And your eyes must do some raining if you're ever gonna grow / When crying don't help, you can't compose yourself / It's best to compose a poem, an honest verse of longing / Or a simple song of hope.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of expressing emotions through art as a way to cope and grow.
In this quote, Conor Oberst reflects on the transformative power of creative expression during times of emotional distress. He suggests that when we cannot find solace through typical means like crying, channeling our feelings into poetry or music can lead to personal growth and healing. The imagery of 'eyes must do some raining' implies that experiencing sadness is a necessary part of growth, while composing art helps articulate our deepest feelings of longing and hope.
In practice
This quote can serve as a poignant reflection during a workshop on creative writing.
I love movies, but sometimes I think it's better for actresses not to be total cinephiles. You have to be able to do the work at some point; you can't be totally starstruck. 'I can't believe it's Woody Allen!' You have to get past that.
And you know there’s nothing like writing a song about someone who’s mean to you, and just makes your life miserable…and then winning a Grammy for it.
Art is what you can get away with.
The important thing is not to be too comfortable when you're writing. Noise in the street? That's good. The computer goes down? That's good. All these things are good. It has to be a little bit of a struggle.
I enjoy reading about the lives of musicians, and find many similarities in their ideas of preparation and their utter devotion to this great, eternal language: music.
How do you explain what it feels like to get on the stage and make poetry that you know sinks into the hearts and souls of people who are unable to express it
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