I’ve learned to live with rage. In some ways, it’s my rage that keeps me going. Without it, I would have been whipped long ago. With it, I got a lot more songs to sing.

Most of the songs I sing have that blues feeling in it. They have that sorry feeling. And I don't know what I'm sorry about. I don't.

I am so happy that I am alive and can walk.

A few years ago, I thought, I'll never make it. I started to go to the doctor to help me lose weight.

You know, YOUR President, the one with the big ears-he ain't my President - had that woman singing for him at his Inauguration. She's going to get her [expletive] whooped. How dare Beyonce sing MY song that I been singing forever. Now I'm going to sing it for y'all.

I was originally like a punker, know what I mean, like the punks are today, I'd spit in a minute.

I'm not a bourgeois person, never will be.