--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since the songs were written over a…" description: "\"Since the songs were written over a five-year period, I think these are little snapshots. Some people call it political or topical, but I think each so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/conor-oberst-1535_decades_since-the-songs-were-written-over-a-five_1123149.jpg" --- # Since the songs were written over a five-year period, I… ![“Since the songs were written over a five-year period, I think these are little snapshots. Some people call it political or topical, but I think each song is self-contained. I think it fits together as a picture of the last half-decade of time.” quote by Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/conor-oberst-1535_decades_since-the-songs-were-written-over-a-five_1123149.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/conor-oberst-1535_decades_since-the-songs-were-written-over-a-five_1123149.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/conor-oberst-1535_decades_since-the-songs-were-written-over-a-five_1123149.jpg) > “Since the songs were written over a five-year period, I think these are little snapshots. Some people call it political or topical, but I think each song is self-contained. I think it fits together as a picture of the last half-decade of time.” [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each song captures a moment in time, forming a personal collage rather than a political manifesto. **In simple terms:** Songs are personal snapshots. Key Takeaway Listen for personal stories. Themes music art personal narrative history culture Mood reflective nostalgic Type artistic documentary When to use this quote - creating a playlist of a decade - analyzing lyrical themes - documenting personal growth Key Concepts songwriting cultural reflection temporal collage Questions to Reflect On - How does personal context shape your song choice? - What does this period mean to you? A Different Perspective Interpretations may vary, limiting a single narrative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Five years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-years/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Half Decade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-decade-2176970/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Little Snapshots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-snapshots-3048518/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self contained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-contained/) [Snapshots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snapshots/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Songs Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-written/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I do love the marriage of words and music. I do love them in terms of little snapshots. But, I guess I understand my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-temple/i-do-love-the-marriage-of-words-and-music-i-do-love-them-in-terms-of/) [Luke Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-temple/) > [“You know the type - the ones who steal your heart and leave you floundering helplessly without it for half a decade, shoving other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/you-know-the-type-the-ones-who-steal-your-heart-and-leave-you/) [Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/) > [“Try persuading the world not to cut its throat for half a decade or more...and it'll begin to dawn on you that even your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-lowry/try-persuading-the-world-not-to-cut-its-throat-for-half-a-decade-or/) [Malcolm Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-lowry/) > [I know what it feels like to have a talent and not be able to use it for almost half a decade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gatlin/i-know-what-it-feels-like-to-have-a-talent-and-not-be-able-to-use-it/) [Justin Gatlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gatlin/) > [It's hard to write new stuff when the songs you have written before are still changing and evolving. It would be like building something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mars/it-s-hard-to-write-new-stuff-when-the-songs-you-have-written-before/) [Thomas Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mars/) > [Nobody says anything real today. Most of those girls have their songs written by other people. It annoys me, because 'eh oh eh oh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/nobody-says-anything-real-today-most-of-those-girls-have-their-songs/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [The weirdest thing I've been fascinated with nowadays is the new contemporary country music, which to me sounds like very strange '70s pop, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/the-weirdest-thing-i-ve-been-fascinated-with-nowadays-is-the-new/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [Even in the early stages, you can tell who thinks you're an idiot singing songs someone else has written for you. We never wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mayberry/even-in-the-early-stages-you-can-tell-who-thinks-you-re-an-idiot/) [Lauren Mayberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mayberry/) > ['Mama I'm Coming Home' is one song that I think is incredible. One of his best songs ever written. Lemmy wrote the lyrics to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/mama-i-m-coming-home-is-one-song-that-i-think-is-incredible-one-of/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [Music and songs are written at different periods of time, at different times in your life. They reflect the feelings you have and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ian/music-and-songs-are-written-at-different-periods-of-time-at-different/) [Scott Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ian/) > [My best songs were written very quickly. Just about as much time as it takes to write it down is about as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/my-best-songs-were-written-very-quickly-just-about-as-much-time-as-it/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > ['The Impossible Dream' is, in my opinion, one of the greatest songs ever written. Here is a man, an old man, a very old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lee/the-impossible-dream-is-in-my-opinion-one-of-the-greatest-songs-ever/) [Christopher Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lee/) > [Technology is mechanical and contrary to the emotions that inform a person's life. The country music field has especially been hit hard by this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/technology-is-mechanical-and-contrary-to-the-emotions-that-inform-a/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Money to Burn” is a fantasy. I mean, I would love for that to be a true story. Most of my songs are written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladyhawke/money-to-burn-is-a-fantasy-i-mean-i-would-love-for-that-to-be-a-true/) [Ladyhawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladyhawke/) > [Usually when I'm writing, I try to write fairly quickly. If a song sits around too long, it starts to take on a stink.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/usually-when-i-m-writing-i-try-to-write-fairly-quickly-if-a-song-sits/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## More by Conor Oberst > [Every time I finish a song... most of the time it's in my own head, like this sounds too much like a Townes Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/every-time-i-finish-a-song-most-of-the-time-it-s-in-my-own-head-like/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. 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There's still a lot of mystery to songwriting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/you-can-t-manufacture-inspiration-so-a-lot-of-it-is-still-a-waiting/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Cause I swear that I'm dying, slowly but its happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/cause-i-swear-that-i-m-dying-slowly-but-its-happening/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [In a way, to have whatever people talk about as "crossover success," I think it means you start making bad music. I mean, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/in-a-way-to-have-whatever-people-talk-about-as-crossover-success-i/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Men with purple hearts carry silver guns and they will kill a man for what his father has done. But what my father did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/men-with-purple-hearts-carry-silver-guns-and-they-will-kill-a-man-for/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [There's a major underlying idea as you grow up that you need to just save your money and get that affordable housing at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/there-s-a-major-underlying-idea-as-you-grow-up-that-you-need-to-just/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [To finish a song is the best feeling in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/to-finish-a-song-is-the-best-feeling-in-the-world/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I've been part of running a label since I was a kid, so I understand how it works. But the more and more I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-ve-been-part-of-running-a-label-since-i-was-a-kid-so-i-understand/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I'm ripe for the picking for the Scientologists - one of those creeps. Someone's got to find me. Some little weird cult can just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-m-ripe-for-the-picking-for-the-scientologists-one-of-those-creeps/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [When I run into a person or a kid that comes up and gives me the spiel about, 'Hey, I got your record at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/when-i-run-into-a-person-or-a-kid-that-comes-up-and-gives-me-the/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My dad, who plays guitar and piano and was in cover bands, along with my older brother, Matt, taught me guitar and stuff. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/my-dad-who-plays-guitar-and-piano-and-was-in-cover-bands-along-with/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I think there's a weird self-affirmation thing that happens in popular music in general. It seems like every song I hear on the radio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-think-there-s-a-weird-self-affirmation-thing-that-happens-in/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) [Explore all 230 Conor Oberst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) ## More Decades quotes > [Nature will eventually do what nature has always done. It will respond in a self-stabilizing manner over the long term with moderate variability over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-sununu/nature-will-eventually-do-what-nature-has-always-done-it-will-respond/) [John H. 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I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [In a couple of decades you have half of the wells that are drilled right now, and you're talking about numbers in the millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-fox/in-a-couple-of-decades-you-have-half-of-the-wells-that-are-drilled/) [Josh Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-fox/) > [Among the many factors that make a return to halcyon days of the first decades of the postwar era virtually impossible is the decline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gilpin/among-the-many-factors-that-make-a-return-to-halcyon-days-of-the/) [Robert Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gilpin/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [But we need to be very clear: because of our decades of collective denial, no gradual, incremental options are now available to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/but-we-need-to-be-very-clear-because-of-our-decades-of-collective/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [It's funny, I used to say on 'That 70's Show', you could really put us in any decade, and it was about the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-prepon/it-s-funny-i-used-to-say-on-that-70-s-show-you-could-really-put-us-in/) [Laura Prepon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-prepon/) > [So a truthful assessment of how America is doing in the war on terror as a result of President Bush's war on Iraq is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/so-a-truthful-assessment-of-how-america-is-doing-in-the-war-on-terror/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [... many folks take them seriously because they just 'know' that evolution can never be seen in the immediate here and now. 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Trial lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-mckeon/this-bill-would-allow-an-employee-to-bring-a-claim-against-an/) [Buck McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-mckeon/) > [The greatest problem in Japanese politics over the last two decades is that we put off what needed to be done. We have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshihiko-noda/the-greatest-problem-in-japanese-politics-over-the-last-two-decades/) [Yoshihiko Noda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshihiko-noda/) [Browse all 1,717 Decades quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Since the songs were written over a five-year period, I think these are little snapshots. Some people call it political or topical, but I think each song is self-contained. 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