I cannot start a story or chapter without knowing how it ends. ... Of course, it rarely ends that way.

Poor creatures. What did we do to you? With all our schemes and plans?

There is certainly a satisfaction and dignity to be gained in coming to terms with the mistakes one has made in the course of one’s life

I realised, of course, that other people used these roads; but that night, it seemed to me these dark byways of the country existed just for the likes of us, while the big glittering motorways with their huge signs and super cafes were for everyone else.

People were incredibly kind to our family and went out of their way to help.

Even at the time, I realised this couldn't be right, that this interpretation didn't fit with the rest of the lyrics. But that wasn't an issue with me. The song was about what I said, and I used to listen to it again and again, on my own, whenever I got the chance.

I grew up in Britain before it became a multicultural place, so in many ways I have a nostalgia for an England that's vanished - the England of my childhood has actually disappeared.