As a kid, I did want to be an old-timer, since they were the ones with the big stories and the cool clothes. I wanted to go there. Now, I guess I want to bring that with me and go back in time.

For a songwriter, you dont really go to songwriting school; you learn by listening to tunes.

I've never been a fan of personality-conflict burgers and identity-crisis omelets with patchouli oil. I function very well on a diet that consists of Chicken Catastrophe and Eggs Overwhelming and a tall, cool Janitor-in-a-Drum. I like to walk out of a restaurant with enough gas to open a Mobil station.

Your old home town's so far away, but inside your head there's a record that's playing, a song called 'Hold On

Well it's hotter 'n blazes and all the long faces / there'll be no oasis for a dry local grazier

I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things.

When you're a kid and you're trying to find your own voice, it's rather daunting to hear somebody like Howlin' Wolf, because you know that you'll never achieve that.