The sad truth is that opportunity doesn't knock twice.

There are so many difficult things we're living through in the world today, so many horrible events, but we cannot let them stop us. No matter what happens, I feel you must move forward with optimism and not get totally sideswiped.

All I tell artists is, 'Do what you love. Never let anybody talk you into changing what your musical idea is just to try to get a hit, because you're chasing your tail that way. It's not going to happen, and if you're successful, you have to do it the rest of your life. Stay true to it and do it for the sake of the art.'

My mother had a beautiful, soothing voice that made me melt.

The challenge is always as a writer, is this going to work, because it's a very intimate process, and I tend to be very introverted and insular, and when I write, it's in my head.

We protect aspirin bottles in this country better than we protect guns from accidents by children.

I spent 15 years on the road between touring and recording and I never saw anything. I want to enjoy life.