These critics with the illusions they've created about artists - it's like idol worship. They only like people when they're on their way up... I cannot be on the way up again.

Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed.

I found I was having continually to please the sort of people I'd always hated when I was a child. This began to bring me back to reality.

I started being me about the songs, not writing objectively, but subjectively. I think it was Dylan who helped me realize that - not by any discussion or anything, but by hearing his work.

There were very few real folk singers you know, though I liked Dominic Behan a bit and there was some good stuff to be heard in Liverpool. Just occasionally you hear very old records on the radio or TV of real workers in Ireland or somewhere singing these songs and the power of them is fantastic.

Music is everybody's possession.

Happiness is just how you feel when you don't feel miserable.