--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always hated narrative songs. I hate…" description: "\"I've always hated narrative songs. I hate those songs where, basically, it's an unfolding of a story.\" — Nick Cave" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/nick-cave-1153_always_i-ve-always-hated-narrative-songs-i-hate_2569536.jpg" --- # I've always hated narrative songs. I hate those songs… ![“I've always hated narrative songs. I hate those songs where, basically, it's an unfolding of a story.” quote by Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/nick-cave-1153_always_i-ve-always-hated-narrative-songs-i-hate_2569536.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/nick-cave-1153_always_i-ve-always-hated-narrative-songs-i-hate_2569536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/nick-cave-1153_always_i-ve-always-hated-narrative-songs-i-hate_2569536.jpg) > “I've always hated narrative songs. I hate those songs where, basically, it's an unfolding of a story.” [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## 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 dislikes songs that tell a story, preferring music that focuses on mood or abstract ideas rather than narrative progression. **In simple terms:** Dislikes story-driven songs. Key Takeaway Seek music that emphasizes feeling over plot. Themes music preference song structure artistic taste Mood reflective analytical Type personal preference musical critique When to use this quote - listening to albums - curating playlists - writing music - discussing music with friends Key Concepts Narrative vs abstract expression emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - Why do you prefer non‑narrative music? - How does story affect your emotional response to a song? A Different Perspective Some may argue narrative songs can convey powerful messages and connect listeners emotionally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-songs-946829/) [Hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hated/) [Hated Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hated-narrative-1678833/) [I hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-hate/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Narrative Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative-songs-767813/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-basically-1678834/) [Songs Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-hate-748489/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Unfolding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfolding/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I hate this songs because they bring the past when you we tried hard to forget those memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan-r-sharma/sometimes-i-hate-this-songs-because-they-bring-the-past-when-you-we/) [Sushan R Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan-r-sharma/) > [I really like narrative songs, but I wonder if that's a thing for some people. Once they've heard the story, do they really need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-finn/i-really-like-narrative-songs-but-i-wonder-if-that-s-a-thing-for-some/) [Craig Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-finn/) > [The narrative songs were well-written, like an article in The New Yorker. They're nice and pat. They're more like I'm just showing I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/the-narrative-songs-were-well-written-like-an-article-in-the-new/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [There are so many songs that I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-waters/there-are-so-many-songs-that-i-hate/) [Derek Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-waters/) > [I think if you buy the 'Christmas Queens 2' album, there will be songs you love and songs you hate, just like every other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-visage/i-think-if-you-buy-the-christmas-queens-2-album-there-will-be-songs/) [Michelle Visage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-visage/) > [There are some pop songs I hate but I can't get them out of my head. Our songs also have the standard pop format:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/there-are-some-pop-songs-i-hate-but-i-can-t-get-them-out-of-my-head/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [The interesting thing is that, well, here's what I think about songwriters and songs. Sometimes people sit down and say, "I gotta write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/the-interesting-thing-is-that-well-here-s-what-i-think-about/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [It's not a bad problem to have because a lot of classic acts are known for one or two songs and in their show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-beckley/it-s-not-a-bad-problem-to-have-because-a-lot-of-classic-acts-are/) [Gerry Beckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-beckley/) > [I don't have a special place or ritual for writing songs, basically I write songs whenever an idea hits me, in my hotel room,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-jones/i-don-t-have-a-special-place-or-ritual-for-writing-songs-basically-i/) [Kelly Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-jones/) > [My songs are basically my diaries. Some of my best songwriting has come out of time when I've been going through a personal nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-stefani/my-songs-are-basically-my-diaries-some-of-my-best-songwriting-has/) [Gwen Stefani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-stefani/) > [All the songs we do are basically about one of three things: booze, sex or rock n roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bon-scott/all-the-songs-we-do-are-basically-about-one-of-three-things-booze-sex/) [Bon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bon-scott/) > [Well, the first day we went through three songs, very basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-redding/well-the-first-day-we-went-through-three-songs-very-basically/) [Noel Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-redding/) > [I'm so lucky that my songs are basically my diary put to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-m-so-lucky-that-my-songs-are-basically-my-diary-put-to-music/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [On the other hand when you are someone who records their own songs you are basically stuck writing for one voice and for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-weil/on-the-other-hand-when-you-are-someone-who-records-their-own-songs/) [Cynthia Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-weil/) > [“Life is still an unfolding,the farther we travel the more truth we can comprehend, and to understand the things that are at our door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ki-longfellow/life-is-still-an-unfolding-the-farther-we-travel-the-more-truth-we/) [Ki Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ki-longfellow/) ## More by Nick Cave > [Texting is apocalyptic on some level. It's a reduction of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/texting-is-apocalyptic-on-some-level-it-s-a-reduction-of-things/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“And I know why our friendship must be kept a secret. Or they will kill You like they killed You in the Bible. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/and-i-know-why-our-friendship-must-be-kept-a-secret-or-they-will-kill/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I want to write songs that are so sad, the kind of sad where you take someone's little finger and break it in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-want-to-write-songs-that-are-so-sad-the-kind-of-sad-where-you-take/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“Through these days Bunny made increasingly frequent and protracted visits to the bathroom, beating off with a single-minded savagery intense even by Bunny's standards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/through-these-days-bunny-made-increasingly-frequent-and-protracted/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Personally I find the story of Christ incredibly moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/personally-i-find-the-story-of-christ-incredibly-moving/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [ That's what we \[outsiders\] feel America is really about - the kind of crazed ravings of the Christian right - when it's probably something… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/that-s-what-we-outsiders-feel-america-is-really-about-the-kind-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-relationship-with-my-muse-is-a-delicate-one-at-the-best-of-times/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I'm kind of old-school and love nothing more than sitting, opening a book, and reading it. But I also love listening to audio books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-m-kind-of-old-school-and-love-nothing-more-than-sitting-opening-a/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Early on I realized when you write a song about someone, it flatters them on some level, and gives you a lot of room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/early-on-i-realized-when-you-write-a-song-about-someone-it-flatters/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [My father was a teacher and my mother also worked in the school, so the family has a background in education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-father-was-a-teacher-and-my-mother-also-worked-in-the-school-so/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I think it's an essential fact for any performer or artist to fail as poignantly as they can succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-think-it-s-an-essential-fact-for-any-performer-or-artist-to-fail-as/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [To my undying shame, I do read reviews. I don't read them all, but I like to get some kind of idea how things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/to-my-undying-shame-i-do-read-reviews-i-don-t-read-them-all-but-i/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Brother, be a brother, fill this tiny cup of mine. And please, sir, make it whiskey: I have no head for wine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/brother-be-a-brother-fill-this-tiny-cup-of-mine-and-please-sir-make/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [When you've been initiated, you can stand in the world differently. And I think it is up to all of us, we can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/when-you-ve-been-initiated-you-can-stand-in-the-world-differently-and/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Polly Jean, I love you. I love the texture of your skin, the taste of your saliva, the softness of your ears. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/polly-jean-i-love-you-i-love-the-texture-of-your-skin-the-taste-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) [Explore all 280 Nick Cave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always hated narrative songs. 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