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Pan Am
In this photo I’m 10 years old, roughly the same age my son was on 9/11. That day, he came home from school, got in bed and crawled under the covers for a couple of hours. He’d seen the towers fall on TV at school (an accident for which his teacher apologized profusely).
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TRUTH AND BEAUTY
These people that leave us. I take them as inspiration, as a clear bell to do more, to push harder for music, for art, for taking the world in and making something from it, for just doing my best everyday.
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LEAF BLOWERS
LEAF BLOWERS The birds have been going crazy around here lately. I woke up at the regular time today in my own Natural migration, And went out onto the porch to meditate, Hoping to get lost in the bird sounds And the colors of the trees against the grey sky. But as it happened, all…
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THE WATER TAP
My friend Gary Nicholson says he rarely gets writer’s block. To him, it’s like a water tap. If you turn it on every day, the tap works easily. The water comes out clear. Let it go a while — say, a couple of months, Rust sets in and the water runs brown. It takes a…
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LIFESTYLE
LIFESTYLE There’s no substitute for cash. But over the course of my work I’m paid in lifestyle as much as anything. Being able to spend my years doing what I love And experiencing all I see out traveling — These are luxuries never to be taken lightly. Yes, there are rough times. I don’t have the…
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THE TEASERS
THE TEASERS As a kid, I like to draw pictures. But being left-handed, stuck in those damned right-handed desks at school, I have a hard time making drawings that aren’t lopsided and weird. The other kids, being kids, tease me about the bizarre scrawls on my paper. So at the bitter age of 10, I…
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NO PLAN B
NO PLAN B My first wife and I get engaged when I’m 22 And her father sends me the letter. He’s very concerned about my career choice And wonders if I would consider a trade school; Something to fall back on. After I calm down, I write him a letter. I tell him that my…
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CONCRETE
CONCRETE In high school, I have an odd-jobs business Mowing lawns, painting houses, moving families. I do landscaping, build patios and decks, even clean windows For the right price. Basically, I’ll do anything. My method is, first get the job, Then figure out how to do it. There’s a network of construction guys I can…
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AN AFTERNOON WITH PAUL WILLIAMS
Paul Williams is sitting next to me at a dinner in LA. His stories are hilarious. He tells me how much fun he’s having of late, That after not writing songs for many years He’s only recently getting back into it. I say, “Well, we should get together and write something.” He turns to me…
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ADVENTURE
ADVENTURE Summer, 1994 I’m the opening act on Stevie Nick’s summer tour. For the three months that we cross the country I know that a two-year odyssey Recording, travel, promotion and shows Is coming to a close And I’m worried. I don’t have songs for a new record. Not sure if I have anything to…