--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a songwriter, metaphor is instinctual." description: "\"As a songwriter, metaphor is instinctual.\" — Rodney Crowell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/rodney-crowell-3715_metaphor_as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual_2026366.png" --- # As a songwriter, metaphor is instinctual. ![“As a songwriter, metaphor is instinctual.” quote by Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/rodney-crowell-3715_metaphor_as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual_2026366.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/rodney-crowell-3715_metaphor_as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual_2026366.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/rodney-crowell-3715_metaphor_as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual_2026366.png) > “As a songwriter, metaphor is instinctual.” [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Metaphor is a natural, instinctive tool for songwriters, shaping lyrics through vivid comparison. **In simple terms:** Songwriters naturally use metaphor. Key Takeaway Use vivid comparisons in lyrics. Themes creativity language songwriting Mood inspirational reflective artistic Type creative instructional When to use this quote - writing a song - teaching songwriting - creative brainstorming Key Concepts symbolism imagery Questions to Reflect On - How does metaphor enhance emotional impact? - When might literal language be stronger? A Different Perspective Relying on metaphor may obscure clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Metaphor Instinctual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor-instinctual-3698304/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriter/) [Songwriter Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriter-metaphor-3698303/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a pretty successful songwriter and known in some circles, but I didn't think the story of my career was of any real entertainment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/i-m-a-pretty-successful-songwriter-and-known-in-some-circles-but-i/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [I'm a songwriter, and people will tell you the greatest stories about their lives, whether you want to hear it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-richie/i-m-a-songwriter-and-people-will-tell-you-the-greatest-stories-about/) [Lionel Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-richie/) > [I'm a songwriter, and I'm more than just a screamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corabi/i-m-a-songwriter-and-i-m-more-than-just-a-screamer/) [John Corabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corabi/) > [When you're a songwriter and you click with someone, you tend to want to keep writing with that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sherwood/when-you-re-a-songwriter-and-you-click-with-someone-you-tend-to-want/) [Billy Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sherwood/) > [Music is my personal addiction. 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People in the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-d-like-to-think-that-what-i-ve-written-over-the-years-and-what-i-m/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I tend to get quite close to the songs because I've always been the main songwriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-orzabal/i-tend-to-get-quite-close-to-the-songs-because-i-ve-always-been-the/) [Roland Orzabal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-orzabal/) > [My little boy, West, and my wife, they're my rock and that's the thing that keeps driving me to do better at what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-houser/my-little-boy-west-and-my-wife-they-re-my-rock-and-that-s-the-thing/) [Randy Houser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-houser/) > [For a songwriter, you don't really go to songwriting school; you learn by listening to tunes. 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I'm just a working artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/i-ve-had-a-nice-career-i-m-no-david-bowie-or-bruce-springsteen-out/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [My father took me to see Hank Williams on December 14th, 1952. I was two years and four months of age. And I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/my-father-took-me-to-see-hank-williams-on-december-14th-1952-i-was/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [Because of my methodology and my sensibilities to write songs, I'm not very comfortable with the notion to rush in any creative endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/because-of-my-methodology-and-my-sensibilities-to-write-songs-i-m-not/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [When I was 12 years old, or however old I was when Bringing It All Back Home came out, I'd just skip back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/when-i-was-12-years-old-or-however-old-i-was-when-bringing-it-all/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [Invariably, collaboration leads to new forms of self-expression and to the things that move you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/invariably-collaboration-leads-to-new-forms-of-self-expression-and-to/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [I think, back in the '80s when I was having hits all the time, I took it for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/i-think-back-in-the-80s-when-i-was-having-hits-all-the-time-i-took-it/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [Singing duets is instinctive, intuitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/singing-duets-is-instinctive-intuitive/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [I've often said to young songwriters when they want to write with me, 'Let's take a stab at ten songs, and we might get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/i-ve-often-said-to-young-songwriters-when-they-want-to-write-with-me/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [So much of inspiration comes from collaboration with other musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/so-much-of-inspiration-comes-from-collaboration-with-other-musicians/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [For the most part, this record is autobiographical. At some point, the story of 'The Houston Kid' takes my experiences from 6 to 15…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/for-the-most-part-this-record-is-autobiographical-at-some-point-the/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [I cannot say I'm a poet. That's for someone when they take in consideration where they can bestow 'poet' on. 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Not when blood wash the floor she lying on as she scream for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/people-think-blood-red-but-blood-don-t-got-no-colour-not-when-blood/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [You know what’s a great metaphor for love? Sleeping beauty. 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Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-l-marshall/) [Browse all 1,548 Metaphor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a songwriter, metaphor is instinctual.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rodney Crowell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Metaphor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/rodney-crowell-3715_metaphor_as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual_2026366.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/rodney-crowell-3715_metaphor_as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual_2026366.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/rodney-crowell-3715_metaphor_as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual_2026366.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a songwriter, metaphor is instinctual.” — Rodney Crowell", "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": "Rodney Crowell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As a songwriter, metaphor is instinctual.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/as-a-songwriter-metaphor-is-instinctual/#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 } } ] } ```