--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I couldn't write a political song…" description: "\"I couldn't write a political song. There's just opinion; it's all arbitrary anyway. It's all subjective.\" — Cass McCombs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/cass-mccombs-7112_arbitrary_i-couldn-t-write-a-political-song-there_1724258.jpg" --- # I couldn't write a political song. There's just opinion… ![“I couldn't write a political song. There's just opinion; it's all arbitrary anyway. It's all subjective.” quote by Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/cass-mccombs-7112_arbitrary_i-couldn-t-write-a-political-song-there_1724258.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/cass-mccombs-7112_arbitrary_i-couldn-t-write-a-political-song-there_1724258.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/cass-mccombs-7112_arbitrary_i-couldn-t-write-a-political-song-there_1724258.jpg) > “I couldn't write a political song. There's just opinion; it's all arbitrary anyway. It's all subjective.” [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political songwriting feels futile when opinions seem arbitrary and subjective. **In simple terms:** Songwriting about politics seems pointless. Key Takeaway Focus on personal truth instead of politics. Themes art politics subjectivity creativity Mood reflective skeptical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - public discourse - creative expression Key Concepts subjectivity artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - Do you think art can influence opinions despite subjectivity? - Can personal authenticity outweigh political messaging? A Different Perspective Listeners may still interpret songs politically. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Subjective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjective/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Those objecting to the concept of race argue that the taxonomic definitions are arbitrary and subjective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/those-objecting-to-the-concept-of-race-argue-that-the-taxonomic/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [Sometimes a good love song can change the world and create positive energy more than any political song can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/sometimes-a-good-love-song-can-change-the-world-and-create-positive/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [I've never written a political song. Songs can't save the world. I've gone through all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-ve-never-written-a-political-song-songs-can-t-save-the-world-i-ve/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [To me, a political song is also a personal song. Most political activism has been driven by empathy for other people and the desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/to-me-a-political-song-is-also-a-personal-song-most-political/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I don't set out to write a political song. I am not one of those that feels compelled to write about what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-don-t-set-out-to-write-a-political-song-i-am-not-one-of-those-that/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [ The pleasure a man gets from a landscape would \[not\] last long if he were convinced a priori that the forms and colors he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-horkheimer/the-pleasure-a-man-gets-from-a-landscape-would-not-last-long-if-he/) [Max Horkheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-horkheimer/) > [When I first got sick, they told me I had a year to live, and I was writing my memoir really fast. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/when-i-first-got-sick-they-told-me-i-had-a-year-to-live-and-i-was/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [When I couldn't write, I felt like a zombie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/when-i-couldn-t-write-i-felt-like-a-zombie/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [No music. No rituals. At home I write in my office or on the laptop in the kitchen where our puppy likes to sleep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carson-levine/no-music-no-rituals-at-home-i-write-in-my-office-or-on-the-laptop-in/) [Gail Carson Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carson-levine/) > [“because she couldn’t write the name of what she was: a wa wam owm owamn womn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/because-she-couldn-t-write-the-name-of-what-she-was-a-wa-wam-owm/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [I struggled in the beginning. I said I was going to write the truth, so help me God. And I thought I was. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-struggled-in-the-beginning-i-said-i-was-going-to-write-the-truth-so/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [The books one has written in the past have two surprises in store: one couldn't write them again, and wouldn't want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/the-books-one-has-written-in-the-past-have-two-surprises-in-store-one/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [I once had a boyfriend who couldn't write unless he was wearing a necktie and a dress shirt, which I thought was really weird,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-once-had-a-boyfriend-who-couldn-t-write-unless-he-was-wearing-a/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [When I first started writing plays I couldn't write good dialogue because I didn't respect how black people talked. I thought that in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/when-i-first-started-writing-plays-i-couldn-t-write-good-dialogue/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [Overall, we had about 50 meetings where the brothers would say that I couldn't do any solo records, I couldn't write for other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/overall-we-had-about-50-meetings-where-the-brothers-would-say-that-i/) [Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/) ## More by Cass McCombs > [People expect not just songwriters but all personalities to pontificate about their egos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/people-expect-not-just-songwriters-but-all-personalities-to/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Elvis Presley wore a Star of David and a cross around his neck and, when someone asked him about it, he said, "It makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/elvis-presley-wore-a-star-of-david-and-a-cross-around-his-neck-and/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I've always thought about myself as somewhat of a folk musician. I just write words. I don't think I'm even a musician. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-ve-always-thought-about-myself-as-somewhat-of-a-folk-musician-i/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I just write songs whenever I feel like it, whenever they come to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-just-write-songs-whenever-i-feel-like-it-whenever-they-come-to-me/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I think I like singing when I'm singing live. It's just in the studio when it's a drag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-think-i-like-singing-when-i-m-singing-live-it-s-just-in-the-studio/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [It's not my way to talk about my feelings. They're impudent to myself, so it wouldn't make any sense if I tried to explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/it-s-not-my-way-to-talk-about-my-feelings-they-re-impudent-to-myself/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Thank God we don't know a lot about Shakespeare or Moses or Homer or Lautreamont. These are the best guys we got, and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/thank-god-we-don-t-know-a-lot-about-shakespeare-or-moses-or-homer-or/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [All these biopics and biographies and people gossiping about so-and-so's drug abuse or who's sleeping with who, it's just a bunch of nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/all-these-biopics-and-biographies-and-people-gossiping-about-so-and/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [A lot of religious texts make for good reading. That's why they hold up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/a-lot-of-religious-texts-make-for-good-reading-that-s-why-they-hold-up/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Once biographical information contaminates your consciousness, it's impossible to erase it and look at someone's work the same way again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/once-biographical-information-contaminates-your-consciousness-it-s/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I don't like the word "happy." I wouldn't want to use it that context. I enjoy writing songs, it's a really good challenge, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-don-t-like-the-word-happy-i-wouldn-t-want-to-use-it-that-context-i/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [It doesn't mean that I'm overly enthusiastic about much music. Except the people that really touch me. It has to touch me, it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/it-doesn-t-mean-that-i-m-overly-enthusiastic-about-much-music-except/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Music is the marriage of the feelings of the living to the wisdom of the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/music-is-the-marriage-of-the-feelings-of-the-living-to-the-wisdom-of/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I don't care much about politics. That kind of witchcraft I stay away from because people end up dead. I'd rather die for music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-don-t-care-much-about-politics-that-kind-of-witchcraft-i-stay-away/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [When you play with great musicians, whether they're schooled or self-taught, they keep you on your toes. It comes down to people's personalities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/when-you-play-with-great-musicians-whether-they-re-schooled-or-self/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) [Explore all 94 Cass McCombs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) ## More Arbitrary quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) Edward Einhorn > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/) [William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/) > [I don't concern myself with thinking ahead to the finished product. I focus more specifically on what the character is experiencing. Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/contrary-to-what-certain-governments-say-human-rights-are-universal/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/what-causes-adolescents-to-rebel-is-not-the-assertion-of-authority/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“nothing is arbitrary in this whole world, there is a good reason behind each and everything…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-kumar/nothing-is-arbitrary-in-this-whole-world-there-is-a-good-reason/) Nikhil Kumar > [Fundamentally, adopting rules without any estimate of the impact is the height of arbitrary decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/fundamentally-adopting-rules-without-any-estimate-of-the-impact-is/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [No arbitrary regulation, no act of the legislature, can add anything to the capital of the country; it can only force it into artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ramsay-mcculloch/no-arbitrary-regulation-no-act-of-the-legislature-can-add-anything-to/) John Ramsay McCulloch > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) Browse all 529 Arbitrary quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I couldn't write a political song. 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