Birth is the sudden opening of a window, through which you look out upon a stupendous prospect. For what has happened? A miracle. You have exchanged nothing for the possibility of everything.

I hadn’t been exposed to music except in church. They used to have me singing a solo when I was five years old.

I feel like the blues is actually some kind of documentary of the past and the present – and something to give people inspiration for the future.

The world has made everything else and still it can’t make peace. And the reason it can’t make peace is because of the evil, ignorance and stupidity. I have songs that explain these facts. And that’s the blues.

I don’t want you to cook my bread, I don’t want you to make my bed. I don’t want you to because I’m sad and blue, I just want to make love to you.

People have been brainwashed into believing that it’s got to be down or it wouldn’t be blues. But it’s not so. It’s got to be a fact or it wouldn’t be blues.

The blues are the roots and the other musics are the fruits. It’s better keeping the roots alive, because it means better fruits from now on. The blues are the roots of all American music. As long as American music survives, so will the blues.

I see you watching me like a hawk. I don’t mind about the things you talk. But if you touch me something’s got to give. I live the life I love and I love the life I live.

The blues will always be because the blues are the roots of all American music.

A bad rendition of you is better than a good rendition of somebody else.