How I Write My Songs

You'd probably like to know who some of my musical influences are. It's a difficult question, since my own work is so darned unique. But I'd have to list Steve Earle (country and cool), Loudin Wainwright III (self-absorbed but funny), Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (old time music for modern times), Elvis Costello (well, early early Elvis Costello), Fred Eaglesmith (country-ish, another fine unknown), and the old-time Nashville folks too numerous to mention. I would say Dwight Yoakum, but I've turned against him, wrote a song about it, "Dirt Sandwich" (as in "You're no better than a dirt sandwich"). Sort of a "How Do You Sleep" if John hadn't met Paul, knew nothing about him except his music.

And the Beatles, of course.

Dylan? Nah. If anything, I'm an influence on him. Probably he never could have written what he's written, even the early stuff--especially the early stuff--without my more recent shining unknown nearly overwhelming example. If you were to hear some, dear reader--and if you try hard enough you almost can, there at the edge of the horizon, a faint, deep warble, a windblown strum, a song you could sing along with if you only knew the words and the tune--you'd surely agree.