I found Elvis on the Internet, I went camping with a young cadet, he showed me his bayonet. Mary Chapin Carpenter More Quotes by Mary Chapin Carpenter More Quotes From Mary Chapin Carpenter So I think that if I do feel more freedom right now in my career, it's not so much because I have less at stake but more a sense that I've learned more. Mary Chapin Carpenter ive-learned careers thinking In the late 80s, artists could be signed to labels and be nurtured. It wasn't, "We're going to give you one shot, and if you don't measure up, you're gone". Mary Chapin Carpenter labels artist giving When I think of the artists I admire and seek out musically. It's because I'm curious about where they're going to go the next time they have a chance to put a record out. It's not about where I find them on the radio dial, or how many records they're selling. Mary Chapin Carpenter music artist thinking I feel that it's nothing if not an incredible privilege to be able to get up on stage and play for people, and I don't ever take it for granted. Mary Chapin Carpenter able play people I kept thinking, I went to college and I have to get a real job. Mary Chapin Carpenter real college jobs I love to write songs and sing them, and I didn't really know much more than that. Somehow it's gotten to the point where a friend can say, "It's very you," and that made me feel good. Mary Chapin Carpenter feel-good writing song So I came home and I had a resume and everything, but the only job experience I had was just playing in bars and clubs on my summers off. So, I was temping and stuff during the day and playing music at night. Mary Chapin Carpenter summer home jobs I feel like politics have always informed what I do. If you know anything about my music, you know I've never been shy about stating how I vote. Mary Chapin Carpenter vote shy feels Everything changes in every genre, whether it's pop, rock or country. Mary Chapin Carpenter things-change rocks country I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I want to try it again and again, and a lot of times my fellow musicians have to hold me back and say, "Nah, I think we got it." Mary Chapin Carpenter musician trying thinking I know some artists who come out of country music and the three sessions a day work ethic where you walk in, and you're told you play this note, this note, and this note, and you don't vary it. I know that works great for some people. It wouldn't work for me. Mary Chapin Carpenter artist play country I'm a liberal arts junkie. Mary Chapin Carpenter liberal-arts junkie art I think that every new record is a chance to... I think what it is for me is my heart and soul at that moment in time... I've always felt that just being able to make a record is a privilege. Mary Chapin Carpenter soul heart thinking Emmy Lou Harris introduced me to the work of the Vietnam Veterans of America foundation and the Campaign for a Land Mine Free World. Mary Chapin Carpenter foundation land america I don't think you need to dumb down to a child, you merely have to be clear, you know? Mary Chapin Carpenter stupid children thinking Dreamland is a book, but it's my song in book form. It's translated itself into a different medium. Mary Chapin Carpenter different song book I don't really remember my folks singing to us, but they read to us. Mary Chapin Carpenter folks singing remember As far as feeling freedom in my career now versus five years ago... I think if I feel any more free it's simply because of the experiences that I've had, and the wisdom I've accumulated from that time. Mary Chapin Carpenter careers years thinking About age ten, we moved from the place where I was born, moved overseas. Mary Chapin Carpenter moved born age Tonight, the moon came out, it was nearly full. Mary Chapin Carpenter nature life travel