Well, my daddy, he didn't leave me much, you know he was a very simple man, but what he did tell me was this, he did say, son, he said, he say, you know it's possible to become so defiled in this world that your own father and mother will abandon you and if that happens, God will always believe in your ability to mend your ways.

Either I'm too sensitive, or else I'm gettin' soft

I like spiritual songs. They struck me as truthful and serious. They brought me down to earth and they lifted me up all in the same moment.

And I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinking.

Every nerve in my body is so vacant and numb/I can't even remember what it was I came here to get away from/Don't even hear a murmur of a prayer/It's not dark yet, but it's getting there.

The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.

In writing songs, I've learned as much from Cezanne as I have from Woody Guthrie.