Songwriter Quotes

There is nothing more personal than your values. What you will and won't do to get ahead, the lines you will and won't cross to win, whom you will and won't step on for personal gain, are at the very core of your code of honor. And your code of honor determines your character. And your character is who you are. Behind closed doors. When nobody is watching.

Is the cabin still left standing? Has the rich man need of all?
Is the children's birthplace taken now within the new park wall?

Helen Blackwood, Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye

The only reason people go to bars is to get drunk and have sex. To me, bars are what hell is like.

Why are so many religious people arguing about the origin of the species but so few concerned about the extinction of the species?

I have decided long ago that my songs and ballads would not get the hugs and kisses of the capitalistic experts.

There are all different shades of blues. There's all different shades of singer.

Eyes open wide, looking at the heavens with a tear in my eye.

Richard Ashcroft

I didn't like the music business and I didn't like me. There's an element of falseness about the whole thing. Even things like doing an interview. It's not as though we just met in the pub and are having a chat — it's part of a process. If you do it all day, every day for years, you end up thinking: 'Who the hell am I?' I was lucky enough to make some money, enough to let me kick back. It was a great experience and it was nice to have a couple of No.1s but the best thing about it was that the money I made allowed me to have freedom and choice in my life.

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose, And nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free.

Kris Kristofferson

We won't have a thing
So we've got nothing to lose…

But more I cannot wish you Than to wish you find your love Your own true love this day.

You have to blow off your family. You have to blow off comfort. You have to blow off money.... You have to blow off your ego. You have to blow off everything except your guitar.

Townes Van Zandt

There are only two stories: either you go forward or you die.

I'm a man of means by no means
King of the road.

I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' 'bout half-past dead I just need some place where I can lay my head. "Hey, mister, can you tell where a man might find a bed?" He just grinned and shook my hand; "No" was all he said.

Robbie Robertson

The Internet isn't my thing. I so much rather talk on the phone.

People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.

I never did feel like a star. I was always uptight about something and uncomfortable and not very good. I felt weighed down by it, the pressure. It's terrible I should have enjoyed it but I didn't; I was thinking about what we should do all the time, I wasn't able to run with it.

The ephemeral nature of live performance is the part I love most - it's a monk's sand painting, carefully constructed, then wiped away in an instant.

I was tired of the bullying. I was tired of being pushed down so that I couldn't say my beliefs. And being fearful of losing sales. Losing fans. Losing bookings. Losing contracts and sponsorship. You know, that's my day to day. And a lot of my friends have the same thing. And we live in Hollywood, which is supposed to be the most open viewpoint city. But the truth is there was a lot of hate and a lot of negativity and I wanted to change the storyline to love and support and unity as an American.

To love you was pleasant enough. And, oh! 'tis delicious to hate you!

I always went in for that Wagnerian approach to rock and roll.

No matter what they say the time has come
I'm ready now to start a new beginning
With all our hopes and all our dreams
And I know the stars will shine for you and for me
From the moment you believe.

What are the wild waves saying,
Sister, the whole day long,
That ever amid our playing
I hear but their low, lone song?

Joseph Edwards Carpenter

Any old place I can hang my hat is home sweet home to me.