--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do I start with the lyrics? No. Quite…" description: "\"Do I start with the lyrics? No. Quite honestly, it's the opposite. I generally get the melody first - I kinda fiddle around on the guitar and work out ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/iron-wine-30960_equal_do-i-start-with-the-lyrics-no-quite-hone_2633449.jpg" --- # Do I start with the lyrics? No. Quite honestly, it's the… ![“Do I start with the lyrics? No. Quite honestly, it's the opposite. I generally get the melody first - I kinda fiddle around on the guitar and work out a melody. The lyrics are there to flesh out the tone of the music. I've tried before to do things the other way around, but it never seems to work…” quote by Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/iron-wine-30960_equal_do-i-start-with-the-lyrics-no-quite-hone_2633449.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/iron-wine-30960_equal_do-i-start-with-the-lyrics-no-quite-hone_2633449.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/iron-wine-30960_equal_do-i-start-with-the-lyrics-no-quite-hone_2633449.jpg) > “Do I start with the lyrics? No. Quite honestly, it's the opposite. I generally get the melody first - I kinda fiddle around on the guitar and work out a melody. The lyrics are there to flesh out the tone of the music. I've tried before to do things the other way around, but it never seems to work. Obviously, I spend a lot of time on my lyrics, I take them very seriously, but they're kinda secondary. Well, equal, maybe. I think sometimes that if you write a poem, it should remain as just a poem, just... words.” [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Melody comes first; lyrics support tone but are secondary. **In simple terms:** Music starts with melody. Key Takeaway Prioritize melody, then craft lyrics. Themes creativity music process balance expression Mood reflective artistic inspirational Type analytical creative When to use this quote - studio sessions - collaborations - creative workshops Key Concepts composition artistic workflow songwriting Questions to Reflect On - Should melody ever be secondary? - How does lyrical depth affect a song? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on lyrics may limit musicality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Lyrics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyrics/) [Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [ With this record \[The Colour and the Shape\], I started taking the lyrics more seriously. This is a very personal album. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/with-this-record-the-colour-and-the-shape-i-started-taking-the-lyrics/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [First we start with the lyrics. Most of the lyrics are done by Stefan Kaufmann and me. When we have enough lyrics and enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udo-dirkschneider/first-we-start-with-the-lyrics-most-of-the-lyrics-are-done-by-stefan/) Udo Dirkschneider > [Some people start with the lyrics first because they know what they want to talk about and they just write a whole bunch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-start-with-the-lyrics-first-because-they-know-what-they/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I have a structured songwriting process. I start with the music and try to come up with musical ideas, then the melody, then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-have-a-structured-songwriting-process-i-start-with-the-music-and/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I always start with the lyrics, because starting with the music means the words will be bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bejar/i-always-start-with-the-lyrics-because-starting-with-the-music-means/) [Dan Bejar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bejar/) > [Sometimes I start with lyrics - rarely - but sometimes I might have an idea for some lyrics that I wanna say. I write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-bridges/sometimes-i-start-with-lyrics-rarely-but-sometimes-i-might-have-an/) [Leon Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-bridges/) > [ENGLISH starts with ABC,,,MATHEMATICS BEGIN WITH 123,,,MUSIC start with LYRICS…and LOVE starts with YOU and ME...I LOVE YOU MY SWEETHEART](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umknown/english-starts-with-abc-mathematics-begin-with-123-music-start-with/) [Umknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umknown/) > [If anybody was Mr. Jazz it was Louis Armstrong. He was the epitome of jazz and always will be. He is what I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/if-anybody-was-mr-jazz-it-was-louis-armstrong-he-was-the-epitome-of/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Composers now just don't have the depth of inspiration for melody. Most of the lyrics of the pop songs you hear today are repetitious.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-vallee/composers-now-just-don-t-have-the-depth-of-inspiration-for-melody/) [Rudy Vallee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-vallee/) > [It's a combination of melody and lyrics, not one without the other. It's a confluence of these different elements that makes something powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bolton/it-s-a-combination-of-melody-and-lyrics-not-one-without-the-other-it/) [Michael Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bolton/) > [Life is like a beautiful melody, only the lyrics are messed up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-beautiful-melody-only-the-lyrics-are-messed-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is like a beutiful melody,only the lyrics are messed up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mbululo/life-is-like-a-beutiful-melody-only-the-lyrics-are-messed-up/) [Ally Mbululo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mbululo/) > [When I'm writing, I'm focusing more on just the basic melody and the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/when-i-m-writing-i-m-focusing-more-on-just-the-basic-melody-and-the/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [A good song has to have a great melody, and the lyrics have to touch my heart. Now, if it's just a little toe-tapper,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reba-mcentire/a-good-song-has-to-have-a-great-melody-and-the-lyrics-have-to-touch/) [Reba McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reba-mcentire/) > [I would love to write a song that's exciting, bright, and has a fresh melody and lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeongyeon/i-would-love-to-write-a-song-that-s-exciting-bright-and-has-a-fresh/) [Jeongyeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeongyeon/) ## More by Iron & Wine > [I like writing in an illustrative, descriptive way. I prefer describing to rather than explaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/i-like-writing-in-an-illustrative-descriptive-way-i-prefer-describing/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [We play some smaller songs larger than they are the record, and vice versa. It took me a while to get used to playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/we-play-some-smaller-songs-larger-than-they-are-the-record-and-vice/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [It sort of depends on the song. Some of them are pretty easy to write, and others take a while. I do a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/it-sort-of-depends-on-the-song-some-of-them-are-pretty-easy-to-write/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [In some songs, like propaganda songs-and don't get me wrong, I love some propaganda songs. They're some of my favorite songs in the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/in-some-songs-like-propaganda-songs-and-don-t-get-me-wrong-i-love/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [There are good places to play and bad places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/there-are-good-places-to-play-and-bad-places/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [There are things that drift away like our endless, numbered days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/there-are-things-that-drift-away-like-our-endless-numbered-days/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [I'm one of those people who sort of feeds on music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-sort-of-feeds-on-music/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [I put my energy into writing songs. I have to carve out a living somehow doing this, and licensing is one way. It's hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/i-put-my-energy-into-writing-songs-i-have-to-carve-out-a-living/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [I just try to use my own life to build a human song: something that people can relate to in some way. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/i-just-try-to-use-my-own-life-to-build-a-human-song-something-that/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [The song succeeds or fails just based on whether you argue your point successfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/the-song-succeeds-or-fails-just-based-on-whether-you-argue-your-point/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [I had all these songs lying around. They had all these woman characters, and I thought the idea of the Woman King would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/i-had-all-these-songs-lying-around-they-had-all-these-woman/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [It's fun to be able to revisit a song and do something that doesn't really illustrate the song but works tangentially or runs parallel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/it-s-fun-to-be-able-to-revisit-a-song-and-do-something-that-doesn-t/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [We all assume the worst the best we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/we-all-assume-the-worst-the-best-we-can/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [I'm kind of interested in visual communication. For me it's more about suggesting than arguing a point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/i-m-kind-of-interested-in-visual-communication-for-me-it-s-more-about/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [The song succeeds or fails just based on whether you argue your point successfully. I like throwing images together, which create meaning if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/the-song-succeeds-or-fails-just-based-on-whether-you-argue-your-point-2/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) [Explore all 17 Iron & Wine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) ## More Equal quotes > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. 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Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [Only to have a grief equal to all these tears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/only-to-have-a-grief-equal-to-all-these-tears/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers; Unfaith is aught is want of faith in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/faith-and-unfaith-can-ne-er-be-equal-powers-unfaith-is-aught-is-want/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [If it is true that there is always more than one way of construing a text, it is not true that all interpretations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/if-it-is-true-that-there-is-always-more-than-one-way-of-construing-a/) [Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/) > [There is usually no dreamer so unworldly as the anthologist. He wanders in a vast garden, lost in wonder, unable to decide often between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-webb/there-is-usually-no-dreamer-so-unworldly-as-the-anthologist-he/) [Mary Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-webb/) > [I can tell you this. It is not going to be evenly constituted and when she was Speaker Pelosi, she certainly showed no interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-can-tell-you-this-it-is-not-going-to-be-evenly-constituted-and-when/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) Browse all 4,126 Equal quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do I start with the lyrics? No. Quite honestly, it's the opposite. I generally get the melody first - I kinda fiddle around on the guitar and work out a melody. The lyrics are there to flesh out the tone of the music. I've tried before to do things the other way around, but it never seems to work. Obviously, I spend a lot of time on my lyrics, I take them very seriously, but they're kinda secondary. Well, equal, maybe. 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