LUCINDA WILLIAMS

I'm going to have my moody times.

People let their own hang-ups become the obstacles between them and personal happiness.

I write first for myself as a therapeutic process, to get stuff out and to deal with it.

I'm just like everyone. I like to feel togetherness with someone.

There's so many other things to write about than unrequited love.

I'm not just a doormat. I'm not just being stepped on all over the place. If you look at the bulk of my material, it's about trying to find some strength through that.

So few people are truly themselves when they're in the spotlight.

You can't really praise somebody's work and then criticize the process.

I guess you could write a good song if your heart hadn't been broken, but I don't know of anyone whose heart hasn't been broken.

I have had to come to terms with wearing glasses.

I can speak for most songwriters - those breakup love songs are so easy to write, as far as the inspiration and all that.

I'm fascinated by the whole concept of snake handling. When you read about the Pentecostal snake handlers, what strikes you the most is their commitment.

Of course, I'm older now. I'm in a different place in my life than when I wrote the songs for 'Car Wheels' or 'Essence' or whatever. Different things were going on.

Some of their best songs don't have bridges and choruses. So that made me think I should trust my instincts. My songs were okay, I figured. I didn't need to change anything.

You should put time into learning your craft. It seems like people want success so quickly, way before they're ready.

First thing, I throw on some jeans, a T-shirt and my Keds sneakers and make coffee. That is actually my favorite time of day. That is when I do my songwriting, when I am in writing mode.

The old jazz singers or old blues singers, you always just saw them kind of sitting down and singing. They weren't worried as much about their voice sounding perfect. They would make the song kind of fit their voice.

I'd rather play a few nights at the Fillmore than play one night at an arena.

I don't mean to complain. I wouldn't trade my life for anything.

We just did a few takes of a song and just picked the best one. It was real organic and genuine.

I mean, whose songs don't focus on tragedy and loss?

I would worry if I wasn't coming up with ideas, if I wasn't inspired.

Sade's stuff is real deceptive. She's got stuff about prostitutes, poverty and people on the streets.

It's really about living in your head... just looking out at the world, then going back into your head and tossing around a lot of ideas and coming out with something interesting to say.

I am trying to get right with God. I'm sort of making a statement about the excessiveness.