Finding clothes in the South was impossible.

My parents split up when I was about 2. I realize more and more how much I'm like my father. My gentleness comes from my mother.

I don't think I have any right to say I belong to that [Woody Guthrie/Bob Dylan tradition]. I think that's something that eventually maybe you get inducted into. I'm just experimenting.

On the road, I weigh 168. At home, ten more.

You have to live what you write, or you have to know it. There are exceptions, like story songs, where you just have to have your facts straight. But I think you don't have to live a hard life to be a good or interesting songwriter.

What I'm doing is basically the same as Bob Dylan did with folk songs and Woody Guthrie songs, the same as folk music's always done. I'm not going to sing about ploughing, but I'll write a song that sounds like it should be about ploughing.

I know I'm never going to be a big pop star, because I'm not willing to conform.