--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I miss working. It's real, you know? But…" description: "\"I miss working. It's real, you know? But I don't know anything but songwriting, and I don't even know that. I didn't go to school; the only thing I kno..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/cass-mccombs-7112_missing_i-miss-working-it-s-real-you-know-but-i_2730246.jpg" --- # I miss working. It's real, you know? But I don't know… ![“I miss working. It's real, you know? But I don't know anything but songwriting, and I don't even know that. I didn't go to school; the only thing I know how to do is this. The only thing that I know is that I know nothing.” quote by Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/cass-mccombs-7112_missing_i-miss-working-it-s-real-you-know-but-i_2730246.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/cass-mccombs-7112_missing_i-miss-working-it-s-real-you-know-but-i_2730246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/cass-mccombs-7112_missing_i-miss-working-it-s-real-you-know-but-i_2730246.jpg) > “I miss working. It's real, you know? But I don't know anything but songwriting, and I don't even know that. I didn't go to school; the only thing I know how to do is this. The only thing that I know is that I know nothing.” [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. A feeling of being stuck in a single skill set can spark humility and the realization that true knowledge begins with acknowledging one's ignorance. **In simple terms:** Feeling stuck reveals humility and the start of learning. Key Takeaway Accept ignorance as a catalyst for growth. Themes humility learning self‑awareness creativity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting workshops - learning new instruments - formal education - collaborative projects Key Concepts Self‑reflection skill development Questions to Reflect On - What does “knowing nothing” enable you to explore? - How can you turn humility into action? A Different Perspective May cause self‑doubt that hinders progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting/) ## Related quotes > [I miss working with great actors, working with great directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/i-miss-working-with-great-actors-working-with-great-directors/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [I am going to miss working with my father. Together, we scaled many mountains, and I would never have had the success I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/i-am-going-to-miss-working-with-my-father-together-we-scaled-many/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [Some people see Jermaine Dupri as a producer, and they don't really know what the songwriting skills are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-dupri/some-people-see-jermaine-dupri-as-a-producer-and-they-don-t-really/) [Jermaine Dupri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-dupri/) > [Songwriting was always my 'plan B'. I didn't even know that songwriting was a job until my late teens!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-hilson/songwriting-was-always-my-plan-b-i-didn-t-even-know-that-songwriting/) [Keri Hilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-hilson/) > [I'd say, at the end of the day, you know, from a songwriting practice standpoint, you write songs to make yourself feel something true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hopkins/i-d-say-at-the-end-of-the-day-you-know-from-a-songwriting-practice/) [Ben Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hopkins/) > [When you are working on a real story it is your responsibility to get everything right and stay as true and authentic as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/when-you-are-working-on-a-real-story-it-is-your-responsibility-to-get/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [As soon as I got into music, I tried to be a working, real artist who gets paid for what he does, who doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-soon-as-i-got-into-music-i-tried-to-be-a-working-real-artist-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Doing the I'm working real hard when the teacher looks at you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/doing-the-i-m-working-real-hard-when-the-teacher-looks-at-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing makes me happier than working with real people in the real world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/nothing-makes-me-happier-than-working-with-real-people-in-the-real/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [I have a commitment to real worlds on screen. I like working in real communities. I like telling real stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-caro/i-have-a-commitment-to-real-worlds-on-screen-i-like-working-in-real/) [Niki Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-caro/) > [In art as in politics we must deal with people as they are not as we wish them to be. Only by working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/in-art-as-in-politics-we-must-deal-with-people-as-they-are-not-as-we/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [It is when I am working that the real me comes out - that is when I am the most real and honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laetitia-casta/it-is-when-i-am-working-that-the-real-me-comes-out-that-is-when-i-am/) [Laetitia Casta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laetitia-casta/) > [It's definitely a shock to go from being 15 in high school to working. There's no real cushion there. There's no preparation at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/it-s-definitely-a-shock-to-go-from-being-15-in-high-school-to-working/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [“We spend most of the time searching for love, but once we get what we want, we stop working, but the real work still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertice-berry/we-spend-most-of-the-time-searching-for-love-but-once-we-get-what-we/) [Bertice Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertice-berry/) > [I love working. It's one of the real thrills of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-salenger/i-love-working-it-s-one-of-the-real-thrills-of-my-life/) Meredith Salenger ## 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 Missing quotes > [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/) [J.R. 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Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [There's no ifs and buts or maybes, you're gonna miss, you're gonna miss my loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-rawls/there-s-no-ifs-and-buts-or-maybes-you-re-gonna-miss-you-re-gonna-miss/) [Lou Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-rawls/) > [When you were riding on the crest of a wave, youwere most likely to be missing out on something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knute-rockne/when-you-were-riding-on-the-crest-of-a-wave-youwere-most-likely-to-be/) [Knute Rockne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knute-rockne/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [When I became Miss World, I couldn't believe I had won it. 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It offers a break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-guarini/they-look-at-what-s-more-important-like-subjects-to-help-with-the-sat/) [Justin Guarini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-guarini/) > [The idea of searching for some secret for trading success misses the point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-seykota/the-idea-of-searching-for-some-secret-for-trading-success-misses-the/) [Ed Seykota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-seykota/) > [I have played several characters that are crabby and cranky. 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