Justin Townes Earle Quotes

I try and eat good. On the road, that’s next to impossible. And we eat a lot of unhealthy things when we’re in Texas – that’s what you do there.

I don’t think I have any right to say I belong to that [Woody Guthrie/Bob Dylan tradition]. I think that’s something that eventually maybe you get inducted into. I’m just experimenting.

There’s no such thing as a teenager that listens to a single word their father says.

I love Motown, but I’ve obviously always been more of a Memphis soul fan. If it’s Stax or Motown, I go Stax.

Finding clothes in the South was impossible.

I’ve never been good at rock’n’roll songs, anyway; either I’m blessed or I’m cursed, but whatever I write comes out sounding old.

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.

I didn’t get into music to become a blues musician, or a country musician. I’m a singer-songwriter. In my book that means I get to do whatever I want.

I’ve always written. When I was in school, the only teacher who ever liked me was my creative writing teacher. I used to enter poetry competitions, and I don’t think I ever lost one. So I had the idea for a while of being some kind of poet.

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 didn’t get into music to become a blues musician, or a country musician. I’m a singer-songwrit er. In my book that means I get to do whatever I want.

I didn’t do anything differently than what my father was doing. It’s a really hard family to rebel in. I could have become an accountant. Or I could have become a Republican.

I think the best thing an artist can do is not hang out with other artists. I really dislike hanging out with musicians, for the most part, except for a few select friends, because I don’t like to talk about music all the time.

I know I’m never going to be a big pop star, because I’m not willing to conform.

I’ve got a 27-inch waist. Before, I was stupid smaller. Finding clothes in the South was impossible.

I grew up in a racially mixed neighborhood. So going over to friends’ houses for dinner, their parents listened to Al Green and Luther Ingram. It was something that hit me early on, the feeling that came across.

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

I think a lot of men are afraid of pretty things, and I’m not, I like pretty songs.

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.

I got a feeling that when I have kids, I’m going to have a little girl, and she’s going to be completely sensible.

I always watched movies and rooted for the bad guys, you know? I’ve always been that kind of guy. I still hold some respect for criminals that are good at their jobs.