I'm dealing with things as they come along, and I'm talking about it.

I'm fascinated by the whole concept of snake handling. When you read about the Pentecostal snake handlers, what strikes you the most is their commitment.

I'd rather play a few nights at the Fillmore than play one night at an arena.

You should put time into learning your craft. It seems like people want success so quickly, way before they're ready.

You can't really praise somebody's work and then criticize the process.

The old jazz singers or old blues singers, you always just saw them kind of sitting down and singing. They weren't worried as much about their voice sounding perfect. They would make the song kind of fit their voice.

I've had trouble being in relationships and writing. This has been a real problem for me. I don't know if it's because I'm not free to fantasize or create these fantasy things about other people.

The man I lived with is a Christian, so I would talk to him about it. What would this person do in the Bible? What's the story around this person? Generally, when people talk about characters in the Bible, there's one thing they're known for, like Job.

Some of their best songs don't have bridges and choruses. So that made me think I should trust my instincts. My songs were okay, I figured. I didn't need to change anything.

So few people are truly themselves when they're in the spotlight.

Sade's stuff is real deceptive. She's got stuff about prostitutes, poverty and people on the streets.

I'm trying to get out of my own way.

People let their own hang-ups become the obstacles between them and personal happiness.

Just because I'm talking about something that might have been a sad or painful situation doesn't mean that I'm sad or tortured 24 hours a day any more than anybody else is.

It's really about living in your head... just looking out at the world, then going back into your head and tossing around a lot of ideas and coming out with something interesting to say.