Bob Dylan Songwriting Quotes & Sayings

Songwriting is like fishing in a stream; you put in your line and hope to catch something. And I don't think anyone downstream from Bob Dylan ever caught anything. — Arlo Guthrie

Ah, sweetie. If the poets couldn't unriddle them, then you certainly can't. Be kind, and keep your ears on offer if she wants to talk. But you can't draw out the strangeness, Edgar. It's not a poison. — Allyse Near

Authoritarianism, an unrealistic occidental imagination - these issues will never be settled. Turkey will continue to take Europe as a model; it will continue to pursue its search for democracy. — Orhan Pamuk

I like my body, I like to have fun with what I put on, but I also want to remain classic. So I guess my signature is sexy and eclectic but classic. — Lake Bell

Opportunities may come along for you to convert something -something that exists into something that didn't yet. That might be the beginning of it. Sometimes you just want to do things your way, want to see for yourself what lies behind the misty curtain. It's not like you see songs approaching and invite them in. It's not that easy. You want to write songs that are bigger than life. You want to say something about strange things that have happened to you, strange things you have seen. You have to know and understand something and then go past the vernacular. — Bob Dylan

The Bible is very clear that in the last days men will be "lovers of themselves" (2 Tim. 3:2). — John Bevere

Once I went into songwriting, I figured I had to - I couldn't be a hellfire rock 'n' roller. But I could write hellfire lyrics. — Bob Dylan

Social media, despite its reputation as the ultimate agent of self-promotion, actually feeds on self-loathing. — Meghan Daum

I have a particular dislike for children's films. I'm way past the novelty aspect. — Nick Cave

I'm trying to feel terrified and alone. And regret every decision I've ever made, drenched in a cold sweat. It's called going to sleep. Maybe you've heard of it. — Arj Barker

My friends and I took songwriting very, very seriously. My hero was and still is Bob Dylan, but also people like Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell and that whole generation. — Kazuo Ishiguro