A different drumbeat or some vocal overdub could completely transform the song.

Sadness is not always the worst feeling. Sometimes it's a really pleasurable thing to be overwhelmed with sadness.

I don't want somebody telling my daughter who she can marry, or what she can do with her body. That's what was at stake.

Music has got a community vibe to it that pulls people together, and those communities are different in different places.

Weirdly, I was still trying to be the older brother, and trying to get him [Tom Berninger] to try to be more like me a little bit. Or not be more like me but... I was frustrated that he sometimes let things stop him in his life, and he let the wind get knocked out of his sails a few times.

I've never had so much fun being back at my job sitting in front of my computer. Compared to 10 months on the road, going home and sleeping in my own bed every night is really nice.

Not all the songs are real events, but I do write about stuff that is close to my heart and it comes out one way or another.