---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write the lyrics based on what is going…"
description: "\"I write the lyrics based on what is going on in my life - I'm not going to write about the old hair metal stuff, like castles and stuff.\" — Oliver Sykes"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/oliver-sykes-4130_life_i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-goin_2171046.jpg"
---

#  I write the lyrics based on what is going on in my life…

![“I write the lyrics based on what is going on in my life - I'm not going to write about the old hair metal stuff, like castles and stuff.” quote by Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/oliver-sykes-4130_life_i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-goin_2171046.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/oliver-sykes-4130_life_i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-goin_2171046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/oliver-sykes-4130_life_i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-goin_2171046.jpg)

> “I write the lyrics based on what is going on in my life - I'm not going to write about the old hair metal stuff, like castles and stuff.”

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

## About This Quote

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

The artist chooses authentic, personal experiences over clichéd genre tropes for songwriting.

**In simple terms:** He writes about real life, not fantasy.

Key Takeaway

Focus on genuine storytelling.

Themes

authenticity creativity genre evolution

Mood

reflective determined

Type

musical inspirational

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- live performance
- media interviews

Key Concepts

personal narrative musical identity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does personal truth affect listener connection?
- Can authenticity outweigh commercial appeal?

A Different Perspective

Fans may miss nostalgic themes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lyrics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyrics/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [I write lyrics based on music, on a musical flow, and what sounds good at the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-patton/i-write-lyrics-based-on-music-on-a-musical-flow-and-what-sounds-good/)

[Mike Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-patton/)

> [All of my lyrics are based on the one thing that's never failed me, and that's the Word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-adams/all-of-my-lyrics-are-based-on-the-one-thing-that-s-never-failed-me/)

[Yolanda Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-adams/)

> [It's been a while since I've written a novel aimed at the adult market, but I never sit down and say to myself, 'Okay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/it-s-been-a-while-since-i-ve-written-a-novel-aimed-at-the-adult/)

[Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/)

> [My guitar player calls the process of writing lyrics based on another story, "filling up the well" when you can get inspiration from other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-loveless/my-guitar-player-calls-the-process-of-writing-lyrics-based-on-another/)

[Lydia Loveless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-loveless/)

> ['Spring Day' - I wrote main lyrics based on my personal experience with old friends. It is about my sad memories with him, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suga/spring-day-i-wrote-main-lyrics-based-on-my-personal-experience-with/)

[Suga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suga/)

> [I always say the wrestlers provide the music and the announcers write the lyrics. You have to feel what you're seeing and experiencing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/i-always-say-the-wrestlers-provide-the-music-and-the-announcers-write/)

[Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/)

> [I used to say it was painful to write lyrics about myself and looking inward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/i-used-to-say-it-was-painful-to-write-lyrics-about-myself-and-looking/)

[Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/)

> [I wrote out the lyrics that I would do at MAMA 4~5 days in advance. After I said that, Zico hyung told me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-nam-joon/i-wrote-out-the-lyrics-that-i-would-do-at-mama-4-5-days-in-advance/)

[Kim Nam-joon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-nam-joon/)

> [With Bernstein, because we wound up always working music first, it was where I really feel I learned how to write lyrics as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/with-bernstein-because-we-wound-up-always-working-music-first-it-was/)

[Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/)

> [I don't write lyrics, the lyrics write Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-don-t-write-lyrics-the-lyrics-write-thom-yorke/)

[Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/)

> ['Chandelier' took, like, four minutes to write the chords, then, like, 12-15 minutes to write the lyrics. Probably 10 or 15 minutes to cut the vocals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/chandelier-took-like-four-minutes-to-write-the-chords-then-like-12-15/)

[Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/)

> [Usually when I write lyrics I try to read a lot and listen to a lot of other stuff. Some of my favourite lyricists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vanwyngarden/usually-when-i-write-lyrics-i-try-to-read-a-lot-and-listen-to-a-lot/)

[Andrew VanWyngarden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vanwyngarden/)

> [I write most of my own lyrics for my album and I am helping to produce some of the songs as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lohan/i-write-most-of-my-own-lyrics-for-my-album-and-i-am-helping-to/)

[Lindsay Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lohan/)

> [The weirdest place I have ever written a song is probably in an airport, and I got an idea so fast that I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-weirdest-place-i-have-ever-written-a-song-is-probably-in-an/)

[Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/)

> [Whenever I write lyrics and an Americanism slips in, I always cut it straight out. I can't use the word 'babe,' for instance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-o-sullivan/whenever-i-write-lyrics-and-an-americanism-slips-in-i-always-cut-it/)

[Gilbert O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-o-sullivan/)

## More by Oliver Sykes

> [I have a penis tattooed on my leg, and high five tattooed on my palm. I don't regret them yet, but I'm sure when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/i-have-a-penis-tattooed-on-my-leg-and-high-five-tattooed-on-my-palm-i/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [The company is called Drop Dead, it makes me a lot a money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/the-company-is-called-drop-dead-it-makes-me-a-lot-a-money/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [Its all about the the worlds fucked up, people are taking us for a joke but youre not going to change the world by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/its-all-about-the-the-worlds-fucked-up-people-are-taking-us-for-a/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [What puts people off metal is they think it's all nutters and blood. We don't want to be seen that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/what-puts-people-off-metal-is-they-think-it-s-all-nutters-and-blood/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [You can compromise on anything else in your life but love. It's the one time where under no circumstances should you let yourself have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/you-can-compromise-on-anything-else-in-your-life-but-love-it-s-the/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [Vegitarians are sexier then meat eaters, we arent all greesy and shit. and we dont get all thoes diseases, like mad cow disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/vegitarians-are-sexier-then-meat-eaters-we-arent-all-greesy-and-shit/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [The only way I'll really smile is if you cut me ear to ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/the-only-way-i-ll-really-smile-is-if-you-cut-me-ear-to-ear/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [I think the fakest thing in the world is to judge someone on how they look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/i-think-the-fakest-thing-in-the-world-is-to-judge-someone-on-how-they/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [I'm just a would've been,Could've been,Should've been, Never was and Never will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/i-m-just-a-would-ve-been-could-ve-been-should-ve-been-never-was-and/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [It's quite an easy way to write a concept album about love. Everything boils down to love in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/it-s-quite-an-easy-way-to-write-a-concept-album-about-love-everything/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [I like how our records go from super poppy to heavy then electronic, and next I'd like to make a bunch of records where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/i-like-how-our-records-go-from-super-poppy-to-heavy-then-electronic/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [This hair, makes girls instantly wet, mothers cry, babies happy, it makes people in the army think…well why are we fighting?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/this-hair-makes-girls-instantly-wet-mothers-cry-babies-happy-it-makes/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [Well scummm my favorite band when I was young was Linkin Park.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/well-scummm-my-favorite-band-when-i-was-young-was-linkin-park/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [Save me from the ones that haunt me in the night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/save-me-from-the-ones-that-haunt-me-in-the-night/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [Fuck you - oli sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/fuck-you-oli-sykes/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

[Explore all 114 Oliver Sykes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

## More Life quotes

> [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/)

[Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/)

[Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/)

> [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/)

[Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/)

> [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/)

[Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/)

> [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/)

Deanna L. Lawlis

> [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/)

[Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/)

> [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/)

[Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/)

> [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/)

[Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/)

[Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/)

[Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I write the lyrics based on what is going on in my life - I'm not going to write about the old hair metal stuff, like castles and stuff.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Oliver Sykes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-going-on-in-my-life-i-m-not-going/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Life"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-going-on-in-my-life-i-m-not-going/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/oliver-sykes-4130_life_i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-goin_2171046.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/oliver-sykes-4130_life_i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-goin_2171046.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/oliver-sykes-4130_life_i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-goin_2171046.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I write the lyrics based on what is going on in my life - I'm not going to write about the old hair metal…” — Oliver Sykes",
                "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": "Oliver Sykes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I write the lyrics based on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-going-on-in-my-life-i-m-not-going/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-going-on-in-my-life-i-m-not-going/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
