American Quotes

I heard someone in opposition to reform last night criticize the president for saying it's their money. They said it's not their money; it's my mother's money. Well that's what's wrong with the system.

Every state in America has an end of life directive or durable power of attorney provision. For the peace of mind of your children and your spouse as well as the comfort of knowing the government won't make these decisions, it's a very popular thing. Just not everybody's aware of it.

Commercial real estate always trails residential, and as residential growth flourishes, shopping centers flourish and service the communities, and jobs come out.

I'm in showbusiness. I'm an entertainer.

I'm a natural ham. It doesn't bother me to perform.

I write my own songs, and I only see their flaws.

I wear a lot of second hand clothes unless I have a concert and then I wear beaded and sequined second hand clothes. No stylist dresses me although I do have a woman that assists me with the buttons.

I think I've had the slowest, most methodical career in the business.

I think I'm in a really nice position, where I'm sure I could do another show if I wanted to do one, but right now the main thing in my mind is writing songs.

I think I had kind of an advantage. When I was growing up, my dad had just got out of jail and he had a great record collection. He had - it was all - these were the songs. So I heard a lot of these songs, like, my whole life, so for me it was easy. I already knew what I was going to sing.

I think as far as self-promotion goes, I probably have a lot to learn.

I remember listening to the radio as a kid and finding that the songs always made me feel more peaceful. Funny, but the more hurtin' the music was, the better it made me feel. I think of that now when I write my songs. I may not be feelin' the blues myself, but I'm writing them for other people who

I put music on and I drive around town.

I never set out to write a certain kind of song, I just play my guitar and see if I catch something.

I keep things pretty simple.

I hate modern car radios. In my car, I don't even have a push-button radio. It's just got a dial and two knobs. Just AM. One knob makes it louder, and one knob changes the station. When you're driving, that's all I want.

I got by as a musician since day one. I don't live beyond my means. I have real cheap tastes.

I don't think I've had a more miserable life than a lot of people. I think I've had a pretty lucky life.

I don't spend as much time on my hair as people think. I get out of the shower, whack some grease on there and I'm done.

I didn't grow up in the typical happy American home, but music was always a safe and wonderful place for me to go.

I come from a small town and I come from a background where we didn't have money to travel. I thought I'd have to join the military to get to Europe. So I'm thrilled to travel.

I blow up fireworks all the time, and I love making milkshakes and banana splits.

Any time you talk about your own stuff you sound self-aggrandising.

There was a misconception about me when I started off because I had my hair greased up and I have some vague resemblance to the hillbilly gene pool that Elvis came from. People would say, 'You want to be Elvis' and I would say, 'No'.

My advice is: if you've got to be miserable to write great music, then drive a truck.

When people ask me really stupid questions or get it really wrong, I feel embarrassed for them. I don't really feel angry at them.

I talk to people who are musicians, and they go, Oh this is hell. And I go, Are you kidding me? You never put tar paper on a roof, did ya?

I still don't know if I'm good enough or if it's a calling or a vocation or something, but the talent part is out. My desire to do it is undoubted. I just love doing this.

I visited Jobs for the last time in his Palo Alto, Calif., home. He had moved to a downstairs bedroom because he was too weak to go up and down stairs. He was curled up in some pain, but his mind was still sharp and his humor vibrant.

I think when you're looking for people to interview, you want to make it fair and honest. You're not just bringing people on so you can beat them up or, you know, make fools out of them or something.