--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With writing a song, I've always felt…" description: "\"With writing a song, I've always felt, right from the start, like I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. I don't ever feel there's a font of ideas to f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/nick-cave-1153_always_with-writing-a-song-i-ve-always-felt-rig_2669056.jpg" --- # With writing a song, I've always felt, right from the… ![“With writing a song, I've always felt, right from the start, like I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. I don't ever feel there's a font of ideas to fall back on.” quote by Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/nick-cave-1153_always_with-writing-a-song-i-ve-always-felt-rig_2669056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/nick-cave-1153_always_with-writing-a-song-i-ve-always-felt-rig_2669056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/nick-cave-1153_always_with-writing-a-song-i-ve-always-felt-rig_2669056.jpg) > “With writing a song, I've always felt, right from the start, like I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. I don't ever feel there's a font of ideas to fall back on.” [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. He feels like he’s scraping the bottom of the barrel, lacking fresh ideas for songwriting. **In simple terms:** Creative work can feel depleted, lacking new inspiration. Key Takeaway Seek new experiences to replenish creativity. Themes creativity artist inspiration Mood melancholic reflective Type interview personal When to use this quote - songwriting block - creative drought - artist frustration Key Concepts music interview Questions to Reflect On - What fuels your creative spark? - How do you overcome artistic stagnation? A Different Perspective Creative blocks can be temporary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Barrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barrel/) [Bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) [Bottom of the barrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-of-the-barrel/) [Don Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-feel/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-fall-2488950/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Ve Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-felt/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-song/) ## Related quotes > [I think the bottom of the barrel is where the answers are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-eaglesmith/i-think-the-bottom-of-the-barrel-is-where-the-answers-are/) [Fred Eaglesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-eaglesmith/) > [I haven't been approached to do a 'Doctor Who' movie. I think they would be scraping the bottom of the barrel if they asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-baker/i-haven-t-been-approached-to-do-a-doctor-who-movie-i-think-they-would/) [Colin Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-baker/) > [In this business, you can be at the top of the world and at the bottom of the barrel, and you're grape juice. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-basinger/in-this-business-you-can-be-at-the-top-of-the-world-and-at-the-bottom/) [Kim Basinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-basinger/) > [You never get quite down to the bottom of the barrel, but we are much higher than that at the present time. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/you-never-get-quite-down-to-the-bottom-of-the-barrel-but-we-are-much/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) > [The big problem with songwriting for me is starting a new song. It's the thing where all the anguish exists, not in the writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/the-big-problem-with-songwriting-for-me-is-starting-a-new-song-it-s-2/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [The big problem with songwriting for me is starting a new song. It's the thing where all the anguish exists, not in the writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/the-big-problem-with-songwriting-for-me-is-starting-a-new-song-it-s/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I've never felt that way. I've never felt like a looser. You can't get what you want if you feel like it's you against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zacky-vengeance/i-ve-never-felt-that-way-i-ve-never-felt-like-a-looser-you-can-t-get/) [Zacky Vengeance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zacky-vengeance/) > [For a long time trans people have always been a joke. 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I've gone on a get-a-man crusade, but so far it's been a disaster and I'm feeling as bad about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/it-s-like-a-big-circle-i-ve-gone-on-a-get-a-man-crusade-but-so-far-it/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [Wife number four destroyed me absolutely: took me down to the bottom of the barrel because I had three kids with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-lamas/wife-number-four-destroyed-me-absolutely-took-me-down-to-the-bottom/) [Lorenzo Lamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-lamas/) > [I've been so blessed because I've had such longevity. I'm not a big red carpet girl. But I love the work. In this business,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-basinger/i-ve-been-so-blessed-because-i-ve-had-such-longevity-i-m-not-a-big/) [Kim Basinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-basinger/) > [“Interns are invisible. You can tell an executive your name a hundred times and that executive will never remember it because they have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-kuhn/interns-are-invisible-you-can-tell-an-executive-your-name-a-hundred/) [Shane Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-kuhn/) > [The problem is, there are definitely some genuinely lame things on television, and there's more at the bottom of the barrel, because the barrel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-johnson/the-problem-is-there-are-definitely-some-genuinely-lame-things-on/) [Steven Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-johnson/) > [I like film books at the bottom of the barrel and art books at the top. 'The Ghastly One,' by Jimmy McDonough, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-like-film-books-at-the-bottom-of-the-barrel-and-art-books-at-the/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## 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": "With writing a song, I've always felt, right from the start, like I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. 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