As good as you've been to this world is as good as it's gonna be right back to you..

People, whether they know it or not, like their blues singers miserable. They like their blues singers to die afterwards..

I always wanted to be an artist, whatever that was, like other chicks want to be stewardesses. I read. I painted. I thought..

You know why we're stuck with the myth that only black people have soul? Because white people don't let themselves feel things..

I don't know what happened. I just exploded. I'd never sung like that before. I used to stand still and sing simple, but you can't sing like that in ….

When everything is together - the band, me, the audience, it's boss! It's just like magic..

To be true to myself, to be the person that was on the inside of me, and not play games. That's what I'm trying to do mostly in the whole world, is n….

Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got..

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz..

You can't stay in your home town and play because the two people will get tired of seeing you..

I'd rather have ten years of superhypermost than live to be seventy sitting in some goddamn chair watching TV..

I talk to the audience, look into their eyes. I need them and they need me..

After they see me, when their mothers are feeding them all that cashmere sweater and girdle ----- [expletive deleted by the New York Times], maybe th….

At my concerts most of the chicks are looking for liberation, they think I'm gonna show 'em how to do it..

The older the grapes, sweeter the wine..

You know you've got it, if it makes you feel good..

On stage I make love to twenty five thousand people; and then I go home alone..

If I hold back, I'm no good. I'm no good. I'd rather be good sometimes, than holding back all the time..

It's hard to be free but when it works, it's worth it!.

You got to get it while you can..

You better not compromise yourself, it's all you've got..