A biography for John Lee Hookerhasn’t been written yet.
“The blues tells a story. Every line of the blues has a meaning.”
“One night I was layin' down,I heard Papa talkin' to Mama,I heard Papa say to let that boy boogie-woogie.'Cause it's in him and it's got to come out.”
“I don't think about time. You're here when you're here. I think about today, staying in tune.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Groups are corporations now. They have pension plans. Musicians have saw the daylight.”
“But I don't want to do no big tours or go out on the road.”
“I don't do nothing I don't want to do.”
“I like the small clubs.”
“I am a happy man. I've had a good life.”