The songs are not necessarily autobiographical. A lot of songs are a combination of influences. It might be some part of my life, or something I've felt, or something somebody's told me. It all comes together.

People's real hopes and dreams can be distorted and misdirected and packaged until you're not sure what you really want or what you even really need.

As a child I always had a sense of social conditions and political situations. I think it had to do with the fact that my mother was always discussing things with my sister and me - also because I read a lot.

I found myself in the middle of a race riot when I was about 14 years old, and I found someone pointing a gun at me and telling me to run or they'd shoot me.

Have faith in humankind a respect for what is earthly and an unfaltering belief in peace and understanding

I learn all these things about the record talking about it after it's finished.

I don't try to project any image at all, other than the person that I am.