I'm an artist first and foremost. So things are gonna go up and down and sideways and whichever way all through life.

It's really about living in your head... just looking out at the world, then going back into your head and tossing around a lot of ideas and coming out with something interesting to say.

I don't want to beat people over the head with my political views. It's more about the humanitarian aspect of it.

You can't really praise somebody's work and then criticize the process.

I'm fascinated by the whole concept of snake handling. When you read about the Pentecostal snake handlers, what strikes you the most is their commitment.

People seemed to think, you get to a certain age or you get married or you, you're comfortable. And so now there's nothing to write about: that angst is gone. The youthful angst. And that just hasn't happened with me.

I started writing songs, I guess, when I was about 13 or 14, but I didn't know if they were good enough yet or anything.