“I think things happened the way they did for a reason”

I’ve been in some beautiful places, but the prettiest sight is flying back to New Orleans. Being able to look down and say, ‘I know where I am now.’

I don’t know much, but I know I love you… that may be all there is to know.

So I went in front of the judge, and I had my St. Jude prayer book in my pocket and my St. Jude medal. And I’m standing there and that judge said I was found guilty, so he sentenced me to what the law prescribed: one to 14 years.

It’s a thanksgiving to God. It’s something I have wanted to do for a long time, but the record company wasn’t ready for it. So I did it myself.

I sing around the house, in the shower

When you were a kid, a day was a long time and a year was a long time

Sometimes I sing along in the car, if something good is playing like Marvin Gaye.

Don’t be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide.

I really like listening to music in my car.

It’s a 360-degree sound experience. Like you’re in the middle of the band. A lot of people have the technology to play the format, so why not put it out there. It sounds great.

Until I went to rehab, I didn’t understand what it did.

I was raised Catholic, but my father’s people were Methodist, so we went to both churches.

My voice belongs to me, from God. People will comment, “Your voice helped me through.” Maybe it’s God in me, because I don’t take credit for that.

Me and my partners had been stealing cars for a while.

I owe it all to Jesus.

So now I have a collection of poetry by Aaron Neville and I give it to people I want to share it with. I’d like to publish it someday.

I know who I am. I don’t have to brag. I know what I contributed. I know what I did.

My mom sold real estate and did it part time.

But all of these knew very well what they did not want, and what they did not want was the current coin, the well-worn usage.

If you decide you want to change your life around, it doesn’t matter where you came from, what you did.

100 percent, my whole life. I went to school, I did music theory,

And that’s when we did it. I think we did it.

we must suppose all the covering of moss and heath and wood to be torn away from the sides of the mountains, and the green mantle that lies near their feet to be lifted up;

Do we weep for the heroes who died for us, Who living were true and tried for us, And dying sleep side by side for us