If you want to be a good blues singer, people are going to be down on you, so dress like you're going to the bank to borrow money.
B. B. KingRead
I didn't want to disrespect my parents, so I never played blues around the house. But I knew then, same as I know today, that I wasn't doing anything wrong. I think that before they died, they both felt very proud of me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the struggle between personal expression and familial respect.
B. B. King's quote highlights the tension between honoring one's parents and pursuing one's own passions. He suggests that while he refrained from playing blues music in his parents' presence out of respect for them, he remained confident in his choices as an artist. Ultimately, he believes that his parents recognized and were proud of his success, emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself while navigating the expectations of family.
Themes
MusicBluesFamilyRespectPride
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about following your passion despite familial expectations.
More from B. B. King
All quotes βThe way I feel today, as long as my health is good and I can handle myself well and people still come to my concerts, still buy my CDs, I'll keep playing until I feel like I can't.
B. B. KingRead
Everything I record, I just try to sound like me and come up with songs that suit what I do and then just go for it. I never know what the public's going to like, anyway.
B. B. KingRead
A guitar is like an old friend that is there with me.
B. B. KingRead
I have not been a good father, but no father has loved his children more. Like my father, I decided the best thing I could do for my kids was work and provide. Fortunately, I've been able to do that. Unfortunately, my work was on the road, and that's meant a life of one-nighters.
B. B. KingRead
People all over the world have problems. And as long as people have problems, the blues can never die.
B. B. KingRead
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