The creative core of New York has never been native New Yorkers; it's people from all over the world.

Sympathetic characters usually have a voice. They usually don't have any trouble being heard.

Maybe I'm not as big a star as Bruce Springsteen because I'm not as good. I don't know. It doesn't matter. I still have an audience of a certain size. I think it's one of the things I'm luckiest.

The revolution starts now.

I can deal with conservatives in a democracy. With real conservatives, I don't agree with them, but I understand why they believe what they believe and I believe they're being honest with me about it.

My gift's primarily literary. That being said, I ended up a musician. By the time I made the bluegrass record...I'm more impressed with myself when I push the envelope musically than I am when I push it literality.

At home, I'm lucky if I can write three or four hours before the phone starts ringing and the kids want to go to soccer.