I was on the fence about having my song used in the Chevrolet ad, because I had always said no to any commercial things. At the same time Chevrolet was talking to me about using “Our Country,” Tom Petty had just put out a new record [“Saving Grace”]. It was a really nice song, and I heard it on the radio once. A guy like that making a great record and nobody gives a shit about it. I don’t know if Tom Petty knows it or not, but he will after he reads this article: It was because of his record that I decided, after 30 years, to go ahead and do this. There’s no point in working on this record and not having people hear it. I’m a songwriter. I need to get my message out. If I have to do it through a different means, I’ve decided I will.

From Issue 99, Jan/Feb 2007

Category: In Their Own Words