If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once a week.

The loss of these tastes [for poetry and music] is a loss of happiness, and may possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character, by enfeebling the emotional part of our nature.

At certain times I read a lot of poetry. My favorite poets are Shelley and Keats. Rimbaud is so identifiable. Lord Byron. I don't know. Lately if I read poems, it's like I can always hear the guitar. Even with Shakespeare's sonnets I can hear a melody because it's all broken up into timed phrases so I hear it. I always keep thinking, 'What kind of song would this be?'

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.

Words are more powerful than some noises. Noises won't last long. Lyrics are so important, and people don't realize that.

I consider myself a poet first and a musician second. I live like a poet and I'll die like a poet.