Songwriting is Hell on Earth. If it isn't, then you're doing it wrong.

What has worked before is never as good as something that has never been tried before, even if it doesn't work.

The people who are making money are the ones who are writing and singing their own songs.

We as songwriters are in the same position as a professional fisherman. Our fishing grounds are kind of fished out.

The creative processes are so mysterious.

Someone left the cake out in the rain

I like words. I like the way they clash around together and bang up against each other, especially in songs.

As I've grown - dare I say it - older, I had hopes of indulging my dreams of being a sailor.

I believe strongly in inspiration, inspiration literally meaning full of the spirit. I do believe that it comes to you.

In the end all that matters is climbing and pushing your personal limits. No matter the grade, if you climb something that was hard for you, then that's sick.

You reach a certain point in your life where they things you do and say do make a difference.

There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us.

I've learned to feel good when I feel good.it's better to be driven around in a red porschethan to ownone. the luck of the fool is inviolate.

Instead of trying to make your life perfect, give yourself the freedom to make it an adventure, and go ever upward.

I have no idea what the U.S. intends to do further there and what would be the reaction of the Iraqi people. I only know that the sole option is to leave Iraq to the Iraqi people.

I'd written songs with lots of people, from one spectrum to the other.

We have a lot of kids who don't know what works means. They think work is a four-letter word.

To wait, to patiently sit in the dark without knowing what the outcome will be, to protect and respect that which has yet no clear form - all these are aspects of the womb.

I have never been able to entertain a God-idea which was not integrally related to the fact of chipmunks, squirrels, hippopotamuses, galaxies, and light years.

You have to understand that Republicans are on lockstep on one issue. They will not raise taxes. Democrats are in lockstep on another issue, pro-choice in all cases on abortion.

That was so completely unfair that I told Tantalus to go chase a donut, which didn't help his mood.