There's nothing like the eureka moment of knocking off a song that didn't exist before - I won't compare it to sex, but it lasts longer.

Sometimes you write a song in a certain era and it's got a certain kind of significance.

One may not eat what has a face.

Think globally, act locally.

My so-called career is a haphazard thing.

I did study Shakespeare, that was sort of my thing; I got a Literature A-level, which is my only claim to academic fame.

I doubt very much if The Beatles would have happened if it was not for Elvis.