Songs Quotes

This is not a rock opera. This is not Tommy. I can write songs that emote, and that's it.

I think music needs to be presented in a way so that kids can grasp songs, dances, simple music that's associated with some particular defining moment in human experience.

I was probably 7 years old when I started playing the guitar and writing some serious songs.

Happy songs are very difficult to write. How many truly great upbeat songs are there?

You know, when you're making a record, you come up with 15, 20 songs. Then they start to fall by the wayside as your interest wanes. It's kind of like a process of elimination to determine which songs wind up on the record.

The thing I always default to is that I'll always be here to write songs.

I love my songs, let's not get crazy here.

I had been stockpiling Gospel songs for other artists, and had planned to submit them to Gospel artists.

I write most of my songs when I'm in a bad mood.

I knew the words to 25 rock songs, so I got in the group. Long Tall Sally and Tutti-Frutti, that got me in. That was my audition.

After a while, though, the group just wasn't a good vehicle for the songs I'd written.

I am a big Beatles fan. And, you know, unbeknownst to anyone, I used to be one. But I have no problems of putting titles and lines from other songs in my songs, because they're great lines and great titles.

I don't care what people say about my relationship; I don't care what they say about my boobs. People are buying my songs; I have a sold-out tour. I'm getting incredible feedback from my music.

I could name a few songs and say exactly what summer they came out and what boy I thought I was in love with when I was fourteen years old, but I think that music used to be really more a part of the culture when people went out dancing in a different way than they do now.

I wasn't thinking of the longevity of any of my songs, but I am extremely pleased with the lasting effect.

Well, I'd had the Fat Mattress earlier as a writing outlet for songs and that.

When I'm writing, I'm constantly thinking about myself, because it's the only experience I have to draw on. And I don't see an exact reflection of myself in every face in the audience, but I know that my songs have validity to them, and that's why the fans are there.

There's a bootleg album that was recorded when I was 14 or 15, a compilation of things live at different clubs. Songs like Girl from Ipanema and Cry Me A River. I don't know what the title of it is.

Prince used to call me up 3am in the morning and invite me to hear some of his new songs.

I learned the songs and played the gigs, and then they called me about a month later. They told me they were like super stoked on me and asked me to join their band.

Then I decided I couldn't just crawl in the corner and die, so I started putting pen to paper and wrote some songs. I had no idea what for or who I was going to work with. I tried to find my way and direction.

I think often sadness is a great place to get songs from.

Before, I was terrified on stage. I only play guitar during the acoustic songs. After a while, you can elicit certain responses from the crowd, like Elvis.

I think that people respond to honesty in music, so I only choose songs that are the truth for me.

I would be content if I had nothing but a tape-recorder. I could still write songs and record them.

I did a couple songs with this hip-hop guy named Tim Dark. He was working in the same studio I've been working in, he heard my music and he said, aw man, I've got to do something with you.

I'm a songwriter, principally, and I was real excited that people liked my songs, but you get a bit of an ego about it.

'The Beatles' did whatever they wanted. They were a collection of influences adapted to songs they wanted to write. George Harrison was instrumental in bringing in Indian music. Paul McCartney was a huge Little Richard fan. John Lennon was into minimalist aggressive rock.

I hardly ever listen to any of our old stuff now. Once the songs have been recorded and put on to vinyl they become someone else's entertainment, not mine.

There are so many songs that we just don't play anymore.