I have a structured songwriting process. I start with the music and try to come up with musical ideas, then the melody, then the hook, and the lyrics come last. Some people start with the lyrics first because they know what they want to talk about and they just write a whole bunch of lyrical ideas,
“I don't really care if people get upset. I think I'm doing my job if people get upset; I want them to think! We all want them to think, hopefully.”
“After September 11, I got to understand a little bit of his deep love for this country.”