What has changed for me is that I now have a huge family [Lightfoot has four children, from his first two marriages] - the result of my living.

I was in Britain that year [1963] and some music publishing people in Denmark Street in London suggested me to the BBC. So I found myself in front of a British television show, which was a nice surprise.

It was very interesting time to be in England. Even at that point [John] Lennon and [Paul] McCartney influenced my writing. I thought, "maybe there is a huck or two in here I haven't thought of".

If there's a reason for the way that life is I'd like to find it. After all, who's life is it?

I got to sing solo in the junior choir when I was 10 or 11 and won a competition, and my sister's piano playing improved to a certain level. One time my sister and I worked together. The first song we ever sang in High School was Rags to Riches by Tony Bennett.

Give me a wave I can ride upon, come and show your strength to me.

I can see her lying back in her faded dress in a room where do what you don't confess.