I think if every song I had was, 'I love you, you love me,' there would be a problem.
I often meet people who say, 'I thought you were dead.'
As long as I can write songs, make a record and do concerts, I'm really quite happy.
I think I'm a good lyricist.
It's ridiculous that people would judge my songs based on what I wore, but that's how it is... superficial. I don't really care, though - I am confident in the quality of my own work.
I like conflict in songs.
The writing is everything of course but you can't be making records and not be willing to go out there and perform.
I don't like people who make records and then don't ever perform. If you are going to make a record it's important you get out there so people can see you if they want to and get to hear you if they want to.
I never complete a song until I'm actually going to make a record.
What I would hate to go through is what happened in the mid-90s playing in front of a half-empty theatre, which prompted me to say 'never again' when it came to Waterford. To go through that again in any of the places I call home would destroy me.
I feel every time I have 12 good songs for a new album, I am in with a chance to compete with the big boys. As long as I have that attitude, it's healthy.
It is ironic that losing makes you more liked than winning.
To be successful to me meant to have a hit record in England. I never looked outside England.
Song writing is very serious; it is hard.
I thought my singing and songwriting were good, but nothing different. Then you're presented with this picture image that contradicts the impression you get from listening to the record.
Nothing Rhymed,' my first single in England, was a nice ballad, which I thought would sound like a songwriter typical of the day - denim, jeans, long hair, early 20s.
I don't trust anybody.
It's very easy to think about rhymes and just usage of words that sound good but don't mean anything. Basically, I try to put into song the way people actually talk.
I quite like the idea of performing in front of people that don't like me.
I couldn't live without Radio 1. They condemned me to oblivion, but they're what I grew up with.
