I figure it's okay to make certain rules, whether or not people despise you for it at the time.

- Will Oldham

Writing songs is a profession; so it's not an attempt to take things from my interactions with other people and for some reason give them to a total stranger to listen to. I find it offensive to hear other people do that.

- Will Oldham

I'd like my records to reach as many people as possible, but I'm also thinking in terms of how I can keep from getting jaded or unhappy with the process.

- Will Oldham

I write a song to be recorded. And to some extent to be performed, but definitely more to be recorded than performed, because the recording will last longer than a performance.

- Will Oldham

I don't like going to cities. I don't mind maybe being in a city sometimes for a few hours, but I pretty much don't like cities. I don't even like passing through them.

- Will Oldham

I do not want a personal relationship with my fans. Or to do anything that encourages them to think they have one with me. They can have a personal relationship with my songs. That's fine, but they don't know me.

- Will Oldham

When I was a kid, I always thought that acting was going to be the way to go.

- Will Oldham

What is normally called religion is what I would tend to call music - participating in music, listening to music, making records and singing.

- Will Oldham

Too much emphasis is put on American roots music when people try and place me. You know, I grew up listening to punk.

- Will Oldham

People are looking for fame or a focus, and I can't provide that.

- Will Oldham

It's nice to be able to backtrack and not be embarrassed by the music you used to listen to.

- Will Oldham

I think that what trips up a lot of great musicians is that they become involved with too many things that aren't where their strengths lie.

- Will Oldham

I think everybody works from a defensive position, for the most part, in the film industry.

- Will Oldham

I really hate press.

- Will Oldham

I make the songs and part of making them is singing them. But what you hear is not me. It's the song. It's through me.

- Will Oldham

Whenever I see something that looks like it could be good - whether it's on vinyl, CD or cassette - if it's not too expensive, I'll take a chance.

- Will Oldham

I don't like the idea of being surrounded by hidden things; people you can't see in buildings and cars.

- Will Oldham

I think records and music are more appropriate and more respectful of the human soul than the churches are. And more respectful of the needs of humans to communicate with the aspects of themselves that are neglected by language.

- Will Oldham

It's O.K. to accept good fortune.

- Will Oldham

It is more rewarding to be complicit with scarcity than excess.

- Will Oldham