--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was trying to write a song based on a…" description: "\"I was trying to write a song based on a story in a random book of Puerto Rican short stories that I found in a thrift store. I thought it was really da..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/bradford-cox-7663_book_i-was-trying-to-write-a-song-based-on-a_2840812.jpg" --- # I was trying to write a song based on a story in a random… ![“I was trying to write a song based on a story in a random book of Puerto Rican short stories that I found in a thrift store. I thought it was really dark, and so I tried to interpret it. I've always been interested in writing from other people's perspectives and other gender perspectives.” quote by Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/bradford-cox-7663_book_i-was-trying-to-write-a-song-based-on-a_2840812.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/bradford-cox-7663_book_i-was-trying-to-write-a-song-based-on-a_2840812.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/bradford-cox-7663_book_i-was-trying-to-write-a-song-based-on-a_2840812.jpg) > “I was trying to write a song based on a story in a random book of Puerto Rican short stories that I found in a thrift store. I thought it was really dark, and so I tried to interpret it. I've always been interested in writing from other people's perspectives and other gender perspectives.” [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) ## 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 explores using a dark, found story as inspiration for a song, emphasizing empathy and gender perspective experimentation. **In simple terms:** Using a found story to write a song, exploring other viewpoints. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse narratives in creative work. Themes creativity empathy perspective gender storytelling Mood reflective curious introspective Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - literary adaptation - personal growth - cultural curiosity Key Concepts narrative voice identity exploration cross‑genre inspiration Questions to Reflect On - How does adopting another gender’s voice affect your art? - What challenges arise when interpreting dark material? A Different Perspective May limit authenticity if not fully understood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Interested Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-writing/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Puerto rican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puerto-rican/) [Short stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-stories/) [Short story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-story/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Story Random](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-random-3723095/) [Thrift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrift/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-write/) [Write Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've always been interested in writing from other people's perspectives and other gender perspectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-writing-from-other-people-s/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [At the end of the day, I'm just trying to write a song that I like, that I'm not afraid to turn loose on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-m-just-trying-to-write-a-song-that-i-like/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I'd spent five hours that morning trying to write a song that was meaningful and good, and I finally gave up and lay down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-d-spent-five-hours-that-morning-trying-to-write-a-song-that-was/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I can't constantly be trying to write the unwritten song, the song that the 15-year-old girl needs. I need to write the song that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/i-can-t-constantly-be-trying-to-write-the-unwritten-song-the-song/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [I feel like trying to write a song in order to be a big hit is just not something I'm interested in because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foster/i-feel-like-trying-to-write-a-song-in-order-to-be-a-big-hit-is-just/) [Mark Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-foster/) > [I have yet to have a successful outcome of sitting in a room with someone and trying to write a song. The way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/i-have-yet-to-have-a-successful-outcome-of-sitting-in-a-room-with/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I don't want to focus too much on trying to write a song for radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tones-and-i/i-don-t-want-to-focus-too-much-on-trying-to-write-a-song-for-radio/) [Tones and I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tones-and-i/) > [You're always going to write and draw inspiration from things that you're feeling, things that you've felt. It's kind of impossible not to unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-styles/you-re-always-going-to-write-and-draw-inspiration-from-things-that/) [Harry Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-styles/) > [When I'm trying to write a song for someone else, you can only see anything through your own eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/when-i-m-trying-to-write-a-song-for-someone-else-you-can-only-see/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I have a notebook that I take with me everywhere. I free-write in it when there are situations that I know I can write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agent-m/i-have-a-notebook-that-i-take-with-me-everywhere-i-free-write-in-it/) [Agent M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agent-m/) > [It's a humbling and amazing journey when you write a song in your bedroom, and you've got no money, and you're trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-perry/it-s-a-humbling-and-amazing-journey-when-you-write-a-song-in-your/) [Linda Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-perry/) > [I always write the first and last song of an album first, and then the middle just kind of happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-always-write-the-first-and-last-song-of-an-album-first-and-then-the/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [Sometimes, I do have something to say, so I'll sit there and I'll write a song to someone - and then I just throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/sometimes-i-do-have-something-to-say-so-i-ll-sit-there-and-i-ll-write/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I'm not interested in writing for adults. I like them as people! I don't like the way they publish books in that world. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-m-not-interested-in-writing-for-adults-i-like-them-as-people-i-don/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I'm not really interested in writing or reading about people who are nice and easy. I like the problem children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-m-not-really-interested-in-writing-or-reading-about-people-who-are/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) ## More by Bradford Cox > [You gotta have friends, and it's really hard to have friends that don't operate on the same schedule as you or do the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/you-gotta-have-friends-and-it-s-really-hard-to-have-friends-that-don/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [When money and fame happen too late, it's like pouring kerosene over a fire of self-loathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/when-money-and-fame-happen-too-late-it-s-like-pouring-kerosene-over-a/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I don't think it will ever be lessened. Because I always move on to something else - and the music that I listen to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-don-t-think-it-will-ever-be-lessened-because-i-always-move-on-to/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [You're always as a musician trying to shock yourself or create music that's maybe even too weird for your own taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/you-re-always-as-a-musician-trying-to-shock-yourself-or-create-music/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [A song like "Walkabout", it's totally imitative. The goal of that song was to make people happy, and I've never really made a song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/a-song-like-walkabout-it-s-totally-imitative-the-goal-of-that-song/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [Sometimes, I do have something to say, so I'll sit there and I'll write a song to someone - and then I just throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/sometimes-i-do-have-something-to-say-so-i-ll-sit-there-and-i-ll-write/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I always write the first and last song of an album first, and then the middle just kind of happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-always-write-the-first-and-last-song-of-an-album-first-and-then-the/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I'm not the guy in the dress with the blood and the unrequited gay whatever - which, according to my psychiatrist, my gayness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-m-not-the-guy-in-the-dress-with-the-blood-and-the-unrequited-gay/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I'm interested in acting as much as I'm interested in gardening. I want to garden, eventually. I want to learn how to do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-m-interested-in-acting-as-much-as-i-m-interested-in-gardening-i/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I am asexual. A-sexual. I read somewhere, maybe on Facebook, where somebody said something like, "I heard Bradford was gay, but then I heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-am-asexual-a-sexual-i-read-somewhere-maybe-on-facebook-where/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [You don't need to drink if you have emotional problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/you-don-t-need-to-drink-if-you-have-emotional-problems/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [The sober guy is always going to have this air of arrogance or self-righteousness, but it's not my intention. I just knew that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/the-sober-guy-is-always-going-to-have-this-air-of-arrogance-or-self/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [Talk to Arto Lindsay and I'm sure he's tired of people asking him about DNA; he's probably really into what he's doing now, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/talk-to-arto-lindsay-and-i-m-sure-he-s-tired-of-people-asking-him/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [Unlike the rest of everyone I hang around with, I don't drink, so I remember what happened after shows. And I have never hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/unlike-the-rest-of-everyone-i-hang-around-with-i-don-t-drink-so-i/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [Usually I'm not really conscious of what's going on. I don't have a lot of memories onstage. At all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/usually-i-m-not-really-conscious-of-what-s-going-on-i-don-t-have-a/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) [Explore all 89 Bradford Cox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was trying to write a song based on a story in a random book of Puerto Rican short stories that I found in a thrift store. I thought it was really dark, and so I tried to interpret it. 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