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.

It feels so good to be happy.

When I sing for myself, I probably sing for anyone who has any kind of hurt, any kind of bad feelings, good feelings, ups and downs, highs and lows, that kind of thing.

The only time that I am really truly happy—when I feel at my best—is when I'm on the stage.

In some ways, it's my rage that keeps me going.

It's the same thing now. When I go onstage the young people scream and holler as much as the older generation.

People always say 'Etta, you know what your problem is? You're neither fish nor fowl. There is no place to rack you.' When I would go in a record shop, you might find one or two records by me in different stacks.