My father was a dreamy fellow - he read Plato and Socrates and watched Phillies games.

I think I work in two worlds. I'll always try to kick through a wall. I did that when I was younger and I still have my way of doing that.

He found it was as easy to hurl beauty as anything else. (On Robert Mapplethorpe)

First of all, anybody who has lasted 30 and went through the 60's is really a survivor.

Often the simplest song is the hardest to write.

I want to be around a really long time. I want to be a thorn in the side of everything as long as possible.

I've never felt grounded because of my ancestry or my gender. I think until women get away from that they're not going to be great writers.