Because of my song 'Sam Stone,' a lot of people thought I was interested in writing protest songs. Writing protest songs always struck me as patting yourself on the back.

On the best day, there's no context for the moment. Often, the best writing and pieces have been lost to not having been digitized.

When I was writing the song, I thought that these people have entire lives in there. They're not writers, but they all have stories to tell. Some are very, very down deeper than others.

All there is to writing is having ideas. To learn to write is to learn to have ideas.

There is nothing like writing to force you to think and get your thoughts straight.

Talking is a hydrant in the yard and writing is a faucet upstairs in the house. Opening the first takes the pressure off the second.