What I do with my life is of my own doing. I live it the best way I can.

I get an audience personally involved in a song - because I'm involved myself. It's not something I do deliberately: I can't help myself. If the song is a lament at the loss of love, I get an ache in my gut. I feel the loss myself and I cry out the loneliness, the hurt and the pain that I feel.

(While accepting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award) I've been thinking about why you have to get famous to get an award for helping other people...If your name is John Doe, and you work night and day doing things for your helpless neighbors, what you get for your effort is tired. So, Mr. and Mrs. Doe, and all of you who give of yourselves, to those who carry too big a burden to make it on their own, I want you to reach out and take your share of this...Because if I have earned it, so too have you.

Dare to wear the foolish clown face.

That's life,and I can't deny it/Many times I thought of cuttin' out but my heart won't buy it.

I play to all people - all colors, all creeds ~ drunk, sober, everybody.

The best is yet to come and won't that be fine.