There's nothing written in the Bible, Old or New testament, that says, 'If you believe in Me, you ain't going to have no troubles.'

There's such a thing as too much happiness and sadness. What I'm after is contentment.

You never can overwhelm an instrument. You will never get out all that's in an instrument. An instrument will bring you to your limits.

I'd like to think that when I sing a song, I can let you know all about the heartbreak, struggle, lies and kicks in the ass I've gotten over the years for being black and everything else, without actually saying a word about it.

All my life I've always been so blue, born to lose, and now I'm losing you.

Love is a special word, and I use it only when I mean it. You say the word too much and it becomes cheap.

Just like you can buy grades of silk, you can buy grades of justice.