Every thread of creation is held in position by still other strands of things living. In an earthly tapestry hung from the skyline of smoldering cities so gray and so vulgar, as not to be satisfied with their own negativity, but needing to touch all the living as well.

People ask me if I left the lyrics open to ambiguity. Of course I did. I wanted to make a whole series of complex statements. The lyrics had to do with the state of society at the time.

In the autumn of 1970 I had a job singing in the school system, playing my guitar in classrooms.

The kids today all seem to think they should be stars, but I wasn't brought up that way.

They don't keep their promises in the promised land, its getting mighty hard to find an honest man.

You're going to be buying your ticket with your heartache, you're gonna be payin' the man with your dues. You're gonna be living alone when you hear that whistle moan, you're gonna be learnin' to live with the blues.

I am what I do, and that's partly why I don't want to give up singing. But when I can't sing well, I will.