But the song's only a part of it.

There must aye be a story to be told, and a character to be portrayed, and studied, and interpreted.

I always accept a song that appeals to me, even though I may not think I can use it for a long time to come.

Good ideas for songs are the scarcest things in the world, I've found, and I never let one that may possibly suit me get away from me.
Often and often there'll be nae mair than just the bare idea left after we get through rebuilding and writing a new song.

It may be just a title-a title counts for a great deal in a song with me.
I get a tremendous lot of songs frae ane year's end tae the other.