You can beat the drum so hard that people stop listening. I wanted to use my voice wisely and not expend it wastefully.

You've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above.

I realized the only time I felt complete and peaceful was while I was playing or shortly afterwards, even though it was in front of thousands of other people, which most people wouldn't consider to be a safe place.

It's always felt natural, because I'm generally very comfortable with people.

Most of the artists I know are crazy in one way or another. I think that's why you get into it. You're in pursuit of a certain sort of peace that's very, very, very difficult to come by.

And whether you're drawn to gospel music or church music or honky-tonk music, it informs your character and it informs your talent.

You weren't supposed to hear Elvis Presley. You weren't supposed to hear Jerry Lee Lewis. You weren't supposed to hear Robert Johnson. You weren't supposed to hear Hank Williams. And they told the story of the secret America.