Quotes from Justin Townes Earle

You have to live what you write, or you have to know it. There are exceptions, like story songs, where you just have to have your facts straight. But I think you don't have to live a hard life to be a good or interesting songwriter.

There's a certain urgency that comes from the records of the early 60s before overdubbing and multitracking came into play.

I discovered the same thing Gram Parsons did, that soul music and country music are practically identical. Based off of the same chord structures, and the songs are of heartache and loss. The main connection is they both came up in church.

I heard Nirvana, and discovered that songs could be like poetry, but a little bit more refined: you didn't have to have 20 verses to get your point across.

My parents split up when I was about 2. I realize more and more how much I'm like my father. My gentleness comes from my mother.