I grew up in South Florida, and my family was pretty poor. We weren't your upper-class whites by any means.

I'm sure you have arguments with your friends, but they don't get printed up and magnified in the papers.

Honestly, I grew up in pretty modest circumstances. We were a middle-class family.

I've written some songs that are pretty scary, but 'Jessica,' 'Ramblin' Man,' and 'Blue Sky' are happy songs. That's the way I wrote them: have-fun tunes to make you feel good.

I grew up in a very large, poor family.

Our main thing we'd have to entertain us: All my uncles would come over, and we'd sit around the living room on a weekend night, and we'd play. That was a big event for me, getting to play. We never did have any percussion.