I grew up wearing black arm-bands when the hunger strikers died. I went on those marches. I grew up basically a Provo, though I never obviously got into any activities. I was writing 'IRA, Brits out' on walls all over where I grew up, but that was a false sense of Irishness.

There's this unspoken thing that you have to wear a tux and some kind of nice dress. There are all these ethical rules, but I'm sure if you came to the Oscars in ripped jeans and a t-shirt they wouldn't throw you out. You would just look like a fool.

And I've always loved playing solo.

As a busker, one thing that does not work is self-consciousness. A busker needs to be working. A busker needs to shed all ego and get down to work. Play your songs, play them well, earn your money, and don't get in people's way.

Our imagination it is our greatest ally . . . Imagination is a very, very powerful thing. It literally invents the path before you.

I guess in a way I just feel blessed to be able to make music.

A song is like a saddle: you ride it for a while, and if it's the right kind of song you can sing it for the rest of your life.