At 82, Nelson (who wrote the song "On the Road Again," among a thousand or more others) is the elder statesman of country music, a steadying and powerful voice in the industry and on environmental issues, and he's still on the road much of the year. The music keeps calling.

All I do is play music and golf - which one do you want me to give up?

I think most art comes out of poverty and hard times.

How would you like to bite that in the ass, develop lock jaw and be dragged to death?

You could try to live monogamously. Good luck.

But if you think of all the people who don't like me, just think of all the millions who've never heard of me!

Be gentle with your words - you can't take them back.