Shawn Colvin Quotes

I've always been insecure about my singing. That's why I've focused so much on my songwriting.

Music was always a big part of my family. Only a few of us had the talent - or the courage - to walk out on a stage.

I've always had this passion to be creative, and wanted to sing or be in bands and make music, but I didn't have ideas as to what format it'd be, or how I'd do it. I'm not very good with plans. I didn't think it would be me at the front, either. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that was something I'd prevent.

I never even held a guitar until I was 23 and living in California, but then loved it. I'm really not an accomplished instrumentalist. Maybe that has something to do with why I write and sing.

I found it was really impossible for me to write songs when I couldn't sing.

I really feel like I've nailed songwriting. It's my specialty; it's what I'm good at.

Put me in a room with a songwriter, and I just clam up. I get shy.

I'm not actually even a very good singer. I'm not.

I've been singing since I was two. Music was my first passion and I love writing, singing, creating and being creative.

I suppose my father was more influential in my starting to play the guitar.

I am really a very shy person. If I appear, it is because of the music, not because I want to be seen.

I can plunk out enough chords to write a song, but I'm completely afraid to play guitar in front of other people. It's a fear of failure, I guess.

I have written some songs, but I would really call what I've done poetry at the end of the day, because I'll sit with my guitar for hours and hours on end for, like, a week and then I won't touch it for a month. I also just have no confidence. And you know what? I don't have time, because I'd rather be doing other things, like knitting.

I still don't know if I can write songs. I don't think anyone ever knows if they can write songs.

When you are new to the business, you think if you give a really bad performance, that's one they will print. You will be judged. You just have to be brave.

But this is pretty new for me, both songwriting and singing.

On talk shows I ask myself, 'What am I doing here?'

I'd listen to all the stuff that was going on around me and drift off into my fantasies about it. My fantasies have fuelled all the songs I've ever written.

I may be learning guitar, but I'll never be able to sing.

When you first are in front of the camera as a young person, you'd be surprised at all the insecurities you can get.

I love writing for dancers. You don't have to worry about the lyrics. I think to write words without music must be so frustrating. It must be always be so good, so perfect.

I actually write my own music whenever I have a chance. I play guitar and sing.

I refuse to dance. And I can't dance anyway. I'm not in a band for that.

When I was around 13 or 14, I started getting really into songwriting. And one day, I was rooting through my mum's old tapes and records, and I found 'Grace' by Jeff Buckley. I remember so vividly the first time I put it on. It blew my mind: his voice, the way he could play the guitar. I must have listened to the album over and over for weeks.

I mean Gorilla was really our first sort of goes at songwriting.