I actually wrote the song first as "well, it's 9 o'clock on a Saturday." That bit. Then I said, You know what? It needs some kind of an introduction to kind of set the mood and set the flavor. So I just played this kind of cocktail lounge thing, the hustle and bustle of waitresses going by - that kind of thing.

Only the good die young.

We are living in a time when American popular music is finally being recognized as one of our most successful exports. The demand is huge.

One of the last times that we played in the area before I wrote "Allentown," I remember a guy coming up to us and saying, "You're never coming back here." I said, "Why do you say that?" He said, "Well, you're probably gonna become a big star. Nobody who ever becomes big comes back here." And I felt so sad for this kid, he seemed so bitter about it. I said, "Well, I'm coming back, no matter what."

For whatever reason, not all people are born with the particular gift of being able to express ourselves through music. And, believe me, it is a gift.

If you're a very unfulfilled person you might have a tendency to turn to crime.

I've crashed my car three times.