Sometimes what I'm writing is more important to me than the rest of my life. It's more important to me that I'm writing well than anything else.

I like to write my lyrics on clay tablets.

The best of my songs are more than just a joke. There's something else going on - a character, or it's not just a plain joke.

We don't know our ass from a hole in the ground.

To get nominated by the Republican Party you've got to be pretty reactionary, really.

If getting on the radio was a major motivation, I'd be one of the worst writers of all time. I admire people who do it, and I think it's a nice way to work, but I try to do the best I can and write what I like. I don't worry about it.

You know, they say you can reduce genius to someone who spent 10,000 hours trying to get good at something. I'm not claiming either one of those. I haven't done anything for 10,000 hours but sleep. But you do stuff enough, you get better at it. Usually it's a simple thing like that. Essentially, a brainless endeavor.