Quotes By Lucinda Williams

I grew up in a very literate, very independent household where people spoke their ideas and were very supportive of helping each other find their own way.

I guess you could write a good song if your heart hadn't been broken, but I don't know of anyone whose heart hasn't been broken.

I'm always coming up with ideas that have been inspired by memories, everyday life and this and that and the other.

I usually have an idea of how I want a song to sound, but I don't always know how to get there.

It's really about living in your head... just looking out at the world, then going back into your head and tossing around a lot of ideas and coming out with something interesting to say.

I'm trying to learn how to tap into the power of my own being. I know it sounds corny.

We just did a few takes of a song and just picked the best one. It was real organic and genuine.

I've had trouble being in relationships and writing. This has been a real problem for me. I don't know if it's because I'm not free to fantasize or create these fantasy things about other people.

I just broke up with my boyfriend, and I've been spending more time alone than I'd like.

There's so many other things to write about than unrequited love.

The way I look at life, whatever I'm doing at that time in my life is going to be reflected in my songs, for the most part.

I'm trying to get out of my own way.

I'm just like everyone. I like to feel togetherness with someone.

Back in the 1960s, I saw Peter, Paul and Mary. I was at that age, about 14, and I was mesmerized.

I write first for myself as a therapeutic process, to get stuff out and to deal with it.

I have to try different things to see what works best. Other people get impatient with that.

I'd rather play a few nights at the Fillmore than play one night at an arena.

I love Emmylou Harris's version of my song, 'Sweet Old World.' Her intonation is great.

I don't mean to complain. I wouldn't trade my life for anything.

If you come into success too soon, you'll burn out and be finished before you know it. If you let the maturation process happen naturally, you'll be happier with yourself in the end.

The man I lived with is a Christian, so I would talk to him about it. What would this person do in the Bible? What's the story around this person? Generally, when people talk about characters in the Bible, there's one thing they're known for, like Job.

My approach to recording and all that is pretty organic. It just has to do with all the songs I wrote; go in and record them.

Sometimes I might borrow something from a song I started a long time ago and see if I can grab something.

I can speak for most songwriters - those breakup love songs are so easy to write, as far as the inspiration and all that.

I'm fascinated by the whole concept of snake handling. When you read about the Pentecostal snake handlers, what strikes you the most is their commitment.

I'm not just a doormat. I'm not just being stepped on all over the place. If you look at the bulk of my material, it's about trying to find some strength through that.

I feel a lot more comfortable being me these days. I'm constantly told that my work is good. A lot of fans and a lot of other artists say my songs and albums mean a lot to them. Isn't that what's important?

Of course, I'm older now. I'm in a different place in my life than when I wrote the songs for 'Car Wheels' or 'Essence' or whatever. Different things were going on.

I started writing more with my voice in mind.

The old jazz singers or old blues singers, you always just saw them kind of sitting down and singing. They weren't worried as much about their voice sounding perfect. They would make the song kind of fit their voice.