John Lee Hooker quotes

John Lee Hooker was an influential American blues musician, renowned for his distinctive voice and guitar style. His powerful rhythms and raw, emotional sound helped shape the modern blues genre. He became an iconic figure whose music inspired countless artists worldwide. Here are 26 of his quotes:

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 Hooker)
The blues tells a story. Every line of the blues has a meaning. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I don't think about time. You're here when you're here. I think about today, staying in tune. View quote
John Lee Hooker
All my life I been doin' what people tell me to do. Now, I'm telling them. View quote
John Lee Hooker
The one thing the blues don't get is the backing and pushing of TV and radio like a lot of this garbage you hears. They choke stuff down people's throat so they got no choice but to listen to it. View quote
John Lee Hooker
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. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I don't do nothing I don't want to do. View quote
John Lee Hooker
In my career, people in the record business have been rockin' in the same ol' boat. They all crooks - I'll say it clear and loud - especially the big ones. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I hitchhiked, took trucks 'n' trains - anything that would pick me up. I stopped in Memphis for about six months and they found me and come got me. Stayed about a month an' split again. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I went on to Cincinnati. I had got a taste of the big cities and them bright lights. I stayed there until I was about 18 or 19 and then I went on to Detroit. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I have heartaches, I have blues. No matter what you got, the blues is there. 'Cause that's all I know - the blues. And I can sing the blues so deep until you can have this room full of money and I can give you the blues. (John Lee Hooker)
It don't take me no three days to record no album. View quote
John Lee Hooker
The way Will Moore taught me, and the way I play it, the blues is just something different. View quote
John Lee Hooker
Groups are corporations now. They have pension plans. Musicians have saw the daylight. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I just get an idea and then all of a sudden I've got a song. View quote
John Lee Hooker
If they played more blues, people would just get it - they try to hold it back but just about can't hold it back now because the blues is really going. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I want to play music when I want, write a song if I want or watch a baseball game if I want. View quote
John Lee Hooker
Since you knew they was goin' to cheat you anyway, I recorded under any name with all of 'em. View quote
John Lee Hooker
My style is all to myself. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I've got enough money to live me two lifetimes so I don't have to do nothing I don't want to. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I remember back in Detroit, I used to go to the Apex Bar every night after I got off work. The bartender there used to call me Boom Boom. I don't know why, but he did. (John Lee Hooker)
I like dropping into a small club and playing with some people, trying to help them get a start. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I do benefits. I do them all the time. There's so many people out there that needs help that I can't say I won't help them. View quote
John Lee Hooker
I am a happy man. I've had a good life. View quote
John Lee Hooker
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. View quote
John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker - Image
Photo: Jean-Luc, CC BY-SA 2.0
Occupation: American Musician
Born: August 22, 1917
Died: June 21, 2001
Quotes count: 26