For me, I was somebody who was a smart young guy who didn't do very well in school. The basic system of education, I didn't fit in my intelligence was elsewhere.

But then I go through long periods where I don't listen to things, usually when I'm working. In between the records and in between the writing I suck up books and music and movies and anything I can find.

Certainly tolerance and acceptance were at the forefront of my music.

Adult life is dealing with an enormous amount of questions that don't have answers. So I let the mystery settle into my music. I don't deny anything, I don't advocate anything, I just live with it.

Some of the greatest blues music is some of the darkest music you've ever heard.

The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with.

I can sing very comfortably from my vantage point because a lot of the music was about a loss of innocence, there's innocence contained in you but there's also innocence in the process of being lost.

I always wanted my music to influence the life you were living emotionally - with your family, your lover, your wife, and, at a certain point, with your children.

I think that is what film and art and music do they can work as a map of sorts for your feelings.

And whether you're drawn to gospel music or church music or honky-tonk music, it informs your character and it informs your talent.