it's such a pure expression or song from the soul

“Oh gosh, where do I start with the music? I mean, on so many levels, it has affected my life, and still continues to. 

I guess one example is that, to me, music, particularly the voice singing and songwriters, poets, like Dylan, or whoever, to me, it’s such a pure expression or song from the soul. It deeply connects to mine. It has always been a key that kind of unlocked, or enabled me to express anger, or pain of any sort. It’s always been a kind of wonderful excuse or a door for me, in terms of being able to express myself creative and personally.”

from an interview for i'm not there, 2007

pour money into creative ventures

howard smith: Have you held on to your money?

Uh, let's put it this way: I think with our, you know, with our economic system, and tax structure and all that, I don't think it's possible, ever, to just retire and never work, you know ... you know, because the economy keeps increasing; if you drop out of the economy, then it just passes you up you know, in a couple of years and you're left high and dry. I don't think you ... I don't think it's possible to retire in a capitalistic society. But I enjoy talking about money, Howard!
... I dig money because ... I've always, I've always said this... money does beat soul everytime. [background laughter] Not only that... It's a form of communication and besides that... If, if you have ... if you run into some good luck and you get some money, right, then I think you should just keep pouring it back into creative ventures ... just as soon as you get it, you know, don't go out and buy a bunch of diamond rings and stuff, you know, but pour it back into creative ventures, you know, that are creating new things and you can't ever go wrong, you know...

village voice interview with howard smith

fame is a bullshit trap

The only thing worth doing in moderation is fame because it's such a bullshit trap. If you're famous you have to play a lot of places all year. You live in a lot of hotels. You have no family. You have a lot of empty relationships with women which you can't fulfill because you're only one day in each place. Fame is really a trap unless it's done in moderation. With drinking or sex you can forget about moderation, but anyone who is creative is chained to fame. It's terrible.

I haven't deliberately avoided fame. It's just that I'm too odd for the white middle-class. But I'm happy. I get to create. There's nobody like me so they've got to keep me around. It's like the predicament of Roland Kirk. Nobody's going to cut Roland but 300,000 people aren't going to go to his concerts like they might go to a Stones concert. Roland's expressing too much for people to accept.

september 1972. interview with steve turner for mojo

ballad in plain d

Of the two sisters, I loved the young.

With sensitive instincts, she was the creative one.

The constant scapegoat, she was easily undone

By the jealousy of others around her.

And so it did happen like it could have been foreseen,

The timeless explosion of fantasy’s dream.

At the peak of the night, the king and the queen

Tumbled all down into pieces.

All is gone, all is gone, admit it, take flight.

I gagged twice, doubled, tears blinding my sight.

My mind it was mangled, I ran into the night

Leaving all of love’s ashes behind me.

my favorite lyrics of ballad in plain d