I've often written about places that are totally different from anything I know. Sometimes they turn out better.

But if you're doing something, show up everyday, and something good might happen - it's not going to happen if you don't show up.

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.

I've written a song for Prince. I never showed it to Prince, but just to see if I could do it. At the time, when I sort of knew him, he was recording a song a day. I wondered if I could do that. So I wrote it.

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.

I like to write my lyrics on clay tablets.

I once had dinner with Madonna and I wasn't nervous but within about a minute I found myself talking about underwear.