I don't care how good a song is. If it holds back the storyline, stalls the plot, your audience will reject it.

A songwriter should have friends who are similarly interested; should move about in the milieu of work he has chosen for himself.

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.

I began to be impressed by what made a good book-how you needed to have a sensible story, a plot that developed, with a beginning, a middle, and an end that would tie everything together.

I don't care how good a song is. If it holds back the storyline, stalls the plot, your audience will reject it.

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

The songwriter mustn't fall in love with his own song. If it doesn't belong, he can't push it into a show. Let him save it; maybe it'll fit in another show.