"I think Shakespeare is really the one. Words as music and music as words. Everything he wrote was good, which is really frightening"

In this quote, Don Van Vliet, likewise referred to as Captain Beefheart, reflects on the sustaining genius of William Shakespeare, stressing the special and profound nature of his works. Vliet recommends a deep adoration for Shakespeare, considering him unrivaled in his literary contributions by specifying, "Shakespeare is really the one". This indicates that Shakespeare holds a particular place in the pantheon of great writers, recognized for the ageless quality and depth of his work.

The phrase "Words as music and music as words" highlights Shakespeare's masterful usage of language, comparable to an artist's skill with melody and harmony. In Shakespeare's writing, words are not merely a way to communicate; they are crafted with such rhythm, charm, and emotional resonance that they transcend regular speech. This musicality in his writing enhances the psychological and aesthetic experience of his plays and poetry, similar to a symphony captivates its audience.

Vliet's observation that "everything he wrote was good" highlights the constant high quality of Shakespeare's corpus, a task that he discovers "actually frightening". This worry might originate from the daunting standard Shakespeare sets for authors who follow, in addition to the awe-inspiring breadth of his skill. It suggests that Shakespeare's ability to produce a body of work that is regularly exceptional is both impressive and challenging, as it leaves little space for others to outshine or duplicate such mastery.

Overall, the quote by Don Van Vliet is a homage to Shakespeare's remarkable talent and the lasting effect of his artistry. It encapsulates the notion that Shakespeare's works continue to resonate across time and cultures, embodying a blend of literary workmanship and musicality that specifies him as one of history's biggest writers.