Life is not perfect. It never will be. You just have to make the very best of it, and you have to open your heart to what the world can show you; and sometimes it's terrifying, and sometimes it's incredibly beautiful, and I'll take both. Thanks.
Generally, my writing is influenced by living, by absorbing everything that happens to me and my actions.
There really is a kind of insane beauty around us all the time. It's just a question of learning to slow down, take a deep breath and meet the moment.
Teach your children well...and feed them on your dreams...Don't ever ask them why. If they told you you would cry. So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
When I was born in 1942, World War II was still going. And I began to realize when I became a young adult that if we don't teach our kids a better way of relating to their fellow human beings, the very future of humanity on the planet is in jeopardy.
Teach your children well, so they don't live in off-campus group houses and throw loud parties while I'm trying to sleep.
There is a great correlation between music and images.
I still have an insane drive to create and express myself, and it'll never stop because I don't know how to stop it.
We can't forget what happened on May 4th, 1970, when four students gave up their lives because they had the American constitutional right of peaceful protest. They gave up their lives. And to sing that song in that spot on that anniversary was very emotional for us.
I began to realize that photographs, these still images, have a tremendous power to move your soul. They can change your life by what you choose to get out of them, and I started to collect photographs.
I wasnt thinking of the longevity of any of my songs, but I am extremely pleased with the lasting effect.
You know, every year has been fantastic for me, I'm still here, I'm still alive and it's been fantastic.
People like Beck and Shawn Colvin are some of the people I listen to lately.
If every human being disappeared off the face of the earth in an instant, the earth would still keep spinning and the planet would develop new life forms.
I don't have to ask anyone's permission to do anything. It's nice not have to get decisions out of three, sometimes four people, which can be like pulling teeth. So the amount of control that I have over what I'm doing is better for me as a solo artist.
One of the great things about rap music... it leaves a lot to be desired, as far as I'm concerned, musically, but I do recognize the very important place that it has in music and in creating role models for younger kids to emulate, giving them the dream that they can make it out of whatever situation they're in.
Just with the basic one guitar, one piano and one vocal and an audience, I think that the intimacy comes through more. People feel much more connected to the song because there's nothing in the way, and I actually enjoy doing that.
Do you know anybody under 25 that gives a damn whether you marry a man if you're a man or if you marry a woman if you're a woman? No.
One can't deny what has happened to us in the past. The secret is to enjoy and be proud of the music we've created and the people with whom we have been linked. It's all a long chain of involvement in the world, and we are proud to be yet another link in this chain.
The Hollies, after I left in 1968, had the audacity, the gall, to have three number one records after I left. Thanks a lot, guys.
I fail to see the issue that will shock the people of this great country of ours into some decisive action.
I don't understand why anyone would collect my work. Please understand... it's like writing Our House. It took me an hour, it was 30 years ago, get over it! But people say, No, no, it changed my life, and I don't understand that. I can't take that seriously as a producer of what I consider to be art. If they want to collect it, fantastic. If you see what I saw when I took it and it means something to you, then by all means collect it. If I make some money, um, fine.
Being in a different band always brings great musical experiences to be able to draw on.
I find it somewhat difficult to write with other people, although it has happened occasionally.
I've been a photographer all these years... I haven't been in my own darkroom for 10 years.
