One of the things that defines a country song for me is that it's honest. It's not putting on a tuxedo to go eat at the Burger King. It's about a song being emotionally true to itself.

I come from a food family, so you would think that I would be great at making baked beans or something, but I'm not.

I try to spend a lot of time thinking of what it is I want to say, and how I want to say it. Mainly because I know what it's like as a fan to hear music that is just exactly what I needed.

The first time I toured the U.K. was in the early '90s with Billy Pilgrim, so I know how much the people there love music.

Music doesn't need to be perfect, but you'll know when it's right.

I have always heard that uber-successful people who write books about how to become uber-successful all have one thing in common: They all meditate every day. I consider yoga my meditation.

My biggest lesson ... was to try and create narrators that were believable. ...so the listener becomes really invested in the story or the song.

A genius is a person who is more observant and has more patience.

Respect of power is Important, But it shouldn't turn to Cowardice.

I wanted to write some lyrics that had some meaning to them, lyrics that were meaningful to me and hopefully people can take something from that.

The essence of positioning is sacrifice. You must be willing to give up something in order to establish that unique position.

I'm very bad with music. I don't know any new music. I've listened to the same 10 or 12 albums my whole life.

Everything in the least connected with him has value for me; if someone even mentions his name it is like a little present to me-and I long to mention it myself

Wise is the person at either end. Who can in due measure spare as well as spend.

I don't want to end up losing my soul.

Animals are just as important as we are.

I had a wonderful time playing Dr. Kaufman in Tomorrow Never Dies. It was a real Bond villain, over the top, almost laughable but dangerous.