you-re-listening-to-it-and-it/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [Happiness isn't a destination,its a journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/happiness-isn-t-a-destination-its-a-journey/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) > [Never give up.Theres always hope,theres always life You've just got to open your heart to it.Live in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-carlile/never-give-up-theres-always-hope-theres-always-life-you-ve-just-got/) [Austin Carlile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) [Explore all 31 Austin Carlile quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-carlile/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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