--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not necessarily a church theme and…" description: "\"It's not necessarily a church theme and it's not really about church. I like my album themes to be metaphors because it gives me the freedom to speak a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/j-cole-2-3527_albums_it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and_1258845.jpg" --- # It's not necessarily a church theme and it's not really… ![“It's not necessarily a church theme and it's not really about church. I like my album themes to be metaphors because it gives me the freedom to speak about something else that's going on in my life, so the Born Sinner thing is not about church, it's not even about religion. It's using that as…” quote by J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/j-cole-2-3527_albums_it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and_1258845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/j-cole-2-3527_albums_it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and_1258845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/j-cole-2-3527_albums_it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and_1258845.jpg) > “It's not necessarily a church theme and it's not really about church. I like my album themes to be metaphors because it gives me the freedom to speak about something else that's going on in my life, so the Born Sinner thing is not about church, it's not even about religion. It's using that as canvas to get other messages across and that's what the album will be.” [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The album uses metaphorical themes to discuss personal issues without directly referencing religion. **In simple terms:** Metaphors let artists talk about life indirectly. Key Takeaway Use metaphor to convey deeper messages. Themes music metaphor identity creativity expression Mood introspective creative Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - album promotion - concert storytelling - media interviews - fan discussions Key Concepts songwriting concept album personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - What personal experiences inspire your metaphors? - How do listeners connect with indirect messages? A Different Perspective Listeners may misinterpret metaphorical intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) ## Related quotes > [There is never a specific theme or anything I have interest in. Really, I make decisions based on decisions that are made by other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hanks/there-is-never-a-specific-theme-or-anything-i-have-interest-in-really/) [Colin Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hanks/) > [Back in the day you wanted your albums to have a theme, and 'Sports' theme was really a collection of singles. It was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/back-in-the-day-you-wanted-your-albums-to-have-a-theme-and-sports/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [May God have mercy on my soul , for I am a born sinner , For I fall short to temptation. Crave satisfaction and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-god-have-mercy-on-my-soul-for-i-am-a-born-sinner-for-i-fall-short/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Born a saint, die a sinner - born a sinner, die a saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/born-a-saint-die-a-sinner-born-a-sinner-die-a-saint/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [The truth is I love her, though She ain't perfect, but who is? Hoes saying Cole, you is don't be silly, ma Cause really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-cole/the-truth-is-i-love-her-though-she-ain-t-perfect-but-who-is-hoes/) [Kendrick Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-cole/) > [“It is not that we can’t do good. We do. It’s just that we can’t keep from doing bad. In theological terms, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/it-is-not-that-we-can-t-do-good-we-do-it-s-just-that-we-can-t-keep/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“No one is born a sinner, but since a human is a magnet for sin, as we grow, we fill our heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samreen-ahsan/no-one-is-born-a-sinner-but-since-a-human-is-a-magnet-for-sin-as-we/) Samreen Ahsan > [“I put my faith in Christ as a child. At a young age, I had a simple understanding of these basic facts: I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ward/i-put-my-faith-in-christ-as-a-child-at-a-young-age-i-had-a-simple/) Carrie Ward > [Born sinner, was never born to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/born-sinner-was-never-born-to-be-perfect/) [J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/) > [Growing up going to Christian school and the concept that you're born a sinner and you don't really have a choice to change who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/growing-up-going-to-christian-school-and-the-concept-that-you-re-born/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [TV has no choice, but to rely on character, and everybody knows that. I love working in it. It's such a big canvas where,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/tv-has-no-choice-but-to-rely-on-character-and-everybody-knows-that-i/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [What I did for my last act as a painter, if you call me a painter, was to photograph the weave of the canvas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-denes/what-i-did-for-my-last-act-as-a-painter-if-you-call-me-a-painter-was/) [Agnes Denes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-denes/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/a-painter-should-begin-every-canvas-with-a-wash-of-black-because-all/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) ## More by J. Cole > [The same ones you love will bring you pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/the-same-ones-you-love-will-bring-you-pain/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [It's the way I enjoy making art - I like sitting down and making five beats; I enjoy that process. I can go two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/it-s-the-way-i-enjoy-making-art-i-like-sitting-down-and-making-five/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Producing all my own songs and refusing to go to the hot producer. That's the biggest risk I've taken so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/producing-all-my-own-songs-and-refusing-to-go-to-the-hot-producer/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Sold my soul to Satan. I've been dancing with the devil. So when you get to hell you can say you know me. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/sold-my-soul-to-satan-i-ve-been-dancing-with-the-devil-so-when-you/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I truly believe that I make my path and I set my course, and where I land, at the end of the day, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-truly-believe-that-i-make-my-path-and-i-set-my-course-and-where-i/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [My parents were divorced by the time I was even conscious - like, I don't remember them ever being together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/my-parents-were-divorced-by-the-time-i-was-even-conscious-like-i-don/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [You hate it before you played it. I already forgave ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/you-hate-it-before-you-played-it-i-already-forgave-ya/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Yeah school girl, cool girl. Your dress is sexy and your momma is a cougar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/yeah-school-girl-cool-girl-your-dress-is-sexy-and-your-momma-is-a/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [When I first started rapping, when I switched my style to more like a punch line style - this is when I'm like 13…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-i-first-started-rapping-when-i-switched-my-style-to-more-like-a/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I'm not gonna be bad at anything, and I want to actually be the best at anything I'm doing. So if I'm playing basketball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-m-not-gonna-be-bad-at-anything-and-i-want-to-actually-be-the-best/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [We got dreams and we got the right to chase 'em, Look at the nation, that's a crooked smile braces couldn't even straighten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/we-got-dreams-and-we-got-the-right-to-chase-em-look-at-the-nation/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I seen a baby cry seconds later he laughs... the beauty of life, the pain never lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-seen-a-baby-cry-seconds-later-he-laughs-the-beauty-of-life-the-pain/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [If I'm a character, it's a biographical movie. My character is as close to me as possible. As close to being myself as possible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/if-i-m-a-character-it-s-a-biographical-movie-my-character-is-as-close/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [You can't take yourself too seriously. Like, yeah, I'm doin' all that, but still I don't feel like I've done anything, really. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/you-can-t-take-yourself-too-seriously-like-yeah-i-m-doin-all-that-but/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [When you're headlining, people are paying to come see you specifically. It's a different kind of pressure, because you've got to deliver. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-you-re-headlining-people-are-paying-to-come-see-you-specifically/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) [Explore all 128 J. Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) ## More Albums quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) [Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not necessarily a church theme and it's not really about church. I like my album themes to be metaphors because it gives me the freedom to speak about something else that's going on in my life, so the Born Sinner thing is not about church, it's not even about religion. It's using that as canvas to get other messages across and that's what the album will be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. Cole" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and-it-s-not-really-about-church/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Albums" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and-it-s-not-really-about-church/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/j-cole-2-3527_albums_it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and_1258845.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/j-cole-2-3527_albums_it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and_1258845.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/j-cole-2-3527_albums_it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and_1258845.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not necessarily a church theme and it's not really about church. I like my album themes to be metaphors…” — J. Cole", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "J. Cole", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not necessarily a church theme...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and-it-s-not-really-about-church/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/it-s-not-necessarily-a-church-theme-and-it-s-not-really-about-church/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```