--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes I'll have an idea for a story…" description: "\"Sometimes I'll have an idea for a story or have a subject, and that will inspire lyrics, but most of the time, hopefully, they already exist somewhere ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/beck-3337_else_sometimes-i-ll-have-an-idea-for-a-story_1853390.png" --- # Sometimes I'll have an idea for a story or have a subject… ![“Sometimes I'll have an idea for a story or have a subject, and that will inspire lyrics, but most of the time, hopefully, they already exist somewhere else.” quote by Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/beck-3337_else_sometimes-i-ll-have-an-idea-for-a-story_1853390.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/beck-3337_else_sometimes-i-ll-have-an-idea-for-a-story_1853390.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/beck-3337_else_sometimes-i-ll-have-an-idea-for-a-story_1853390.png) > “Sometimes I'll have an idea for a story or have a subject, and that will inspire lyrics, but most of the time, hopefully, they already exist somewhere else.” [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker notes that most creative ideas already exist, implying artists often remix existing material rather than invent wholly new concepts. **In simple terms:** Ideas often already exist; artists remix them. Key Takeaway Embrace remix culture. Themes creativity art originality inspiration Mood reflective inspirational Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - film making - advertising - design Key Concepts intertextuality cultural borrowing innovation Questions to Reflect On - What new twists can you add to existing ideas? - How do you balance originality with influence? A Different Perspective Originality can be limited by over‑reliance on existing works. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Lyrics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyrics/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I spend much of my time in a broadly liberal secular world but I don't belong to it, I belong somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/i-spend-much-of-my-time-in-a-broadly-liberal-secular-world-but-i-don/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [If I'm offered a good case in Florida or a good case somewhere else, South Florida will win every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/if-i-m-offered-a-good-case-in-florida-or-a-good-case-somewhere-else/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [I've learned that the perfect picture that I hold in my mind of what my life looks like is constantly changing, growing, evolving. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-allyn-baker/i-ve-learned-that-the-perfect-picture-that-i-hold-in-my-mind-of-what/) [Leigh-Allyn Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-allyn-baker/) > [One of the few things that can be said for certain about Europe's prehistoric peoples is that they all came from somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/one-of-the-few-things-that-can-be-said-for-certain-about-europe-s/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [In other countries, being from somewhere else is celebrated. But not in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/in-other-countries-being-from-somewhere-else-is-celebrated-but-not-in/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [Most of the people in New York are very often from somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/most-of-the-people-in-new-york-are-very-often-from-somewhere-else/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [I do not see Dean Ambrose leaving WWE to go somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/i-do-not-see-dean-ambrose-leaving-wwe-to-go-somewhere-else/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [Everybody calls it a purge, but when people move out of the state, they don't need to be on our voting rolls if they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kemp/everybody-calls-it-a-purge-but-when-people-move-out-of-the-state-they/) [Brian Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kemp/) > [When I was growing up, I always wanted to be somebody else and live somewhere else. I've always felt a little uncomfortable around people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-wanted-to-be-somebody-else-and-live/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [You know that American dream and American spirit of innovation we always talk about? Turns out, the bulk of it was built by people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/you-know-that-american-dream-and-american-spirit-of-innovation-we/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [The fans in Canada have been there since day one. They're the originals. When people say that's your roots, that's literally my roots. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/the-fans-in-canada-have-been-there-since-day-one-they-re-the/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) > [I really believe that the more distractions and fixes I remove from my life, the better I'll feel about myself. The biggest of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-really-believe-that-the-more-distractions-and-fixes-i-remove-from/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [Every body about me seem'd happy but every body seem'd in a hurry to be happy somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-cowley/every-body-about-me-seem-d-happy-but-every-body-seem-d-in-a-hurry-to/) [Hannah Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-cowley/) > [Chekhov is this poet of melancholy and isolation and of wishing you were somewhere else than where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/chekhov-is-this-poet-of-melancholy-and-isolation-and-of-wishing-you/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I think relaxation is escaping from your everyday encounters. You can read the words on a page and be transported to somewhere else. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konnie-huq/i-think-relaxation-is-escaping-from-your-everyday-encounters-you-can/) [Konnie Huq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konnie-huq/) ## More by Beck > [There are certain records that you love because the songs are great, but you don't go to them as an example of great production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/there-are-certain-records-that-you-love-because-the-songs-are-great/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [ \[Early on,\] the attitude was that what I was doing wasn't music. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-was-doing-wasn-t-music/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [It gets a little bit troublesome when you have something that's overcompressed that shouldn't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/it-gets-a-little-bit-troublesome-when-you-have-something-that-s/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [Let the desert wind cool your aching head. Let the weight of the world - drift away instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/let-the-desert-wind-cool-your-aching-head-let-the-weight-of-the-world/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [I'm always looking for older equipment and ways of recording, but you can't escape the fact that it's all going to be digitized and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/i-m-always-looking-for-older-equipment-and-ways-of-recording-but-you/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [I did that Grammys thing - I did a little freeform poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/i-did-that-grammys-thing-i-did-a-little-freeform-poem/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [There's a perception that if an artist produces another artist, they're going to imprint on them. But I'm the opposite. I want to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/there-s-a-perception-that-if-an-artist-produces-another-artist-they/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [Tonight the city is full of morgues, and all the toilets are overflowing. There's shopping malls coming out of the walls, as we walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/tonight-the-city-is-full-of-morgues-and-all-the-toilets-are/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [I think it's interesting being American, the expectations for an American guy, and the image that has to be projected. 'Oh, I can't wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/i-think-it-s-interesting-being-american-the-expectations-for-an/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [Technology was something I avoided when I started out - I didn't even have electric guitars. Only played acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/technology-was-something-i-avoided-when-i-started-out-i-didn-t-even/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [I'm the artist formally known as Beck. I have a genius wig. When I put that wig on, then the true genius emerges. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/i-m-the-artist-formally-known-as-beck-i-have-a-genius-wig-when-i-put/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [Originally, the lyrics to "Girl" were really upbeat, and then it didn't work for me somehow. You need the dichotomy. If you're doing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/originally-the-lyrics-to-girl-were-really-upbeat-and-then-it-didn-t/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [“There's a destination,a little up the road. From the habitations and the towns we know. A place we saw the lights turn low. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/there-s-a-destination-a-little-up-the-road-from-the-habitations-and/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [As society changes, as politics change, as people change, certain songs still seem to resonate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/as-society-changes-as-politics-change-as-people-change-certain-songs/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [With modern recording techniques, and living in the Pro Tools era, the process gets really drawn-out, and it can become painstaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/with-modern-recording-techniques-and-living-in-the-pro-tools-era-the/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) [Explore all 133 Beck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) ## More Else quotes > [What I was concerned about when I wrote the 'Downward Spiral' record was being a self-centred destructive force. The point was tearing down everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/what-i-was-concerned-about-when-i-wrote-the-downward-spiral-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [Only two to three per cent of an audience is interested in words and pays attention to lyrics; most of the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/only-two-to-three-per-cent-of-an-audience-is-interested-in-words-and/) [Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/) > [Aaron Spelling always had his finger on the pulse of pop culture, he knew what the public wanted to see. 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I was having a difficult time with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-brooks/don-t-compare-your-career-to-anyone-else-s-it-s-tough-when-you-re-in/) [Danielle Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-brooks/) > [Parents should have perfect control over their own spirits, and with mildness and yet firmness bend the will of the child until it shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/parents-should-have-perfect-control-over-their-own-spirits-and-with/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [I always sleep on my own. I can't sleep with somebody else. Always separate bedrooms, bathrooms and closets. 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