Roddy Doyle

[from the movie 'The Commitments'] Soul is the music people understand. But it's something else 'cause,'cause, 'cause it's honest. It sticks its neck out and says it straight from the heart. Sure, there's a lot of different music you can get off on, but soul is more than that. It takes you somewhere else. It grabs you buy the balls and lifts you above the shite. Show less «

[on his conscious decision to move forward] It's a while since I made the decision and it's working. I ask myself, 'Do I want to declare war on the world now?" Am I just going to become the cranky old man, or am I going to enjoy being the cranky old man?' I'm going to enjoy it. Show less «

[on the passage of time and his sons leaving home] I miss them. It's grief. You have to decide: is this going to bury me? Am I continually going to think, 'Well, that's another light that's gone out?' Or am I gonna kind of settle into this and enjoy myself? It's a decision you can make. I don't want to sound like some sort of fuckin' life coach, but you can open your head to new experiences. Show less «

I had really forgotten how much I enjoyed taking the record out of the sleeve, putting it on the deck, lowering the needle, sitting between the speakers and actively listening. I'm a man of no religion, but I believe in ritual. Those rituals mean more to me than they used to. Show less «