My mother was a feminist, and she gave me some tools of self-possession and self-empowerment, but now that I have lived here for forty-three years, it's, like, whoa, there is just so much more to do, other than become myself. I'm still talking about it. I still drop the P-word, "patriarchy," on unsuspecting people in everyday conversations.

Music has as many roles as people make it. I traveled to Burma once years ago to witness the people's struggle for democracy, meet some people and learn some stuff. And I had this incredible experience over and over again in the Burmese jungle or refugee camps or health clinics with very oppressed, very devastated people. I show up, and I'm white and I'm American and I'm privileged and I have an experience that these people can't fathom and vice versa. There was this huge chasm when I met people for all good reasons.

i do it for the joy it brings because i'm a joyful girl because the world owes me nothing and we owe each other the world

I don't like my language watered down, I don't like my edges rounded off.

What makes you so lavish that you can afford to spend every sober moment feeling angry and bored?

And I was shocked, To see the mistakes of each generation, Will just fade like a radio station, If you drive out of range...

I fight with love and i laugh with rage....you gotta live light enough to see the humor, and long enough to see some change.