What the hell do you want to work for somebody else for? Work for yourself!

Not many composers have ideas. Far more of them know how to use strange instruments which do not require ideas.

I want to say at once that I frankly believe that Irving Berlin is the greatest songwriter that has ever lived.... His songs are exquisite cameos of perfection, and each one of them is as beautiful as its neighbor. Irving Berlin remains, I think, America's Schubert.

All great composers of the past spent most of their time studying. Feeling alone won't do the job. A man also needs technique.

It is always possible to create something original.

What the hell do you want to work for somebody else for? Work for yourself!

Summertime And the living is easy Fish are jumpin' And the cotton is high Oh, your daddy's rich And your mama's good lookin' So hush little baby now don't you cry One of these mornin's You're gonna rise up singin' Then you'll spread your wings And take to the sky But til that mornin' Ain't nothin' can harm you With your daddy And your mammy standin' by.