There's a certain urgency that comes from the records of the early 60s before overdubbing and multitracking came into play.

Nashville's like any other hometown - after a while, it's stifling.

I think a lot of men are afraid of pretty things, and I'm not, I like pretty songs.

As a southern man, there's two things I'm definitely not scared of: bow ties and white pants.

My parents split up when I was about 2. I realize more and more how much I'm like my father. My gentleness comes from my mother.

I didn't do anything differently than what my father was doing. It's a really hard family to rebel in. I could have become an accountant. Or I could have become a Republican.

All my records have been written to be records, rather than writing a group of songs and seeing if they fit together.

I didn't get into music to become a blues musician, or a country musician. I'm a singer-songwrit er. In my book that means I get to do whatever I want.

I've never been good at rock'n'roll songs, anyway; either I'm blessed or I'm cursed, but whatever I write comes out sounding old.

I heard Nirvana, and discovered that songs could be like poetry, but a little bit more refined: you didn't have to have 20 verses to get your point across.

I always watched movies and rooted for the bad guys, you know? I've always been that kind of guy. I still hold some respect for criminals that are good at their jobs.

I'd much rather fall to my death than admit my weakness to you.""The captain of the Royal Guard wants to impress a lowly handmaiden?""A clumsy young man wants to impress a beautiful young woman.

There comes a point when you can only sweep so much under the rug, 'til you feel lumps under your feet and your path seems to become less comfortable.

He disliked contradiction, and still more, arguments that were continually skipping from one thing to another, introducing new and disconnected points, so that there was no knowing to which to reply.

Originality is the art of concealing your sources.

Liberty will not descend to a people, a people must raise themselves to liberty...

And I don't give a damn about a greenback dollarSpend it fast as I can for a wailin' song and a good guitarThe only things that I understand, oh yeah.

Judging oneself to be inferior to other people was one of the worst acts of pride because it was the most destructive way of being different.

Each step, each strain of the eye Opens out a new horizon; And every day throws in our way Something new, to grow more wise on.

The better the actor, the more stupid he is.

There ain't no future in the past.