Jill Sobule Quotes

As a musician, I have always refrained from criticizing another artist.

I always did go against the singer-songwriter form. I think I've always had a lot of storytelling songs.

I was a weird kid.

Unfortunately you can't copyright a title ... bummer.

I have never made a cent off a record in my life. I have never recouped enough, and I never sold enough.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a spy detective or a rock star.

When I write songs, I like to write lyrics first, and I think that's different from a lot of singer-songwriters. But I heard Sammy Cahn was asked what comes first, the lyrics or the music, and he said, 'The paycheck.'

People get to a certain age and success that they stop being curious. I'm still curious because I haven't really had that success. I've never done a record to catch whatever the latest sound is. It's my love of music, eclectic-ness, and the music that I heard my entire life that seeps in. That's what you're hearing.

I had a brother six years older than me, so I wasn't just listening to teenybopper stuff. My brother had the cooler music, but my parents had the Burt Bacharach, Tom Jones, the Association, the Fifth Dimension; these groups were un-cool, but I secretly loved them.

My first instrument was the drums. Not quite sure why I quit and changed to guitar, but I'm sure my parents might have convinced me that the guitar was way better.

Music teachers can either inspire or make you resent your instrument and parents in early years.

I'm an older woman who's not going to have a shiny pop song ever again, so that gives me license to do whatever the hell I want.

When I was on the big labels, I never calculated what would make me sell more records. I just did what I did -no different than when I wrote songs for myself in high-school.

My rocking out didn't make me particularly popular with the boys or girls. It wasn't cute or feminine. I was more of a ... weirdo.

My older brother was the guitar player in the neighborhood band. My parents were the cool ones that had the basement for rehearsal. Rather than hang with my peers after school, I wanted to just listen to the band. More than that, I wanted to play.

I'm down with the whole patron thing. Bring back the Medicis. Maybe, I'm not just a lefty, but a royalist.

I like being a storyteller. I'm bored with myself; I like to write about others. I have a lot of names in my songs: Karen, Margaret, Mary Kay. Even if it's about me, I want to put it through someone else. The music is the soundtrack to the story.

My mom wore the pants in the family, for sure. I always say, that I spent my childhood trying to get the love and attention of my mom, and now I can't get rid of it.

I don't have a Madonna-sized fan base, so I can actually e-mail and talk to everyone that e-mails me because I am totally appreciative, and I like my fans! They seem to have the same interests as me. They are kind of nerdy and cool - and have good taste, obviously.

I think I'm different from a lot of singer-songwriters because some of my favorite singer-songwriters told stories. Like John Prine.

In a way, I'm not at all jaded, and still enjoy so much what I do. It's a good trick.

I would go to heaven, if I believed in heaven.

And we laughed, at the world. They can have their diamonds, And we'll have our pearls

Can you imagine a 6 year old banging all day on a drum kit. I do have photos of me in my sort of princess girly bedroom with a bad-ass sparkle set.

I am doomed or fortunate to stick to what I do best.

I still have this unrealistic faith, that one day, my ship will come in. More people will discover, understand and buy my stuff.

I'm not one who goes for the 'all press is good press' dictum.