---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can write, boy, I can write. That's…"
description: "\"I can write, boy, I can write. That's what I do. The trouble is that it's too bloody easy for people, that's why music is in the sorry state that it is..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/mark-e-smith-17592_bloody_i-can-write-boy-i-can-write-that-s-what_1675090.jpg"
---

#  I can write, boy, I can write. That's what I do. The…

![“I can write, boy, I can write. That's what I do. The trouble is that it's too bloody easy for people, that's why music is in the sorry state that it is. Any idiot, actors mainly, can go in there, sing a chord, bang on a machine... I'm not objecting to that but when people get at me for trying to…” quote by Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/mark-e-smith-17592_bloody_i-can-write-boy-i-can-write-that-s-what_1675090.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/mark-e-smith-17592_bloody_i-can-write-boy-i-can-write-that-s-what_1675090.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/mark-e-smith-17592_bloody_i-can-write-boy-i-can-write-that-s-what_1675090.jpg)

> “I can write, boy, I can write. That's what I do. The trouble is that it's too bloody easy for people, that's why music is in the sorry state that it is. Any idiot, actors mainly, can go in there, sing a chord, bang on a machine... I'm not objecting to that but when people get at me for trying to say something in a rock 'n' roll mode it's as if I'm the freak.”

[Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Smith laments that music has become overly simplistic, allowing anyone to produce it without depth, leaving true artistry undervalued.

**In simple terms:** Music is too easy, losing its depth.

Key Takeaway

Seek depth over ease in creation.

Themes

art authenticity creativity

Mood

frustrated critical

Type

analytical reflective

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- musician development
- industry critique
- educational workshops

Key Concepts

commercialism cultural decay artistic integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can artists maintain authenticity while reaching broad audiences?
- What defines “real” music today?

A Different Perspective

The claim overlooks the value of accessibility and diverse expression.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bloody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bloody/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Easy People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy-people/) [Freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freak/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [Mainly Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainly-sing-898809/) [Music is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-is/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-trouble-898808/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

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> [When someone is a musician - trying to make a living off being a public figure - it's really easy for people to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitski/when-someone-is-a-musician-trying-to-make-a-living-off-being-a-public/)

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> [I can't help it if I make things look easy that some people think are difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-can-t-help-it-if-i-make-things-look-easy-that-some-people-think-are/)

[Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/)

> [Its easy to find people who can make u cry but very hard to find who will cry for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sav-singh-gill/its-easy-to-find-people-who-can-make-u-cry-but-very-hard-to-find-who/)

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> [I never wanted to make it too easy for people to sum me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-never-wanted-to-make-it-too-easy-for-people-to-sum-me-up/)

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> [How come she can say it so easy other people but she cant tell me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james/how-come-she-can-say-it-so-easy-other-people-but-she-cant-tell-me/)

[James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james/)

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[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

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[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

## More by Mark E. Smith

> [A lot of musicians are really hard to deal with. They aren't as smart as me...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/a-lot-of-musicians-are-really-hard-to-deal-with-they-aren-t-as-smart/)

[Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/)

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[Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/)

> [They're weird aren't they, Prince fans?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/they-re-weird-aren-t-they-prince-fans/)

[Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/)

> [I don't want security guards. I don't think security guards are particularly good for your writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/i-don-t-want-security-guards-i-don-t-think-security-guards-are/)

[Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/)

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[Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/)

[Explore all 36 Mark E. Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/)

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