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That’s what we [outsiders] feel America is really about – the kind of crazed ravings of the Christian right – when it’s probably something quite different.

Nick Cave

The writer who refuses to explore the darker regions of the heart will never be able to write convincingly about the wonder, the magic and the joy of love for just as goodness cannot be trusted unless it has breathed the same air as evil.
NICK CAVE

Air Heart Writing
The artistic process seems to be mythologized quite a lot into something far greater than it actually is. It is just hard labor.
NICK CAVE

Artistic Labor Process
I’m a big fan of teatowels and am always on the lookout for a good one.
NICK CAVE

Bigs Fans Lookout
The way I take in the world is by seeing it; that is very much evident in the songs that I write.
NICK CAVE

Song World Writing
I love being manipulated by what I see. I love weepies and romantic comedies where you’re reaching for the Kleenex at the right moment.
NICK CAVE

Comedy Moments Reaching
To sustain hatred is a very difficult thing to do, year after year. It’s exhausting.
NICK CAVE

Difficult Hatred Years
I’m unable to really write the kind of song that doesn’t have a visual element, which most songs don’t.
NICK CAVE

Elements Song Writing
I’m very happy to hear that my work inspires writers and painters. It’s the most beautiful compliment, the greatest reward. Art should always be an exchange.
NICK CAVE

Art Beautiful Inspire
I am not interested in anything that doesn’t have a genuine heart to it. You’ve got to have soul in the hole. If that isn’t there, I don’t see the point.
NICK CAVE

Heart Holes Soul
I suspect the older you get the more invisible you become.
NICK CAVE

Country Invisible People Suspects
I write songs in batches and then record them and then can’t write again for ages. I try and build one song upon another, they may not obviously look inter-related but often one song acts as a springboard into another.
NICK CAVE

Age Country Obvious People Song Writing
No wonder sorrow doesn’t smile much. No wonder sadness is so sad.
NICK CAVE

Sadness Sorrow Wonder
I’m not in the business of telling people what to do. I’m much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them.
NICK CAVE

Leaving Mind People
I see it as my duty in some way is to be out in the world as an Australian putting forward what I consider to be authentic Australian music.
NICK CAVE

Country Duty People Way World
I’ve always done a lot of research and stuff around the songs that I write so there are pages and pages of writing and you can kind of see these songs emerging.
NICK CAVE

Done Song Writing
I’m an Australian, and when I grew up much of my influences were American – blues music and country music, all that sort of thing.
NICK CAVE

Country Grew Influence

That’s what we [outsiders] feel America is really about – the kind of crazed ravings of the Christian right – when it’s probably something quite different.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

That’s what we [outsiders] feel America is really about – the kind of crazed ravings of the Christian right – when it’s probably something quite different.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Nick Cave Quotes