I was born on this mountain, this mountains my home, she holds me and keeps me from worry and woe.

The drama teacher that I had in high school, back in Texas, was the only teacher who didn't kick me out of his class. He turned me on to 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.' I had picked up Dylan with 'Bringing It All Back Home,' and he turned me on to the first couple of albums, which I hadn't heard.

From the moment [Bob] Dylan arrived as a songwriter, he was [so] much better than everybody else around.

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.

Woody Guthrie was what folks who don't believe in anything would call an anomaly.

I'm a very disciplined person when it comes to my work, but discipline can't save m from being a drug addict.

When I write something simple I'm always really proud of it. When you write something that simple with that much air in it and the whole premise behind it is something pretty obvious - that everybody wants to be happy and free - the song is sort of an exercise in not forgetting that's what you really want and what you really need. We can get caught up in a lot of other stuff.