Writing songs has always been hard and easy. It's not always easy when you want it to be, and then sometimes it's just like turning on the faucet. That's just the nature of it.

You obviously don't really forget how to play the old songs; you just don't have to spend so much time convincing yourself that you remember them. Way less mental energy is spent swimming around in lyrics you've already written and chords you've already played.

I always found the concept of a tortured artist distasteful.

Doing what you want to do is easy. Doing what you have to do is hard.

I'd like to be writing songs for other people - I just like writing songs.

Even the most dismal and hopeless-sounding Wilco music, to my ears, has always maintained a level of hope and consolation.