David Berman

I guess when I was younger, I'd have assumed that in 2008 music would be full of great writers following in the tradition of the young great writers of the '60s and '70s, but it hasn't turned out that way, or at least there are no other writers around that I look at and think: 'Wow, I'm outclassed, I need to get out of this business.' ”

Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot and struggle with the mic stand in a ridiculous way. ”

Some people like my singing. But it sounds like bad singing to a lot of other people. ”

I don't have any desire to be in a relationship with anyone else, and I do feel like I'm on the other side of my career of being a Lothario. ”

Intellectuals and creative people, once they start talking about God they get put into this other category: 'I don't go to people's music like that to understand my life.' ”

I read Henry Miller's 'Nexus,' 'Sexus' and 'Plexus' the summer after I graduated from college. It cemented my decision to spurn any and all careers. ”

I've never been from a certain group. I've always reserved a space for myself where I'm unattached to any group, but the part of Judaism that I really take away, that means something to me, is the part about community. ”

I trust myself. ”

People younger than me trust me. People my age do not. They think I'm up to something. And I've often felt this. ”

I think reporters think that they can get something extra out of a person face-to-face, but in reality people just give stock answers because there's a social situation going on. ”