I can make the most tasteless reference at some point and then go into one of my most earnest songs of the repertoire.

The first group of songs which I give, on any program, are songs which I sing to please myself. They represent my musical taste.

He play'd an ancient ditty long since mute, In Provence call'd, "La belle dame sans merci."

And heaven had wanted one immortal song.

And grant that when I face the grisly Thing, My song may trumptet down the gray Perhaps Let me be as a tune-swept fiddlestring That feels the Master Melody--and snaps.

I just tried to come up with some honest songs. What I was writing about was real plain stuff that I wasn't sure was going to be interesting to other people. But I guess it was.