A Conversation with Todd Snider (continued)

PM: So are you what you'd call a spiritual dude?

TS: I pray a lot.

PM: Yeah.

TS: I'm not sure. I can't prove that I'm praying to anything for sure.

[laughter]

PM: But you do.

TS: But I do, yeah. I'm not one of them people that's going to stand there and go, "And I know it works! And I know there's a God that's listening." I don't, man, I don't. I know what I know, and I don't know what I don't know, and I'll pray anyway... I never understood why everyone thought confidence was so important, too. It reminds me of the same thing. You hear people say like, "I know when I die that I'm going to go to heaven and be with my loved ones." Well, you do not. You do not. I would do anything I could to make that the truth. In fact, I'm trying to live every second of my life like that's really the truth, and I want it to be the truth, and I want to see my dad again, man. Man, that's what I would love. I'd trade nearly anything for it.

But I don't know, I consider myself a spiritual person. And I like to read all them books. And I love to read the Bible. And if I was pressed I'd say I was a Christian. I wouldn't feel funny telling somebody that like I'm only that because my dad asked me to be that, and I feel like that's a valid enough reason to say, "If I have to pick one of these, I'll be on this team over here. But I ain't going to hassle nobody for this, and I don't necessarily have to go." But like when I pray, I pray to Jesus, but I--I read all the religious books. I had a few years of my life where I really got into all kinds of religion. And it's funny, you know who was giving me the books to do it? You know who Pamela Des Barres is?

PM: I know that name. Who is that?

TS: She's my spiritual adviser.

PM: Pamela Des Barres?

TS: She's that groupie--she wrote I'm With the Band.

PM: Right, right.

TS: I met her in L.A. a long time ago. And I never--you know what I'm saying--

PM: Right. You never got together with her.

TS: I'm not one of them--but I just thought it was just fascinating. And she started sending me all these books, a bunch of different religious books. And I got real into it for a while. It's a funny thing to define. I love to think about it, though. And all my songs seem sort of like they're written in Catholic, I think.

PM: [laughs] Well, yeah, I think the songs are deeply spiritual. And that's what brings up the question.

You're really kind to give me a bunch of your time today, Todd. I've really become a huge fan of your music.

TS: Well, thank you for saying those nice things to me. And I sure appreciate you putting us in the webzine there.

PM: Absolutely.

TS: And if you ever can--you're in Nashville, so let me--

PM: Oh, yeah. I'm going to get you and Will together--

TS: That's right.

PM: --and we're going to do one of those Monday night shows. I'm going to bother Vickie about it.

TS: Get on her. That'll be easy to put together.

PM: Okay, Todd, thanks a lot. It's really good to talk to you, man.

TS: You too, Frank, thank you.

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