A song must move the story ahead. A song must take the place of dialogue. If a song halts the show, pushes it back, stalls it, the audience won't buy it; they'll be unhappy.

In a show or a movie, one must work with many people. Many women just don't have the time for it.

Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again.

A song just doesn't come on. I've always had to tease it out, squeeze it out.

There aren't more lady songwriters for the same reason that there aren't more lady doctors or lady accountants or lady lawyers; not enough women have the time for careers.

Keep it in tune with the times, but don't write with the specific purpose of trying to create a hit. If you're doing it strictly to make money, you're crazy. There are easier ways to make money.

Just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street.