I still call myself a communist, because communism is no more what Russia made of it than Christianity is what the churches make of it.

I try to sing many different kinds of songs. If I sing a batch of humorous songs, I'll throw in a deadly serious song. Or if I'm singing too many serious songs, I'll throw in a ridiculous song, to mix it up.

How can you save the world you have not seen if you can't save the community you have seen?

The first step in solving a problem is admitting there is a problem to be solved.

Sometimes you find an old tune so good you can use it several times for different purposes.

It was only through the years that I realized what an absolutely extraordinarily thoughtful person Dr. King was.

I have sung in hobo jungles, and I have sung for the Rockefellers, and I am proud that I have never refused to sing for anybody.