--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are certain functions that a writer…" description: "\"There are certain functions that a writer has to do. In a time of crisis, it is great to have heroic poems, as it was in the Irish Revolution. It's gre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/derek-walcott-2220_crisis_there-are-certain-functions-that-a-write_937305.jpg" --- # There are certain functions that a writer has to do. In a… ![“There are certain functions that a writer has to do. In a time of crisis, it is great to have heroic poems, as it was in the Irish Revolution. It's great to have great songs, because people need something to sing when they are marching. That's OK, but it should be on the side. It's not the…” quote by Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/derek-walcott-2220_crisis_there-are-certain-functions-that-a-write_937305.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/derek-walcott-2220_crisis_there-are-certain-functions-that-a-write_937305.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/derek-walcott-2220_crisis_there-are-certain-functions-that-a-write_937305.jpg) > “There are certain functions that a writer has to do. In a time of crisis, it is great to have heroic poems, as it was in the Irish Revolution. It's great to have great songs, because people need something to sing when they are marching. That's OK, but it should be on the side. It's not the ultimate thing.” [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers should create works that inspire during crises, but artistic expression must complement rather than dominate political action. **In simple terms:** Poetry can uplift in crisis, yet should support action. Key Takeaway Balance artistic inspiration with practical activism. Themes art revolution poetry activism culture Mood reflective inspirational Type cultural political When to use this quote - protest songs - marching chants - community storytelling Key Concepts literary theory social movements collective memory Questions to Reflect On - How can art stay relevant in activism? - What role should artists play in social change? A Different Perspective Art may be co‑opted or lose impact if not grounded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Irish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [He who would write heroic poems should make his whole life a heroic poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/he-who-would-write-heroic-poems-should-make-his-whole-life-a-heroic/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [We're Cheap Trick, and the majority of people know about three songs, and the real huge fans know about eight. There are 292 songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/we-re-cheap-trick-and-the-majority-of-people-know-about-three-songs/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I enjoy singing my songs in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/i-enjoy-singing-my-songs-in-front-of-people/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [Festivals are a time to play the songs people know and are looking forward to hearing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hutchison/festivals-are-a-time-to-play-the-songs-people-know-and-are-looking/) [Scott Hutchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hutchison/) > [I like to write pop songs and the stuff I write is fairly poppy, so I thought maybe my lot in life was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-bruno/i-like-to-write-pop-songs-and-the-stuff-i-write-is-fairly-poppy-so-i/) [Aaron Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-bruno/) > [Of course, growing up, you listen to your favorite people on the radio and you want to have an album of your own and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-barrett/of-course-growing-up-you-listen-to-your-favorite-people-on-the-radio/) [Gabby Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-barrett/) > [Often we make songs with people for us and one for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-chatto/often-we-make-songs-with-people-for-us-and-one-for-them/) [Grace Chatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-chatto/) > [I just want to write good songs that people love, which is a tough thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-just-want-to-write-good-songs-that-people-love-which-is-a-tough/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [The idea that I could write songs that people wanted to hear came from other people who said they liked what I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-people-wanted-to-hear-came/) [Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/) > [It's kind of strange to hear your songs sung back to you! You get a big insight into what people connect to, what's moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/it-s-kind-of-strange-to-hear-your-songs-sung-back-to-you-you-get-a/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [I write songs for people who drive in cars. I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-write-songs-for-people-who-drive-in-cars-i-really-do/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I really try to be aware of the purpose of each song. There are songs on my record that I want people to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-really-try-to-be-aware-of-the-purpose-of-each-song-there-are-songs/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [If I can't sing them myself, there's nothing better than writing songs for other people and watching them be performed. It's kind of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/if-i-can-t-sing-them-myself-there-s-nothing-better-than-writing-songs/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [Usually, I cut songs by other people that are artists that I already love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/usually-i-cut-songs-by-other-people-that-are-artists-that-i-already/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [I like to incorporate classical songs that people know and throw a beat and some guitars on it to make it real crazy. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-like-to-incorporate-classical-songs-that-people-know-and-throw-a/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) ## More by Derek Walcott > [Memory that yearns to join the centre, a limb remembering the body from which it has been severed, like those bamboo thighs of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/memory-that-yearns-to-join-the-centre-a-limb-remembering-the-body/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [Peel your own image from the mirror. Sit. Feast on your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/peel-your-own-image-from-the-mirror-sit-feast-on-your-life/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [I don't feel I've arrived home until I get on the beach. All my life, the theater of the sea has been a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/i-don-t-feel-i-ve-arrived-home-until-i-get-on-the-beach-all-my-life/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [“As human beings we’ve certainly suffered the loss of awe, the loss of sacredness, and the loss of the fact that we’re not here—…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/as-human-beings-we-ve-certainly-suffered-the-loss-of-awe-the-loss-of/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [“I shall unlearn feeling, unlearn my gift. That is greater and harder than what passes there for life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/i-shall-unlearn-feeling-unlearn-my-gift-that-is-greater-and-harder/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [The greatest writers have been, at heart, parochial, provincial in their rootedness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/the-greatest-writers-have-been-at-heart-parochial-provincial-in-their/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/the-time-will-come-when-with-elation-you-will-greet-yourself-arriving/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [Break a vase, and the love that reassembles the fragments is stronger than that love which took its symmetry for granted when it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/break-a-vase-and-the-love-that-reassembles-the-fragments-is-stronger/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [My mother, who is nearly ninety now, still talks continually about my father. All my life, I've been aware of her grief about his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/my-mother-who-is-nearly-ninety-now-still-talks-continually-about-my/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [My family background really only consists of my mother. She was a widow. My father died quite young; he must have been thirty-one. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/my-family-background-really-only-consists-of-my-mother-she-was-a/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [“I am the man my father loved and was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/i-am-the-man-my-father-loved-and-was/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [Like any art, what is the most imprisoning thing is also the most delivering thing. If an actor knows he only has 12 syllables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/like-any-art-what-is-the-most-imprisoning-thing-is-also-the-most/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [The thing that is believed is a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/the-thing-that-is-believed-is-a-reality/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [The history of the world - by which, of course, we mean Europe - is a record of intertribal lacerations, of ethnic cleansings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/the-history-of-the-world-by-which-of-course-we-mean-europe-is-a/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [The English language is nobody's special property. It is the property of the imagination: it is the property of the language itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/the-english-language-is-nobody-s-special-property-it-is-the-property/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) [Explore all 177 Derek Walcott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) ## More Crisis quotes > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [The crisis of our diminishing water resources is just as severe (if less obviously immediate) as any wartime crisis we have ever faced. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-wright/the-crisis-of-our-diminishing-water-resources-is-just-as-severe-if/) Jim Wright > [It is popular to call it a crisis of the Western world. It is in fact a crisis of the whole world. Communism, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/it-is-popular-to-call-it-a-crisis-of-the-western-world-it-is-in-fact/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) > [The financial crisis we are facing today arises from the fact that there is almost no more social, cultural, natural, and spiritual capital left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/the-financial-crisis-we-are-facing-today-arises-from-the-fact-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [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/) > [Disasters affect every state, and North Carolinians have given our own tax dollars to help neighbors and those in other states in times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/disasters-affect-every-state-and-north-carolinians-have-given-our-own/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [Things happen too quickly, crisis follows crisis, the soil of our minds is perpetually disturbed. Each of us, to relieve his feelings, broadcasts his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/things-happen-too-quickly-crisis-follows-crisis-the-soil-of-our-minds/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) > [When this coronavirus crisis is over, what kind of society will we be? A more important question is what kind of society do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lucas/when-this-coronavirus-crisis-is-over-what-kind-of-society-will-we-be/) [Caroline Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lucas/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Firstly, economic globalisation has brought prosperity and development to many countries, but also financial crises to Asia, Latin America and Russia, and increasing poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/firstly-economic-globalisation-has-brought-prosperity-and-development/) [Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/) > [If we Europeans are not in a state to be able to solve the refugee crisis ourselves, if we only depend on Plan B…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/if-we-europeans-are-not-in-a-state-to-be-able-to-solve-the-refugee/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [Urbanisation is not a crisis but an opportunity, seeing it as a crisis is wrong. And not just villages, we want everyone to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/urbanisation-is-not-a-crisis-but-an-opportunity-seeing-it-as-a-crisis/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) [Browse all 3,419 Crisis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are certain functions that a writer has to do. In a time of crisis, it is great to have heroic poems, as it was in the Irish Revolution. It's great to have great songs, because people need something to sing when they are marching. That's OK, but it should be on the side. 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