I want people to come to my music without prejudice. I want them to get the music first. And who I am isn’t that important. If they like the songs to me that’s a good thing.

There’s a part of me that wishes I’d never said one single solitary word on any subject publicly. Then I could have been the tortured poet, and there’s so much mileage in that. But it’s too late to stop now.

I’m sure every pattern has been covered, but it’s nice to think you might dwell on some that other people don’t.

As the writer, you’re always a presence in the song. If you get close to what human beings are like, you’re writing about common experience. We all do much the same things, so if you nail somebody, then you’ve also nailed yourself.

It’s amazing what some people read into songs.

When you stand up acoustic in front of an audience, you really are a man without any clothes on. And that can be fun – it depends how much of an exhibitionist you are, I suppose. I quite enjoy it.

There is in fact a controversy over Darwin’s theory. Clearly both theories have religious implications. But this is not about God.

What I wanted to hear didn’t exist, so it was necessary for me to go out and create it.

It’s fun to sing sad songs. And it’s fun to listen to sad songs. Enjoyable. Satisfying. Something.

Well, first of all it’s entertainment. That stops us becoming too pretentious or thinking we’re great artists.