Paul Westerberg Quotes

Lyrics are kind of the whole thing; it's the message. Something might have a beautiful melody but if it's not the truth coming out of your mouth, it's not appealing.

A poet's first contract is with truth.

The first function of poetry is to tell the truth, to learn how to do that, to find out what you really feel and what you really think.

The first question at that time in poetry was simply the question of honesty, of sincerity.

The only thing you can really say in a poem is what you really, really deeply believe.

I don't believe that songwriting has to be profound, but I truly believe that it's a crime for you to go outta your way for it not to be.

Words are important to me, but a song can work and function and be a good song with words that are fairly standard. But really great lyrics can't rescue a dog of a song.

I stopped writing fiction the moment I started writing songs, and I miss it.

I'm a writer. My job is to speak what - that which I think is true. If that bridges the gap, that's good. If it doesn't, that's too bad.

My thing is to try to tell the truth as honestly as possible. For me, the weight is, how can I tell the truth through fiction, the best that I can?

I've gotten to the point where I realize that I need to tell my truth in music and not walk around blabbing my mind.

Stephen Sondheim told me that Oscar Hammerstein believed everything that he wrote. So there's great truth in the songs, and that's what was so wonderful to find.

Lyrics are important, but it's hard, because English isn't my first language - although it feels like it is these days! I grew up with amazing melodies, so getting that right on a song has always been the key thing for me, but there's no reason why a great melody doesn't deserve great lyrics.

The stupid believe that to be truthful is easy; only the artist, the great artist, knows how difficult it is.

I am quite certain in my heart of hearts that modern music and modern art is not a conspiracy, but is a form of truth and integrity for those who practise it honestly, decently and with all their being.

What's the point of a song if you can't be honest?

I want that every piece of art be honest, never mind what it is about.

For a creative writer possession of the 'truth' is less important than emotional sincerity.

I don't want to sell my soul to Hollywood - to just make run-of-the-mill stuff.

I don't want to bury anything in poetry.

Songwriters tell the truth.

I've heard some people say that I'm selling out, but I'm not. If I hadn't done 'Black Radio', and just kept on doing just piano trio stuff, I wouldn't be honest with myself; I'd be doing it to please other people. That would be selling out.

The best strips are the most honest. That's just the truth of it.

Listen to the Bee Gees and you can learn to be a great writer.

I try and write the way things happen. I don't try and fulfill people's wishes.