I don't do much recording anymore, but before I really stopped, I was glad to get five, five cent a record. That's why when I see people today and they complain about what they get, and I picked cotton for $2.50 a day.

Nobody loves me but my mother, And she could be jivin' too.

The blues are three L's - living , loving and hopefully, laughing.

I don't think anybody steals anything; all of us borrow.

When I sing, I play in my mind; the minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille.

Notes are expensive... spend them wisely

I don't like anybody to be angry with me. I'd rather have friends.