I sometimes wonder how many of these lifetime achievement awards you can accept before you have to do the decent thing and die.

If you think my music is sentimental and self-absorbed, I agree with you.

Ireland, Italy and Brazil are the most musical places for me. They're extremely musical cultures and anything you pitch they basically catch.

There'll come a writing phase where you have to defend the time, unplug the phone and put in the hours to get it done.

Music is my living. I enjoy selling my music.

I know there are people who don't like their audience or like the experience of being recognized or celebrated, but my audience has been very good - they don't bother me and when they do contact me it's usually on the nicest possible terms.

Bruce Springsteen's a rock star. Elton John is a rock star. I'm a folk musician. Honestly, I think that's true.