The way it worked, she’d put on breakup music, have a drink, and then make the phone call. I think that’s why I can write such good breakup songs, like “Nothing Compares 2 U.” I ain’t heard no breakup song like I can write. The flowers are dead. [Miming receiving an urgent phone call] “Sir, the garden’s dead.” I have that knowledge. By the same token, love songs. No one writes love songs like I do. I play the ones that have love in them, whether they’re mine or someone else’s.
