--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I like hardcore straight-edge punk…" description: "\"If I like hardcore straight-edge punk music, gentle psychedelic folk music, gangster rap, indie-rock with a lot of guitar pedals, and I find inspiratio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/jeffrey-lewis-25685_bits_if-i-like-hardcore-straight-edge-punk-mu_2885477.jpg" --- # If I like hardcore straight-edge punk music, gentle… ![“If I like hardcore straight-edge punk music, gentle psychedelic folk music, gangster rap, indie-rock with a lot of guitar pedals, and I find inspiration from all these things in different songs of mine, shouldn't I be allowed to make any of this kind of music that I want? And it's the same for the…” quote by Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/jeffrey-lewis-25685_bits_if-i-like-hardcore-straight-edge-punk-mu_2885477.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/jeffrey-lewis-25685_bits_if-i-like-hardcore-straight-edge-punk-mu_2885477.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/jeffrey-lewis-25685_bits_if-i-like-hardcore-straight-edge-punk-mu_2885477.jpg) > “If I like hardcore straight-edge punk music, gentle psychedelic folk music, gangster rap, indie-rock with a lot of guitar pedals, and I find inspiration from all these things in different songs of mine, shouldn't I be allowed to make any of this kind of music that I want? And it's the same for the comic books, why should I only make autobiographical stories? Or only political stories? Or only superhero stories? Or only comedy stories? I am a bit creatively desperate, when I sit with a pen and paper I am desperate for ANY idea that makes me excited, I don't care what kind of idea it is!” [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that artistic expression should not be limited by genre expectations; creators should feel free to explore any style that inspires them. **In simple terms:** Artists should be free to make any kind of art they love. Key Takeaway Embrace all influences without self‑imposed limits. Themes creativity genre‑fluidity artistic freedom self‑expression Mood frustrated hopeful determined Type statement manifesto reflective When to use this quote - songwriting - comic‑book creation - personal projects - collaborations Key Concepts interdisciplinary influence identity cultural hybridity Questions to Reflect On - What genre constraints have you imposed on yourself? - How might embracing all influences affect your audience? A Different Perspective Genre expectations can alienate audiences and dilute brand identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Comic book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-book/) [Comic books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-books/) [Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Don-t-care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-care/) [Edges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edges/) [Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited/) [Folk music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folk-music/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Gangster rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangster-rap/) [Gangsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangsters/) [Gentle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Hardcore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardcore/) [I don't care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-don-t-care/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Indie rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indie-rock/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Mines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mines/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-want/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Pedals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pedals/) [Pens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pens/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Psychedelic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychedelic/) [Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punk/) [Punk music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punk-music/) [Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should i](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-i/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs Shouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-shouldn-847171/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stories Superhero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-superhero-3769397/) [Straight edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straight-edge/) [Superhero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superhero/) [Superhero Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superhero-stories-305984/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-comic-1729010/) ## Related quotes > [Here's the problem: the description of the world is always reduced to yes or no, black or white. Superficial stories. Superhero stories. One side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/here-s-the-problem-the-description-of-the-world-is-always-reduced-to/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [I have a reputation for doing superheroes, but I like all kinds of writing. In fact, hardly anybody knows this, but I've probably written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-have-a-reputation-for-doing-superheroes-but-i-like-all-kinds-of/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [If guys don't want me to wrtite bad songs about them then they shouldn't do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/if-guys-don-t-want-me-to-wrtite-bad-songs-about-them-then-they/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [If guys don't want me to write bad songs about them, they shouldn't do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/if-guys-don-t-want-me-to-write-bad-songs-about-them-they-shouldn-t-do/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I have the show because I'm insecure. It's my insecurity that makes me want to be a comic, that makes me need the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/i-have-the-show-because-i-m-insecure-it-s-my-insecurity-that-makes-me/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [If you want to see a comic strip, you should see me in the shower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/if-you-want-to-see-a-comic-strip-you-should-see-me-in-the-shower/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Woody is the guy who made me want to be a comic. I was in heaven and couldn't stop smiling because he was my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovitz/woody-is-the-guy-who-made-me-want-to-be-a-comic-i-was-in-heaven-and/) [Jon Lovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovitz/) > [I really can't pinpoint the one moment when I said I want to be a comic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-really-can-t-pinpoint-the-one-moment-when-i-said-i-want-to-be-a/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [It's my insecurity that makes me want to be a comic, that makes me need the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/it-s-my-insecurity-that-makes-me-want-to-be-a-comic-that-makes-me/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [Ballet I love for about five minutes. Then I want to see a comic come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-willard/ballet-i-love-for-about-five-minutes-then-i-want-to-see-a-comic-come/) [Fred Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-willard/) > [When I asked myself what I'd want to see in a comic about a Pakistani superhero, the first word that came to mind was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabaa-tahir/when-i-asked-myself-what-i-d-want-to-see-in-a-comic-about-a-pakistani/) [Sabaa Tahir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabaa-tahir/) > [Knowing Chris Bennett's Writing as I do, I expected Only Superhuman to have an imaginative plot and a compelling superheroine in Emry Blair. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-w-barr/knowing-chris-bennett-s-writing-as-i-do-i-expected-only-superhuman-to/) [Mike W. Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-w-barr/) > [If there's any sort of superpower we desperately need right now, it's this transcendental force that reminds us of union and connection. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-miller/if-there-s-any-sort-of-superpower-we-desperately-need-right-now-it-s/) [Ezra Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-miller/) > [Black writers seldom get the opportunity to write superhero stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/black-writers-seldom-get-the-opportunity-to-write-superhero-stories/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [Superhero stories are kind of in my DNA from childhood on, so I think I'm genetically drawn to playing in the genre when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/superhero-stories-are-kind-of-in-my-dna-from-childhood-on-so-i-think/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) ## More by Jeffrey Lewis > [The funny thing is that some reviews are published in magazines and websites that are seen by millions of people, and other reviews are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/the-funny-thing-is-that-some-reviews-are-published-in-magazines-and/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I do feel pretty lucky that I'm not so great at playing and singing, it forces me to make sure I've really got something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-do-feel-pretty-lucky-that-i-m-not-so-great-at-playing-and-singing/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I prefer artists who are creative more than artists who are technical, I think everybody would agree with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-prefer-artists-who-are-creative-more-than-artists-who-are-technical/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [In the past, Koreans have mostly copied other countries' engines, and so there's been kind of a problem with quality and a real limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/in-the-past-koreans-have-mostly-copied-other-countries-engines-and-so/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [When somebody asks me "What are your comic books about?" or "What are your songs about?" there is no answer and I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/when-somebody-asks-me-what-are-your-comic-books-about-or-what-are/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [A lot more people will want to hear a 5-minute singing cartoon about Communism in China than will want to read that PhD thesis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/a-lot-more-people-will-want-to-hear-a-5-minute-singing-cartoon-about/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I usually think of art as having a measurable content of nourishment, whether factual or emotional or whatever, and I try to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-usually-think-of-art-as-having-a-measurable-content-of-nourishment/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [There are people who are great technical players like Eric Clapton, and there are people who are great intuitive songwriters like Daniel Johnston. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/there-are-people-who-are-great-technical-players-like-eric-clapton/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [What can you think when one review says "this album is brilliant, and all the songs flow into the utmost brilliant song 'The Upside-Down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/what-can-you-think-when-one-review-says-this-album-is-brilliant-and/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [“One good idea could cost you thousands of your days, but it's just time you'd be spending anyways”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/one-good-idea-could-cost-you-thousands-of-your-days-but-it-s-just/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [It's all easier said than done, and it isn't even easy to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/it-s-all-easier-said-than-done-and-it-isn-t-even-easy-to-say/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I don't think talking about myself making songs is a very interesting topic, there are so many other more engaging things to think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-don-t-think-talking-about-myself-making-songs-is-a-very-interesting/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I never felt like I had a surface image to rely on that people would like - I always felt like my music would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-never-felt-like-i-had-a-surface-image-to-rely-on-that-people-would/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [A great artist can change society because of the entertaining and mesmerizing quality of his or her art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/a-great-artist-can-change-society-because-of-the-entertaining-and/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I sell a complete package... a life style that's in harmony with and exemplified by the exterior and interior living space. I'm obsessive about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-sell-a-complete-package-a-life-style-that-s-in-harmony-with-and/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) [Explore all 22 Jeffrey Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) ## More Bits quotes > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I became a bit of a teacher's pet, and it became known in the school by both faculty and students that I really excelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/i-became-a-bit-of-a-teacher-s-pet-and-it-became-known-in-the-school/) [Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [He referred to me as an 'insufferable puffed-up prat'. This is a bit rich coming from a man who actually married his own mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/he-referred-to-me-as-an-insufferable-puffed-up-prat-this-is-a-bit/) [Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/) > [It won't do you a bit of good to know everything if you don't do anything with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-fitzhugh/it-won-t-do-you-a-bit-of-good-to-know-everything-if-you-don-t-do/) [Louise Fitzhugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-fitzhugh/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [We, as pop stars, are people not androids. We’ve got views. I’ve got opinions and I don’t see why I shouldn’t use a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-meddows-taylor/we-as-pop-stars-are-people-not-androids-we-ve-got-views-i-ve-got/) [Roger Meddows Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-meddows-taylor/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When my name started popping up I was quite irritated and a little bit in shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snow/when-my-name-started-popping-up-i-was-quite-irritated-and-a-little/) [Michael Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snow/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) [Browse all 5,709 Bits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I like hardcore straight-edge punk music, gentle psychedelic folk music, gangster rap, indie-rock with a lot of guitar pedals, and I find inspiration from all these things in different songs of mine, shouldn't I be allowed to make any of this kind of music that I want? And it's the same for the comic books, why should I only make autobiographical stories? Or only political stories? Or only superhero stories? Or only comedy stories? 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