Imagery is the most important to me when singing stories. I try to paint pictures with the words and decorate with little to no singing....let the song do the work.

You can't roll a joint on an iPod, buy vinyl.

I think a lot of people think that my parents' deaths is why I write such sad songs, but that's not true. Those songs may just be the woman I am.

Be exceptional. Make tremendous efforts to be extraordinary. What a privilege to be here on the planet to contribute your unique donation to humankind. Just make sure you do so.

I feel like I've kind of gotten to a peaceful place in my heart.

So it's the greatest compliment in the world when people want to hear you sing. That means it feels good to them, so I keep doing it.

I am very picky about my people and my beer.

I've pretty much run the circle of labels and dealing with that whole kind of battle, because you're the one creating the music, but you're not the final say. That's always been hard.

I like rules that are broken.

I like to make great albums.

I didn't go to college.

Frequent friction when love becomes political.

If you want to build a ship, teach the men to yearn for the vast and endless sea.

When I started, I decided to devote my life to it and not get sidetracked by all the other bullshit life has to offer

The artist needs no religion beyond his work.

To get to be somebody who gets to love what they do for a living, that's so rare, and so there must be some kind of price you have to pay.

O thou sculptor, painter, poet! Take this lesson to thy heart: That is best which lieth nearest; Shape from that thy work of art.

You better get yourself together, darling, and join the human race.

America is an insane asylum run by the inmates.

There is a difference between God as a sense of comfort, and God actually telling you what to do!

In a false person, sacraments do not produce any effect.