Mahalia Jackson

It is easy to be independent when you've got money. But to be independent when you haven't got a thing, that's the Lord's test.

Blues are the songs of despair, but gospel songs are the songs of hope.

Do you know most of the Jewish songs have the same trend of sadness as Negro spirituals?

Anybody singing the blues is in a deep pit yelling for help.

Money just draws flies.

I close my eyes when I sing so I can feel the song better.

I don't worry too much about the script, I just ad lib, like Pearl Bailey.

Without a song, each day would be a century.

Time is important to me because I want to sing long enough to leave a message. I'm used to singing in churches where nobody would dare stop me until the Lord arrives!

-Mahalia Jackson