RICKIE LEE JONES

Whatever it is Christ said doesn't get a fair shake. There's not much written, it was done 150 years later, and it was used to create an empire. So can we get rid of all that and just see what the guy said?

I had a terrible manager once who described my career as 'spiraling downward.'

I always felt like my future was at stake every time I stepped on stage and that was kind of hair-raising. At some point I just went, don't be frightened, you can't do anything wrong, it's your show.

I'm terribly human.

I'm respected, I'm still working, what more could I ask?

I spent my childhood in an imaginary world - probably because I needed an escape. I think that's one of the reasons people have imaginations - because they can't maintain existence here.

My worst job was working in the laundry of a nursing home.

Somehow credibility comes into play if you do things that are too familiar.

I put out a recording of me singing mostly jazz because I wanted people to know I'm coming from a jazz background.

I was raised by a strong mother and I never felt like I had to be a role, you know, I was just me, who I am.

Popular music has always had its really horrendous stuff.

I would like to be a part of a community of women, and help women be empowered, but I think I'm not necessarily political. I say that because I really hate politicians, so I don't fancy sitting around and thinking about them all the time.

As a musician, I've accomplished what I hoped to accomplish.

I'm easily destroyed and I operate on emotional levels.

I didn't have any great job prospects.

You can't break the rules until you know how to play the game.

I'm so positive.

I never knew when I was gong to leave. I might be walking over to a kid's house, then of all a sudden I would just stick out my thumb and hitchhike across three states.

You never know when you're making a memory.

I really enjoy creating music onstage, to participate in making music live.

I want to work and be happy.

My family in general - they're troubled or poorer people.

It's OK to not be political unless your country is falling apart.

I think we are dying in America, I think our democracy is over.

There is no fear before and no fear after. We give our best.