You need two things to remain very, very present. You need to continue to write well and engage yourself in the issues of the day. And you have to continue to make good, relevant records.

The great challenge of adulthood is holding on to your idealism after you lose your innocence.

But I think that your entire life is a process of sorting out some of those early messages that you got.

I always wanted my music to influence the life you were living emotionally - with your family, your lover, your wife, and, at a certain point, with your children.

Pessimism and optimism are slammed up against each other in my records, the tension between them is where it's all at, it's what lights the fire.

I got a house full of Rembrandts and priceless art, and all the little girls they wanna tear me apart.

When I look at myself, I don't see the man I wanted to be.