"I think of these things as obstacles rather than opportunities, because if they were opportunities it means I actually took the business of doing them seriously. To take myself too seriously is the gentle kiss of death."

"What I do and what I record only work for the moment."

"I extract what I consider the best material from different sources. But often the material I perform comes from a very strange location in history, which are minstrel shows."

"I'm sad and blue, about nobody but you. I told you that I loved you right from the start, you told me the same and now you try to break my little heart."

"It can even be a single note which defines the entire song."

"Lonesome. Lonesome. I know what it means. Here all by my lonesome, dreaming empty dreams. Weary. Weary at the close of day, wondering if tomorrow brings me joy or sorrow."