War is hell. Sending young people to conflicts that are unwinnable and unresolvable - it puts them in a position where they're going to suffer. And yet their experience is that they're proud of their service, and they should be. Service freely rendered is a noble thing.

I haven't been in the military, but I've known my share of pain. It allows me to sit with someone who's struggling and not be afraid.

There's an ocean of misunderstanding. It's called the civilian-military divide. I had a lot to learn about our military - who they are, what burdens they carry.

A lot of times, a bunch of songs have to be written to get to the next really good one.

There is no such thing as death; life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves.

If you can allow yourself to do more good with your creativity by being successful, then that's a great thing.

My personal challenge as an artist has been having a day job which is intellectually satisfying and fun - and thus can easily supplant the desire to make art.

I've never really suffered complete and utter writer's block, really. I equate it with sex: in the beginning of my career, I was writing five songs a week; now, I occasionally write a song. But it's an exciting moment when it happens!