Above all, the listener should be able to understand the poem or the song, not be forced to unravel a complicated, self-indulgent puzzle. Offer your art up to the whole world, not just an elite few.

I'm always writing ideas down and then I stick em in my pocket and put em in that folder so I don't lose them. Like, somebody might say something, and I'll go, oh that's a good line, and that goes in the folder, too. It's kind of an ongoing process for me.

I have had to come to terms with wearing glasses.

Some of their best songs don't have bridges and choruses. So that made me think I should trust my instincts. My songs were okay, I figured. I didn't need to change anything.

I love Emmylou Harris's version of my song, 'Sweet Old World.' Her intonation is great.

We just did a few takes of a song and just picked the best one. It was real organic and genuine.

I can speak for most songwriters - those breakup love songs are so easy to write, as far as the inspiration and all that.