When I think about my career and how it all started, it really started with me getting to a point where I understood how to write songs that resonated with people.

I believe that most people aren't that different from one another. Although we might appear to be different on the surface, I think ultimately we all go through the same struggles.

I write very personal songs. Subject matter is usually derived from some internal struggle that I am having.

I don't worry so much about whether people are buying my music or getting it for free.

The most important thing is writing songs that resonate and giving people a chance to listen to them.

I just try to stay honest with myself and in doing that I feel like the songs are going to resonate.

When I deal with my struggles in my songs, I feel like most people are going to identify with my struggles because they are essentially dealing with the same things.

In many ways my writing is like therapy. It is my way of dealing with things.

I think people just want to hear good songs and I just want to keep getting better as a writer so that I can deliver good songs.

I believe that people want to hear good songs and they want to be moved.

Athens, much like Austin, is a difficult music scene. There are so many musicians there that it is hard to get gigs and hard for people to take you seriously.

Courage is the vision that lets us see ourselves in the mirror of our fears.

What will I do if I find myself with a heart?" "Lose it constantly, I imagine.

Yes, this is the only good thing in life: love! To hold a woman you love in your arms! That is the ultimate in human happiness.

By sight and observation and thought, with the help of the camera, and the addition of the date of the year, we can hold fast the history of the world.

[Students] often have a "We can figure this out - don't just tell us" attitude. In that way, they can be less patient with "traditional" approaches to teaching.

I think that before my son was born, I didn't have a strong sensation for future. I was living in this kind of never-ending present.

There are as many mediocrities exalted through pity as masters decried through envy.

When I think about country music, I think about America.

The only dream I've ever had is to become a major league baseball player.

Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me. Stranded on welfare, another broken family.