I wish I was as sure about things as Bill Monroe was sure about things.

Part of it is, I think, just to let people know you've got a record out there and that you're still alive requires more work than it used to, because the traditional radio, bug chains of record stores, all of that, that doesn't exist anymore.

I don't spend a lot of time feeling sorry for myself, trying to compare how many records I've sold or how much money I've made.

Or you can be like the Soviet Union, start out with ideals, and end up ceasing to exist.

I'm constantly warning people that are involved in my life that I can go busk and make a living. I can make my rent in New York City in the subway, I promise, if I'm forced to.

All we do as songwriters is rewrite the songs that have impressed us till we find our own voice. It's part of learning the craft.

I'm not a Democrat; I'm something well to the left of a Democrat, but I'm just realistic about the system.