“My favourite musician happens to be the same as Shakespeare's: John Dowland. His songs are sorrowful but heal the soul by their sweetness and courage.”

“Clear and sweet is my soul, clear and sweet is all that is not my soul.”

“My mother, a woman with a sweet, good, sensitive and elegant soul, with a big heart. A woman with personality, strong character and a courage that she knows no bounds.”

“Losing someone we love is perhaps the deepest sorrow. But if we are able to see it with awareness and belief, that it happened because of the will of the universe, then slowly the pain will be healed.”

“Like Shakespeare, I too am often occupied with the pursuit of my creative endeavors and dealing with all aspects of life's mundane matters. "Who are the best musicians for these songs?" "Am I recording in the right studio?" "Is this song in the right key?" Some things never change, even in 400 years. Not once have I ever had the time to ask myself, "Are my songs literature?" So, I do thank the Swedish Academy, both for taking the time to consider that very question, and, ultimately, for providing such a wonderful answer.”

“Parting is such sweet sorrow”

“Sweete Themmes runne softly, till I end my Song.”

“Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”

“Earth has no sorrow that earth can not heal.”

“John asked what he could do to help my campaign for governor.
"Write a campaign song," I replied.
"Okay," said John, "what's the theme?"
"Our campaign slogan is 'Come together, join the party.'"
"Great title," said John. He grabbed his guitar and started improvising.
: Come together right now.
Don't come tomorrow, don't come alone,
Come together right now,
Over me.
:* On first proposing that John Lennon write a song for his California gubernatorial campaign; this eventually developed into the Beatles song, "Come Together", p. 281 ”