---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The simpler songs are just done when the…"
description: "\"The simpler songs are just done when the lyric has been stated; the more complex or band-oriented stuff can go in a million directions.\" — Robin Pecknold"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/robin-pecknold-18273_done_the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the_2650031.png"
---

#  The simpler songs are just done when the lyric has been…

![“The simpler songs are just done when the lyric has been stated; the more complex or band-oriented stuff can go in a million directions.” quote by Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/robin-pecknold-18273_done_the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the_2650031.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/robin-pecknold-18273_done_the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the_2650031.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/robin-pecknold-18273_done_the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the_2650031.png)

> “The simpler songs are just done when the lyric has been stated; the more complex or band-oriented stuff can go in a million directions.”

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

## About This Quote

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

Simple songs work when lyrics are clear; complex music can explore many directions.

**In simple terms:** Clear lyrics need simple songs; complex music allows many paths.

Key Takeaway

Match song structure to lyrical clarity.

Themes

songwriting musical arrangement creativity

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- studio recording
- live performance
- album planning

Key Concepts

simplicity complexity direction

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you decide when to keep a song simple?
- When does complexity enhance a track?

A Different Perspective

Complex arrangements may overwhelm listeners if not balanced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Just Lyric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-lyric-2341628/) [Lyric Stated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyric-stated-2341629/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Simpler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simpler/) [Simpler Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simpler-songs-2341627/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-just/)

## Related quotes

> [Why did I like simpler songs? Just times change. This is one of the repeated things I hear: even though people will read different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/why-did-i-like-simpler-songs-just-times-change-this-is-one-of-the/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [“I never had a bunch of friends. I guess I just didn't fit in with anyone enough. Mostly it was always just me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-nicole/i-never-had-a-bunch-of-friends-i-guess-i-just-didn-t-fit-in-with/)

[Elizabeth Nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-nicole/)

> [“You're beautiful just as you are, Lyric.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/you-re-beautiful-just-as-you-are-lyric/)

[Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/)

> [F.U.B.U.' is one of my favorite songs ever. It just like touches me - I almost like cry when I heard that song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amine/f-u-b-u-is-one-of-my-favorite-songs-ever-it-just-like-touches-me-i/)

[Amine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amine/)

> [The best of my songs are more than just a joke. There's something else going on - a character, or it's not just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-newman/the-best-of-my-songs-are-more-than-just-a-joke-there-s-something-else/)

[Randy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-newman/)

> [Luckily, there's enough people who have recorded songs that I can just go online and kind of figure out how to play them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/luckily-there-s-enough-people-who-have-recorded-songs-that-i-can-just/)

[Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/)

> [I'm no songwriter because all of my popular songs have just been outgrowths of themes for the various pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-m-no-songwriter-because-all-of-my-popular-songs-have-just-been/)

[Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/)

> [On our Web site, we have people complaining about us not playing new stuff. But there's so many classic Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-van-zant/on-our-web-site-we-have-people-complaining-about-us-not-playing-new/)

[Johnny Van Zant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-van-zant/)

> [There are so many songs that we just don't play anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lowry/there-are-so-many-songs-that-we-just-don-t-play-anymore/)

[Mike Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lowry/)

> [I bought a Three Dog Night album when I was pretty young, and I remember listening to all those songs. That's just greatly crafted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/borns/i-bought-a-three-dog-night-album-when-i-was-pretty-young-and-i/)

[Borns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/borns/)

> [If I was writing songs just for me I'd only play them in my living room, alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/if-i-was-writing-songs-just-for-me-i-d-only-play-them-in-my-living/)

[Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/)

> [Songs need to have the ability to change and to grow for sure. They take on lives of their own. Some songs just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/songs-need-to-have-the-ability-to-change-and-to-grow-for-sure-they/)

[Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/)

> [Songs that are just a vehicle for a guitar solo are very empty, just an excuse for a guitarist to show what scales he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/songs-that-are-just-a-vehicle-for-a-guitar-solo-are-very-empty-just/)

[Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/)

> [Some songs just fall out of you. And some you have to wrestle out like an abscess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/some-songs-just-fall-out-of-you-and-some-you-have-to-wrestle-out-like/)

[Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/)

> [I try to write songs just for the song itself. I don't try and think about where it's going to end up, that way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/i-try-to-write-songs-just-for-the-song-itself-i-don-t-try-and-think/)

[Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/)

## More by Robin Pecknold

> [Our day-to-day lives recording and touring aren't that different from those of Metallica, even though the perceived worldview is totally different. So that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/our-day-to-day-lives-recording-and-touring-aren-t-that-different-from/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [I don't know that we're really going to need a label for the things we're thinking about doing next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/i-don-t-know-that-we-re-really-going-to-need-a-label-for-the-things/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [I'm looking forward to doing things more intuitively in the future, just going with whatever happens and not immediately categorizing it as potentially good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/i-m-looking-forward-to-doing-things-more-intuitively-in-the-future/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [I was listening to this Ngozi Family record, 45,000 Volts, and it's mostly this guy singing, and then for the choruses, he's doubled. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/i-was-listening-to-this-ngozi-family-record-45-000-volts-and-it-s/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [You want to make music that reflects your ideals, but considering the isolating process of recording and the time and energy requirements of touring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/you-want-to-make-music-that-reflects-your-ideals-but-considering-the/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [There are personal topics on the record that have nothing to do with creativity but were maybe amplified by the demands of the band.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/there-are-personal-topics-on-the-record-that-have-nothing-to-do-with/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [They even let me do the ads for the album. I definitely want it all to be presented right, but I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/they-even-let-me-do-the-ads-for-the-album-i-definitely-want-it-all-to/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [Every time you pick up an instrument, it's not always out of necessity - for a certain kind of person, it's a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/every-time-you-pick-up-an-instrument-it-s-not-always-out-of-necessity/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [The touring thing is such a huge time commitment. I'm really feeling like I want to start writing and recording music again. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/the-touring-thing-is-such-a-huge-time-commitment-i-m-really-feeling/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [I don't really hang out with anyone. I'll hang out with my band ... but I don't have any friends aside from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/i-don-t-really-hang-out-with-anyone-i-ll-hang-out-with-my-band-but-i/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [The notes sound like they're coming from inside your mind... It was the closest thing to a psychedelic experience I've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/the-notes-sound-like-they-re-coming-from-inside-your-mind-it-was-the/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [Fleet Foxes will never, ever, under no circumstances, from now until the world chokes on gas fumes, sign to a major label. This includes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/fleet-foxes-will-never-ever-under-no-circumstances-from-now-until-the/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [Being in Portland is cool. I have some good friends here and the general feeling might be a little more welcoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/being-in-portland-is-cool-i-have-some-good-friends-here-and-the/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [We're covering all our bases so we can do whatever we want next time. That's how we're looking at it, rather than this just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/we-re-covering-all-our-bases-so-we-can-do-whatever-we-want-next-time/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

> [You want to think about certain styles of music as being reflective of a certain culture or a certain time or a point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/you-want-to-think-about-certain-styles-of-music-as-being-reflective/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

[Explore all 35 Robin Pecknold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

## More Done quotes

> [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/)

> [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/)

[Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

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

> [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/)

[Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/)

> [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/)

> [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/)

[Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/)

> [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [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/)

> [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/)

[Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/)

> [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/)

[Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/)

[Browse all 25,653 Done quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The simpler songs are just done when the lyric has been stated; the more complex or band-oriented stuff can go in a million directions.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robin Pecknold"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the-lyric-has-been-stated-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Done"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the-lyric-has-been-stated-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/robin-pecknold-18273_done_the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the_2650031.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/robin-pecknold-18273_done_the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the_2650031.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/robin-pecknold-18273_done_the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the_2650031.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The simpler songs are just done when the lyric has been stated; the more complex or band-oriented stuff can…” — Robin Pecknold",
                "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": "Robin Pecknold",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The simpler songs are just done...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the-lyric-has-been-stated-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/the-simpler-songs-are-just-done-when-the-lyric-has-been-stated-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
