Quote

In this country kings or dukes don't amount to nothing. The greatest man around then was Franklin D. Roosevelt, and he was the President so I started calling Lester the President. It got shortened to Pres.

Billie Holiday

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Billie Holiday
Age: 44 †
Born: 1915
Born: April 7
Died: 1959
Died: July 17
Actor
Author
Autobiographer
Composer
Jazz Singer
Musician
Singer
Singer-Songwriter
Songwriter
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Lady Day
Eleanora Fagan Gough
Eleanora Harris
Eleanora Fagan
Around
Franklin
Nothing
Jazz
Country
Calling
Men
Kings
Pres
Amount
Lester
Started
Shortened
Greatest
Dukes
President
Roosevelt

More quotes by Billie Holiday

Image
A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted.
Billie Holiday
Image
One day a whole damn song fell into place in my head.
Billie Holiday
Image
I never sing a song the same way twice.
Billie Holiday
Image
You've got to have something to eat and a little love in your life before you can hold still for any damn body's sermon on how to behave.
Billie Holiday
Image
I can only sing songs my way. I don't know any other way.
Billie Holiday
Image
You can't copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling.
Billie Holiday
Image
God has blessed you when he lets you believe in somebody.
Billie Holiday
Image
Dope never helped anybody sing better or play music better or do anything better. All dope can do for you is kill you - and kill you the long, slow, hard way.
Billie Holiday
Image
And when you're poor, you grow up fast.
Billie Holiday
Image
Don't be in such a hurry.
Billie Holiday
Image
I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession. If you can, then it ain't music, it's close order drill, or exercise or yodeling or something, not music.
Billie Holiday
Image
I'm always making a comeback but nobody ever tells me where I've been.
Billie Holiday
Image
If I don't have friends, then I ain't nothing.
Billie Holiday
Image
I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession, let alone two years or ten years.
Billie Holiday
Image
All dope can do for you is kill you... the long hard way. And it can kill the people you love right along with you.
Billie Holiday
Image
I don't think I ever sing the same way twice. The blues is sort of a mixed-up thing. You just have to feel it. Anything I do sing is part of my life.
Billie Holiday
Image
New Orleans is the only city in the world you go in to buy a pair of nylon stockings they want to know your head size.
Billie Holiday
Image
You can be up to your boobies in white satin, with gardenias in your hair and no sugar cane for miles, but you can still be working on a plantation.
Billie Holiday
Image
I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it. That's all I know.
Billie Holiday
Image
In this country, don't forget, a habit is no damn private hell. There's no solitary confinement outside of jail. A habit is hell for those you love. And in this country it's the worst kind of hell for those who love you.
Billie Holiday