Our perception of songs that we've written... the meaning changes from day to day... to whatever stage we're at in our life and careers.
I'm always surprised reading my old journals. There's this idea that life is hard now, but then I'll reach that moment where it'll change. But there's no summit. It's a constant climb.
I also think within the scene, a specific scene - if I were to play a part that I played 10 years ago now, my interpretation of that scene would be totally different. I would be making different choices. Because I can't somehow subtract all of the experiences that I've had in my life. And it's fascinating to see, because somewhere I'm very reflective in that. You know, I've been playing basically actually close to 40 years old, so I'm somewhere lost in age in this movie. But it's been fascinating to see that I can't subtract that time.
The more I work, the more I see things differently, that is, everything gains in grandeur every day, becomes more and more unknown, more and more beautiful. The closer I come, the grander it is, the more remote it is.
The way a film can change over the generations... You watch a movie when you're 20 years old, and you see the same movie when you're 35 years old or 40 years old, and something happens. The movie changes because we change as individuals.
Time cools, time clarifies; no mood can be maintained quite unaltered through the course of hours.
I noticed with older songs that I perform that I'm coming from a different place with them now...it mutates the vibe and even the meaning of the same words when you have a different spirit, if the person singing is different. I like that, to be able to sing an emotionally wrought song from a more centered place, or to sing an eager, youthful song from a more experienced place. It kind of colors the songs differently, and it keeps them fresh.
Most of my major roles have been to play characters that the audience does not initially like or warm up to and then they grow to like in spite of that.
And I like the idea of change. Because I don't see why we should hang a painting on the wall and then just not think of it anymore because it's there like a piece of furniture.
You are always growing, so maybe the way that you bring the songs forward and translate them is more mature.
Time and reflection... modify, little by little, our vision, and at last comprehension comes to us.
You're always changing your thoughts about things.
So I look at a lot of stuff now that I did and some of it looks tame to me, but my interest in terms of what I want to say with it is a little different.
It is also said of me that I now and then contradict myself. Yes, I improve wonderfully as time goes on.
I cannot escape the objection that there is no state of mind, however simple, that does not change every moment.
You grow and evolve and as you do that, your art hopefully reflects that change and that growth.
I've matured as a writer and human being. I've got some wisdom under my belt.
Music, for me, is just about where you're at, and that's always changing.
The surest thing about me is that I will change my mind.
You write a book, it's out for however many years, and with the passing of time, you're not the same person. I'm not the same person I was when I wrote those books; I'm not even the same person I was when I started writing 'Beg.' I had many shifts spiritually, and one of them was in the use of language.
What seems tragic now won't even be an issue in a few years time.
You write a song about how you think at the time, and then gradually you drift away from that, and when it's far enough in the past, that's when you think, 'Now I have to write something new.'
My point of view and philosophy continues to change and grow. As the years go by you go through this evolution.
The world is like a Mask dancing. If you want to see it well, you do not stand in one place.
