The Blue album, there’s hardly a dishonest note in the vocals. At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world and I couldn’t pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there, either.

When you reach that kind of successful pinnacle, it is the nature of the business and the press and everything that they go about tearing you down.

I hang my laundry on the line when I write.

You win the lasting laurels with your laughter.

My individual, psychological descent coincided, ironically, with my ascent into the public eye.

All the news of home you read, more about the war and of bloody changes.

When the spirit of child's play enters into the creative process, it's a wonderful force and something to be nurtured.