A song is a song and, if I am emotionally connected to do it, whether it is sad or not sad, I am going to chase that song.

You gotta lean towards the things that make you like yourself. Forget everything else.

It is the melody and the rhythm that are by far the most important and then words and imagery and stuff, story bits will start to stick to a melody and that is the way I write.

I became at peace with the darkness or the personality that I have. I am usually pretty funny and happy.

I drink wine on stage to sort of loosen my grip on reality a little.

My parents know that I have always been sort of a dark melodramatic kid, so they were never concerned.

I don't want somebody telling my daughter who she can marry, or what she can do with her body. That's what was at stake.

Maybe because I have spent too much of my life in rock clubs. I don't really go to parties anymore either. I'll usually be in the bus by 11:30 after a show.

I actually don't go to shows anymore. Rock concerts have lost their appeal for me.

Live on coffee and flowers. Try not to worry what the weather will be.

Not all the songs are real events, but I do write about stuff that is close to my heart and it comes out one way or another.

History is the business of identifying momentous events from the comfort of a high-back chair.

Always remember that it is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood: there will always be some who misunderstand you.

The first effect of emancipation from the Church was not to make men think rationally, but to open their minds to every sort of antique nonsense

But still, I find the need to remind myself of the temporariness of a day, to reassure myself that I got through yesterday, I'll get through today.

There's not as much money in Washington as they're used to be!

There's a fine line between balanced journalism and trial by television.

Normally I can balance two or three things. The problem is when you're out of work and don't have anything to balance. I think people assume you're always busy. You go through dry spells.

I've actually gone to the zoo and had monkeys shout to me from their cages, "I'm in here when you're walking around like that?"

Really great things, when discussed by little men, can usually make such men grow big.

The fact that the Antarctica is beginning to look more like it's part of the story, as well.