People say I'm the life of the party Because I tell a joke or two Although I might be laughing loud and hearty Deep inside I'm blue So take a good look at my face You'll see my smile looks out of place If you look closer, it's easy to trace The tracks of my tears.

I always try to write a song, I never just want to write a record. Originally I was not writing songs for myself. Songwriting is my gift from God.

Once you're a Motown artist, that's your stigmatism, and I was there from the very first day

I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music

She may be cute, but she's just a substitute.

I still perform because it's a necessity for my innards. And those songs, some of those songs, I have sung, I don't know how many thousands of times. And I promise you, every single solitary night, they're new to me. They are brand-new to me that night.

There's so many wonderful gospel people out there, and I don't necessarily want to compete with those people.