The hallmark of an artist is generosity.

You know, the thing that struck me about Civil War music was how bloody it was; it was full of hatred. There was incredible vitriol in it.

I don't want to make music for people who don't care about music.

Music was the medium through which knowledge was passed from generation to generation.

I'm not stupid enough to want to be famous. But I would like to be able to earn a living playing music.

Probably the deepest use of music and of art is to create conscience.

Listen, the story of the United States is this: One kid, without anything, walks out of his house, down the road, with nothing but a guitar and conquers the world. And we've done that again, and again, and again – Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Rogers, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters.