The first thing that has to happen is the protection of voting rights and registration.
We never had a girl in the band. Why? Certainly there's some rippin' female players in our kind of music. We have no objection to it. It'd be wonderful.
I enjoy writing songs that could have been written before [my time]. When I feel like I'm tapping into a deep vein in the body of American music, it gives me strength as a writer, like I'm dipping my pen into a deep ink well. That's the folk music tradition. Like Pete Seeger said, 'Everyone's a link in the chain. ' It's a strong chain, so rely on it. . . . I believe it takes all those great songs in the past to make your song even a little bit good.
I think it is good for people who are incarcerated or who are bound up one way or the other-people like Lily Kimball and all the prostitues of Memphis. This gal, she needs some wings, and a good song can make that happen.
It’s bound to be one hell of a steel wheelin, railroadin good time…while the western country rolls by and the smoke rises blacker than musical notes pouring out of that stoked-up-and-chuggin iron chariot.
Because music gets you high, so it makes sense to sing about what else gets you high.
Like anybody else of my era, I listened to a whole lot of Michael Jackson. I guess I was probably inspired by the way he danced, and the way he sang, and his image.
If you can see it, and if you know your color, you can paint it.
Those who cannot feel the littleness of great things in themselves are apt to overlook the greatness of little things in others.
We had so much fun together as friends that I suggested we [with Kate DiCamillo] write a book together.
My mom has always said that you don't know what love is until you've had a child.