When I die, they'll bury the blues with me. But the blues will never die.
John Lee HookerRead
They wasn't gonna give you nothin'. I didn't care as long as they let me play my music. Cash on the spot... You cheat me and I'm gonna get me some money, too.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses the idea of valuing personal expression over material gain and acknowledging the tough realities of life.
John Lee Hooker's quote reflects the struggles faced as an artist and the determination to pursue one's passion despite the obstacles. It highlights the importance of artistic freedom and the willingness to stand up for oneself in the face of unfairness, suggesting that one should always prioritize what they love—like music—over the challenges posed by others.
Themes
MusicStruggleArtistic FreedomDeterminationFairness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech at an artist's rally to inspire creativity.
More from John Lee Hooker
All quotes →The blues tells a story. Every line of the blues has a meaning.
John Lee HookerRead
Like you and your woman ain't gettin' along and you're in love. You can't sleep at nights. Your mind is on her - on whatever. You know, that's the blues. You can't hug that money at night. You can't kiss it.
John Lee HookerRead
I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks.
John Lee HookerRead
You can go to Europe, and there's no turnin' back - any parts of Europe. Wherever you are, there is no stop and go for the blues. The blues go but it don't stop.
John Lee HookerRead
I don't think about time. You're here when you're here. I think about today, staying in tune.
John Lee HookerRead
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