Art is by nature optimistic. Art is optimistic because it is alive.

I don't think people should do biopics of living people. I'm totally opposed to that.

I started thinking what could happen with my art and I realized that the biggest thing that could is that it winds up in a museum. It's like finding a rare animal and putting it in the zoo.

I'm here right now and I want now to be the greatest time.

I wasn't a stranger to hard times. I used to read the Bible - well, I still do, but when I was young I read the Bible quite a bit.

Poetry is a solitary process. One does not write poetry for the masses. Poetry is a self-involved, lofty pursuit. Songs are for the people. When I'm writing a song, I imagine performing it. I imagine giving it. It's a different aspect of communication. It's for the people.

We never had any children," he said ruefully. "Our work was our children.