“Music straightjackets a poem and prevents it from breathing on its own, whereas it liberates a lyric. Poetry doesn't need music; lyrics do.”

“One difference between poetry and lyrics is that lyrics sort of fade into the background. They fade on the page and live on the stage when set to music.”

“Music blows lyrics up very quickly, and suddenly they become more than art. They become pompous and they become self-conscious ... I firmly believe that lyrics have to breathe and give the audience's ear a chance to understand what's going on. Particularly in the theater, where you not only have the music, but you've got costume, story, acting, orchestra. There's a lot to take in.”

“They hear drums, we hear music.”

“It's not so much do what you like as it is that you like what you do.”

“Now, this one might be a little stringy, but then again, it's fiddle player."That isn't fiddle player, it's piccolo player."How can you tell?"It's PIPING hot!"Then blow on it first!”

“Work is what you do for others, liebchen. Art is what you do for yourself.”