Home / Quotes / Quote by John K. Samson

Quote by John K. Samson

“I try to write lyrics that will be able to function on their own if they get separated from the music. But I wouldn't want to take anything away from poets, who work without the frames songwriters get from melody, and I think lyrics should be considered as their own thing.”

Quote by John K. Samson

Author

John K. Samson is a Canadian musician known for his active and influential presence in the independent music scene. Best recognized as the founding member and lead vocalist of The Weakerthans, a band celebrated for its profound lyrics and unique musical style. Samson's musical career began in the 1990s, and his work blends folk, rock, and poetic elements, earning him a dedicated fan base. more

You May Also Like

“I think we all have a certain number of "coming of age" songs, and then a writer has to expand and grow into more varied and specific themes. And the music industry is, like Jawbreaker says, "selling kids to other kids," so it makes sense that those early songs in a writer's life are often the ones that catch people's ears, and later work is more difficult and less immediate.”

People Thinking Kids Age Certain Song Grows Difficult Numbers Industry Ears Selling Make Sense Theme Coming Of Age Music Industry

Author:John K. Samson

“There are definitely parts of me in most of the protagonists I write, but I find a bit of distance can be useful, so I often find myself better able to write from a point of view that isn't exactly my own.”

Writing Able Bits My Own Views Distance Point Of View Protagonists

Author:John K. Samson

“I do get a little shy about contemporary language and events, but I also enjoy the idea of dating myself, somehow, anchoring a song in a specific time and place. Sometimes the new words and objects are too enjoyable and descriptive to ignore. And maybe making work that acknowledges that it won't last forever is important, too.”

Littles Important Ideas Sometimes Lasts Song Language Enjoy Forever Events Objects Dating Contemporary Acknowledge Shy Enjoyable New Words

Author:John K. Samson

“In this frightening, anxious time to be alive it can be liberating to remember that nothing lasts forever. That can focus and invigorate our hopes.”

Lasts Remember Forever Focus Alive Anxious Frightening Liberating Nothing Lasts Forever

Author:John K. Samson

“The truth doesn't have to do with cruelty, the truth has to do with mercy.”

Literature Mercy Cruelty

Author:Ken Kesey

“I still think of myself as punk, because the way I became empowered to play music is entirely due to punk bands.”

Thinking Way Stills Play Band Music Is Dues Punk Empowered

Author:John K. Samson

“I listened to lots of other kinds of music, but punk is what allowed me to actually play music.”

Author:John K. Samson

“In my mind I still qualify as punk, though I know four out of five punks would disagree.”

Knows Mind Stills Five Four Disagree Punk

Author:John K. Samson

“I've always viewed my career with some suspicion, like I don't want to count on it to be the only thing I do. Partly that has to do with feeling like an imposter, like we all do sometimes, and partly I like doing other things, and being a full-time artist takes a focus I recognise I don't have.”

Want Sometimes Feelings Artist Careers Focus Suspicion Recognise Imposter

Author:John K. Samson

“Australian cattle dogs, are not like Labradors, where they just like to just sit around by the fire and get petted. They're working dogs, so they have a lot of energy, and they can drive you crazy.”

Energy Fire Crazy Dog Australian Cattle Labradors

Author:Owen Wilson