--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew it was coming. I knew they didn't…" description: "\"“I knew it was coming. I knew they didn't have the nerve. Three days in and they've got faces like vexed tomatoes, their skins flaking sci-fi style: bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/mark-e-smith-17592_autobiography_i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t_843665.jpg" --- # I knew it was coming. I knew they didn't have the nerve… ![“I knew it was coming. I knew they didn't have the nerve. Three days in and they've got faces like vexed tomatoes, their skins flaking sci-fi style: burnt to fuck. They were an embarrassment; not only to me and the wife and The Fall fans but to their own generation.” quote by Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/mark-e-smith-17592_autobiography_i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t_843665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/mark-e-smith-17592_autobiography_i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t_843665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/mark-e-smith-17592_autobiography_i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t_843665.jpg) > ““I knew it was coming. I knew they didn't have the nerve. Three days in and they've got faces like vexed tomatoes, their skins flaking sci-fi style: burnt to fuck. They were an embarrassment; not only to me and the wife and The Fall fans but to their own generation.”” [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. He expected the band to be bold, but they appeared weak and ridiculous, causing embarrassment to fans and peers. **In simple terms:** The band fell short, causing shame. Key Takeaway Demand higher standards in creative work. Themes art performance authenticity Mood critical frustrated Type candid reflective When to use this quote - band rehearsals - album production - live shows - creative collaborations Key Concepts music criticism expectation generational critique Questions to Reflect On - What standards do you hold for your work? - How do you handle criticism? A Different Perspective Artistic failure can be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autobiography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiography/) [Embarrassment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassment/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Ranting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ranting/) [The-fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-fall/) ## Related quotes > [“Thirteen,” Dante murmured and I closed my eyes because I knew what was coming next. “I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/thirteen-dante-murmured-and-i-closed-my-eyes-because-i-knew-what-was/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [I knew coming into this to fight that this was going to be a world class fight, but I knew he didn't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrien-broner/i-knew-coming-into-this-to-fight-that-this-was-going-to-be-a-world/) [Adrien Broner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrien-broner/) > [This may be the most important proposition revealed by history: At the time, no one knew what was coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/this-may-be-the-most-important-proposition-revealed-by-history-at-the/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [You have just got to face the facts, don't you? I face it head-on. I knew what I was coming in to. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-gunnar-solskjaer/you-have-just-got-to-face-the-facts-don-t-you-i-face-it-head-on-i/) [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-gunnar-solskjaer/) > [“It’s about Thiago,” she said, and he felt the cool touch of finality. Of course it was the Wolf. When he’d seen them curved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-s-about-thiago-she-said-and-he-felt-the-cool-touch-of-finality-of/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“Charles did not hear the door close, yet he knew that he was alone. Though he might not always see her coming, he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-o-connell/charles-did-not-hear-the-door-close-yet-he-knew-that-he-was-alone/) [Carol O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-o-connell/) > [“He counted his steps. That was how you got through tough things. You counted. Once you said, "one," then you knew "two" was coming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/he-counted-his-steps-that-was-how-you-got-through-tough-things-you/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [“If we all knew what was coming, maybe we wouldn’t even stick around for it. Time present and time future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-heller/if-we-all-knew-what-was-coming-maybe-we-wouldn-t-even-stick-around/) [Peter Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-heller/) > [Where was the catch? 'Cause I knew one was coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/where-was-the-catch-cause-i-knew-one-was-coming/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [WhenIWasYourAge: We had to open all doors by ourselves. None of them knew we were coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/wheniwasyourage-we-had-to-open-all-doors-by-ourselves-none-of-them/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“You're leaving, "she said, rising to her feet. "I knew it was coming." "How?" "I'm your mother. You're the breath of my lungs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/you-re-leaving-she-said-rising-to-her-feet-i-knew-it-was-coming-how-i/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [“On the surface, she looked both ways before she crossed the street, because she never knew what was coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kekla-magoon/on-the-surface-she-looked-both-ways-before-she-crossed-the-street/) [Kekla Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kekla-magoon/) > [Certain pitches you throw, they lay off them like they knew it was coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-buehrle/certain-pitches-you-throw-they-lay-off-them-like-they-knew-it-was/) [Mark Buehrle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-buehrle/) > [I knew who I was coming into the NBA, so I knew what I could contribute to a team, and I just had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-knew-who-i-was-coming-into-the-nba-so-i-knew-what-i-could/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [“I knew there’d be no coming back from this. When it happened, it happened not as I’d dreamed it would, but with a degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/i-knew-there-d-be-no-coming-back-from-this-when-it-happened-it/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) ## 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/) > ['Re-Mit' is going to terrify people. It's quite horrible. The Fall have had enough and we're coming for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/re-mit-is-going-to-terrify-people-it-s-quite-horrible-the-fall-have/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [When I was 14, I used to have a calendar on my wall, crossing the days off until I was 15, because the school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/when-i-was-14-i-used-to-have-a-calendar-on-my-wall-crossing-the-days/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [I like to push people till I get the truth out of them. Get them drunk, or whatever. Then discover what they really think.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/i-like-to-push-people-till-i-get-the-truth-out-of-them-get-them-drunk/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [If you're going to play it out of tune, then play it out of tune properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/if-you-re-going-to-play-it-out-of-tune-then-play-it-out-of-tune/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [“The second god lived by mountains that flowed By the blue shiny lit roads Had forgot what others still tried to grasp”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/the-second-god-lived-by-mountains-that-flowed-by-the-blue-shiny-lit/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [“I used to believe everything I read, but now I'm steppin' out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/i-used-to-believe-everything-i-read-but-now-i-m-steppin-out/) [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/) > [The thing with me. I can't stick musicians. I've thought about this. I can't stand them, and being stuck in a studio with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/the-thing-with-me-i-can-t-stick-musicians-i-ve-thought-about-this-i/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [The manners thing's got worse. People think they can just text you if they've got bad news for you. It's not on. And as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/the-manners-thing-s-got-worse-people-think-they-can-just-text-you-if/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [Fear is something I try not to absorb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/fear-is-something-i-try-not-to-absorb/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [Being in The Fall isn't like being in another group. It isn't a holiday. A lot of musicians are really hard to deal with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/being-in-the-fall-isn-t-like-being-in-another-group-it-isn-t-a/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [All these cities I go to, I never see them. They may be the most beautiful places in the world, but I'll just usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/all-these-cities-i-go-to-i-never-see-them-they-may-be-the-most/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [I read daft history books. Sometimes the books I read are a bit crackers or strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/i-read-daft-history-books-sometimes-the-books-i-read-are-a-bit/) [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/) ## More Autobiography quotes > [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [“I am not and autobiographical writer--one can't be without a solid and explicable self--and read all autobiographical writers with the same curiosity. What kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiyun-li/i-am-not-and-autobiographical-writer-one-can-t-be-without-a-solid-and/) [Yiyun Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiyun-li/) > [“Someday, I want to write an unauthorized autobiography of myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mcmullen-sullivan/someday-i-want-to-write-an-unauthorized-autobiography-of-myself/) [David McMullen-Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mcmullen-sullivan/) > [“As well as writing, 2004 saw my first attempt at wine making: the elixir of life. Unfortunately, my effort tasted more like the elixir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-briggs/as-well-as-writing-2004-saw-my-first-attempt-at-wine-making-the/) Craig Briggs > [I caught a cold and didn't have time to work on my autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-doucet/i-caught-a-cold-and-didn-t-have-time-to-work-on-my-autobiography/) [Julie Doucet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-doucet/) > [Who ever heard, indeed, of an autobiography that was not (interesting)? I can recall none in all the literature of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-ever-heard-indeed-of-an-autobiography-that-was-not-interesting-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't really think of my essays as being about myself. I know it sounds insane, but I just don't think of them as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-don-t-really-think-of-my-essays-as-being-about-myself-i-know-it/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [The way I would live my life is: never do something in real life that I would not want to write about in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddharth-katragadda/the-way-i-would-live-my-life-is-never-do-something-in-real-life-that/) [Siddharth Katragadda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddharth-katragadda/) > [biography cannot be separated from autobiography: that is, the life written about is inextricably entangled with the life of the biographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-simon/biography-cannot-be-separated-from-autobiography-that-is-the-life/) Linda Simon > [I think I'm like most novelists in that my books have gotten farther and farther away from autobiography the longer I've been writing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-i-m-like-most-novelists-in-that-my-books-have-gotten-farther/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [If you wish to understand me at all (and to write an autobiography is only to open a window into one's heart) you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-melba/if-you-wish-to-understand-me-at-all-and-to-write-an-autobiography-is/) [Nellie Melba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-melba/) > [I want an autobiography without revealing any personal information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-ross/i-want-an-autobiography-without-revealing-any-personal-information/) [Diana Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-ross/) > [I don't like the word 'autobiography.' I rather like the term 'autofiction.' The second you make a script out of the story of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-don-t-like-the-word-autobiography-i-rather-like-the-term/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [Because I write fiction, I don't write autobiography, and to me they are very different things. The first-person narrative is a very intimate thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/because-i-write-fiction-i-don-t-write-autobiography-and-to-me-they/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [“I don't think anyone could write a completely honest autobiography. I am sure no one could bear to read it: My Past Was An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/i-don-t-think-anyone-could-write-a-completely-honest-autobiography-i/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 642 Autobiography quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiography/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I knew it was coming. I knew they didn't have the nerve. Three days in and they've got faces like vexed tomatoes, their skins flaking sci-fi style: burnt to fuck. They were an embarrassment; not only to me and the wife and The Fall fans but to their own generation.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark E. Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t-have-the-nerve-three-days-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Autobiography" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t-have-the-nerve-three-days-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/mark-e-smith-17592_autobiography_i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t_843665.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/mark-e-smith-17592_autobiography_i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t_843665.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/mark-e-smith-17592_autobiography_i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t_843665.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I knew it was coming. I knew they didn't have the nerve. Three days in and they've got faces like vexed…” — Mark E. Smith", "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": "Mark E. Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I knew it was coming. I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t-have-the-nerve-three-days-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/i-knew-it-was-coming-i-knew-they-didn-t-have-the-nerve-three-days-in/#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 } } ] } ```