--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is one thing I think I have…" description: "\"If there is one thing I think I have accomplished, it's that I always thought of myself as a very literal songwriter, and as I look at some of those ol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c0/ben-gibbard-7584_accomplished_if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-acc_2839376.jpg" --- # If there is one thing I think I have accomplished, it's… ![“If there is one thing I think I have accomplished, it's that I always thought of myself as a very literal songwriter, and as I look at some of those older records, I don't hear it now the way I did when I was 20. I think it is undeniable that the songs have become more instantaneously descriptive…” quote by Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c0/ben-gibbard-7584_accomplished_if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-acc_2839376.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c0/ben-gibbard-7584_accomplished_if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-acc_2839376.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c0/ben-gibbard-7584_accomplished_if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-acc_2839376.jpg) > “If there is one thing I think I have accomplished, it's that I always thought of myself as a very literal songwriter, and as I look at some of those older records, I don't hear it now the way I did when I was 20. I think it is undeniable that the songs have become more instantaneously descriptive and literal. I'd like the songs to be more storytelling, but also have the turns of phrase within them that would hopefully distance my writing from the pack. I feel like on those older records there are a lot of attempts at clever turns of phrase.” [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist feels his newer songs are too literal, yearning for storytelling and clever phrasing to stand out. **In simple terms:** Desires more storytelling in music. Key Takeaway Incorporate narrative and wit in songwriting. Themes music creativity storytelling artistic growth originality Mood reflective creative Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - album production - live performance - music education Key Concepts songwriting literary devices Questions to Reflect On - How can songwriters balance clarity and nuance? - What techniques enhance lyrical depth? A Different Perspective Balancing accessibility with artistic depth is tough. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Hopefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopefully/) [Like Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-songs/) [Literal Songwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literal-songwriter-3713977/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-storytelling-841153/) [Songwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriter/) [Songwriter Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriter-look-3713978/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [As a songwriter, you always look for guys that you can write good with. Show up, have an idea, knock it out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-pardi/as-a-songwriter-you-always-look-for-guys-that-you-can-write-good-with/) [Jon Pardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-pardi/) > [The great thing about country songs is the storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/the-great-thing-about-country-songs-is-the-storytelling/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [My goal as a songwriter now is to simply write some memorable turns of phrase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/my-goal-as-a-songwriter-now-is-to-simply-write-some-memorable-turns/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [As a songwriter, I'm not necessarily writing about myself or my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/as-a-songwriter-i-m-not-necessarily-writing-about-myself-or-my-life/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [When you tell a story and connect with somebody through an emotion that's why they like songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rapsody/when-you-tell-a-story-and-connect-with-somebody-through-an-emotion/) [Rapsody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rapsody/) > [“It’s true—there are only, like, two songs about rainbows, including that one. He should be asking why there are so few songs about rainbows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-cory/it-s-true-there-are-only-like-two-songs-about-rainbows-including-that/) [Cheryl Cory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-cory/) > [“You are a fan of Katy Perry you want her heart you want her soul you love her songs you like her moves she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/you-are-a-fan-of-katy-perry-you-want-her-heart-you-want-her-soul-you/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [I don't like when songs are distinctly happy or sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/i-don-t-like-when-songs-are-distinctly-happy-or-sad/) [Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/) > [Everything needs to be catchy because a listener is either going to stay with the song or lose interest in the first five seconds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-blanco/everything-needs-to-be-catchy-because-a-listener-is-either-going-to/) [Benny Blanco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-blanco/) > ['Dance Macabre' feels like one of those songs that you want to play forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-forge/dance-macabre-feels-like-one-of-those-songs-that-you-want-to-play/) [Tobias Forge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-forge/) > [I think you want to write a song that's like the songs you are into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-finn/i-think-you-want-to-write-a-song-that-s-like-the-songs-you-are-into/) [Craig Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-finn/) > [I like songs. It's a weakness that I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-like-songs-it-s-a-weakness-that-i-have/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I've got a few reasons why I've got to maintain stability. I've got into wanting people to hear my music. I've got something I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sly-stone/i-ve-got-a-few-reasons-why-i-ve-got-to-maintain-stability-i-ve-got/) [Sly Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sly-stone/) > [Some people don't like my songs because they think they're too simple or easy or not that thought-out. I feel like the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langhorne-slim/some-people-don-t-like-my-songs-because-they-think-they-re-too-simple/) [Langhorne Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langhorne-slim/) > [I especially like the songs Hurry Up and The Curse Of Castle Dragon, and I often include them in my live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-especially-like-the-songs-hurry-up-and-the-curse-of-castle-dragon/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) ## More by Ben Gibbard > [I don't want to be overdramatic about it, but I'm starting to see a lot of my bad habits get the best of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-don-t-want-to-be-overdramatic-about-it-but-i-m-starting-to-see-a/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [We never sit down before we start making a record and talk about this new sonic palette that we are going to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/we-never-sit-down-before-we-start-making-a-record-and-talk-about-this/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [When I'm old, I'd like to wake up in the morning and not really do anything - just be happy to exist. I'd like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/when-i-m-old-i-d-like-to-wake-up-in-the-morning-and-not-really-do/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [An ex-girlfriend once got upset when I told her that music is the most important thing in my life. It's more important than anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/an-ex-girlfriend-once-got-upset-when-i-told-her-that-music-is-the/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [At some point, I thought that, as I got older, I'd come to terms with a lot of things. I'd solve some big problems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/at-some-point-i-thought-that-as-i-got-older-i-d-come-to-terms-with-a/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [The songwriting of Hall & Oates is deceptively complex. There are a number of key changes that pass you by as you're listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/the-songwriting-of-hall-oates-is-deceptively-complex-there-are-a/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [When you connect as many memories to your geography as I have, and then you see that geography change around you, you're forced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/when-you-connect-as-many-memories-to-your-geography-as-i-have-and/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [It's trippy to think we have an album that's 10 years old. It's even trippier to think we have a couple of albums older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/it-s-trippy-to-think-we-have-an-album-that-s-10-years-old-it-s-even/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [We all pine for a time in life when things were simpler. Even when they weren't necessarily simpler, hindsight makes them look a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/we-all-pine-for-a-time-in-life-when-things-were-simpler-even-when/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [I kind of dropped a lot of bad habits about three years ago and became kind of accidentally straight-edge. I don't have Xs on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-kind-of-dropped-a-lot-of-bad-habits-about-three-years-ago-and/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [For 'Narrow Stairs', the majority of the songs I brought in were guitar songs - songs we could sit in a room and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/for-narrow-stairs-the-majority-of-the-songs-i-brought-in-were-guitar/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [I've always had a soft spot for Phil Collins. He's a great vocalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-ve-always-had-a-soft-spot-for-phil-collins-he-s-a-great-vocalist/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [More times than not, it's a failed endeavor. You will fail more times than you succeed. But I think you need those failed endeavors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/more-times-than-not-it-s-a-failed-endeavor-you-will-fail-more-times/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [I think a lot of people who become music fans have that moment where they break from their parents' music, they break from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-think-a-lot-of-people-who-become-music-fans-have-that-moment-where/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [I want to write songs with complete sentences. I almos have this obsession with short-changing words. I would never be so pretentious to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-want-to-write-songs-with-complete-sentences-i-almos-have-this/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) [Explore all 89 Ben Gibbard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) ## More Accomplished quotes > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I'm proud of what I've accomplished and that is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-m-proud-of-what-i-ve-accomplished-and-that-is-empowering/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I don't know Beyoncé, but I have the impression that she's sincere, that she really is a feminist and wanted to put the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-don-t-know-beyonc-but-i-have-the-impression-that-she-s-sincere-that/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [With Epcot Center, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn't think possible in today's world. They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) [Amy Ridenour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ridenour/) > [“Great things can be accomplished, when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/great-things-can-be-accomplished-when-it-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If I could inspire you for even a moment to be yourself and love yourself, and not let what anyone has to say hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-neal-hartry/if-i-could-inspire-you-for-even-a-moment-to-be-yourself-and-love/) [Joshua Neal Hartry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-neal-hartry/) [Browse all 1,379 Accomplished quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is one thing I think I have accomplished, it's that I always thought of myself as a very literal songwriter, and as I look at some of those older records, I don't hear it now the way I did when I was 20. I think it is undeniable that the songs have become more instantaneously descriptive and literal. I'd like the songs to be more storytelling, but also have the turns of phrase within them that would hopefully distance my writing from the pack. I feel like on those older records there are a lot of attempts at clever turns of phrase.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Gibbard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-accomplished-it-s-that-i-always/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplished" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-accomplished-it-s-that-i-always/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c0/ben-gibbard-7584_accomplished_if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-acc_2839376.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c0/ben-gibbard-7584_accomplished_if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-acc_2839376.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c0/ben-gibbard-7584_accomplished_if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-acc_2839376.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is one thing I think I have accomplished, it's that I always thought of myself as a very literal…” — Ben Gibbard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Gibbard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If there is one thing I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-accomplished-it-s-that-i-always/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/if-there-is-one-thing-i-think-i-have-accomplished-it-s-that-i-always/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```