My songs were influenced not so much by poetry on the page but by poetry being recited by the poets who recited poems with jazz bands.

The ghosts race towards the light, you can almost hear the heavy breathing spirits, all determined to get somewhere. New Orleans, unlike a lot of places you go back to and that don't have the magic anymore, still has got it. Night can swallow you up, yet none of it touches you. You can't see it, but you know it's here. Somebody's always sinking.

Up north, you could find these radio stations with no name on the dials that played pre-rock 'n' roll things - country blues. We would hear Slim Harpo or Lightnin' Slim and gospel groups, the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Five Blind Boys of Alabama. I was so far north, I didn't even know where Alabama was.

Wiggle 'til you're high, wiggle 'til you're higher, wiggle 'til you vomit fire.

Pain sure does bring out the best in people, doesn't it?

His [Bob Dylan] humour was dry and splendid.

If ever asked to look at yourself, don't.