"I never set out to write songs about the world around me... it just kind of came about as a result of paying more attention to things"

Iris DeMent's quote suggests that her songwriting is a result of her focusing on the world around her. She implies that she does not purposefully set out to compose tunes about the world, however rather that it is a natural consequence of her being observant and familiar with her environments. This recommends that DeMent is a thoughtful and reflective artist, who has the ability to take inspiration from her environment and turn it into significant and powerful music. Her quote also implies that her songwriting is a type of self-expression, as she is able to take her observations and turn them into art. DeMent's quote is a tip to all of us to pay attention to the world around us, as it can be a source of motivation and creativity.