I don’t think it’s meant for man to know everything at once.
I never use that word, retire.
I’ve put up with more humiliation than I care to remember.
We are here because there are things that need our help. Like the planet. Like each other. Like animals. The world is like a garden, and we are its protectors.
I’m self-taught. But I finally learned that they was having little shows or night dances or whatever you call them at little juke joints not far from where I lived, and I used to go there. They wouldn’t let me play inside, but I could sit outside on the weekends, when it wasn’t raining or something.
If you want to be a good blues singer, people are going to be down on you, so dress like you’re going to the bank to borrow money.
I liked blues from the time my mother used to take me to church. I started to listen to gospel music, so I liked that. But I had an aunt at that time, my mother’s aunt, who bought records by people like Lonnie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson and a few others.
I don’t have a favorite song that I’ve written. But I do have a favorite song: ‘Always on My Mind,’ the Willie Nelson version. If I could sing it like he do, I would sing it every night. I like the story it tells.
The way I feel today, as long as my health is good and I can handle myself well and people still come to my concerts, still buy my CDs, I’ll keep playing until I feel like I can’t.
I don’t think anybody steals anything; all of us borrow.
If you can’t get your songs to people one way, you have to find another.
Albert King wasn’t my brother in blood, but he sure was my brother in Blues.
May I live forever. But may you live forever and a day.
The Blues? It’s the mother of American music. That’s what is is – the source.
Hard times don’t necessarily mean being poor all the time. I’ve known people that was a part of a family and always feel that the family likes everybody else but them. That hurts and that’s as deep a hurt as you can possibly get.
Many people leave the country to see beautiful places. I just look out the window and see some of the most gorgeous scenery ever, right here in the USA.
Janis Joplin sings the blues as hard as any black person.
Being a blues singer is like being black two times.
When I was young, I didn’t play like I do today. So these kids are starting at the height that I’ve reached. Think what they might do over time.
Elvis, he was unique. And he loved the blues, it was a pity he didn’t do more.