I think there are shades of political songs; some are more subtle and can be more effective for being subtle, for being more metaphorical. I've written a lot of songs like that, where it's not really clear if it's a war song or a relationship song. The metaphor can be the most powerful thing of all, but sometimes you have to speak more clearly to more people, and I think this is one of those times.

People want to hear about the extremes of human nature. They want things that are larger than their own lives, and more romantic, and not necessarily of their own experiences.

I try to make songs visual and tactile to kind of put you into the action.

All audiences should be slightly off balance.

You want the audience to be uncomfortable.

But music can save your life sometimes. It probably saved me from working in a bank or something. That's a kind of salvation right there.

I probably wrote three-quarters of the songs without an instrument in my hands.