“We're so terrified of death in Western culture that we have to make up a myth of an afterlife. I think there's something to be said for living your life very mindful of the fact that you're going to die because I think you carry yourself differently. It doesn't have to be this big, negative bummer.”
Steve Earle
More by Steve Earle

“Townes van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that.”

Steve Earle

“My objection to the death penalty is based on the idea that this is a democracy, and in a democracy the government is me, and if the government kills somebody then I'm killing somebody.”

Steve Earle

“All we do as songwriters is rewrite the songs that have impressed us till we find our own voice. It's part of learning the craft.”

Steve Earle

“Me, I'm spiritually retarded, I need to be knee deep in water with a fly rod in my hands, that's about as close to God as I get.”

Steve Earle

“You know, I'm not comfortable with people whose politics are static in a democracy.”

Steve Earle