Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

42 Great Quotes By Billie Holiday For Your Perfect Jazz And Pop Playlist

Famous As: One of the Greatest Jazz Singers from the 1930s to the 1950s
Born On: April 7, 1915
Died On: July 17, 1959
Born In: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died At Age: 44
Eleanora Fagan, renowned by her professional name Billie Holiday, was an American singer and songwriter, who is known as one of the best exponents of jazz music in the 20th century. According to most scholars of music, Holiday remains one of the most important influences in the history of not only jazz but also pop music. The fact that she never received any formal training in music makes her achievements even more staggering. Holiday initially sung at a club located in the Harlem area of New York and before long she attracted the attention of recording companies. One of her most famous songs is the duet ‘What a Little Moonlight Can Do’, which is regarded by many to be the gold standard as far as jazz is concerned. In addition to recordings, she continued to perform live in packed arenas. Although she struggled in the latter part of her career due to a range of personal issues starting from alcohol and drug dependence to relationship issues, she remains an icon and was inducted into the ‘Grammy Hall of Fame’. We bring to you a collection of quotes and sayings by the celebrated artist known for her improvisational skills and vocal delivery. Let us browse through some of the inspiring quotations and thoughts by Billie Holiday who never sang a song in the same way twice.
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Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain.

Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain.

Billie Holiday
You can't copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. No two people on earth are alike, and it's got to be that way in music or it isn't music.

You can't copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. No two people on earth are alike, and it's got to be that way in music or it isn't music.

Billie Holiday
Somebody once said we never know what is enough until we know what's more than enough.

Somebody once said we never know what is enough until we know what's more than enough.

Billie Holiday
You can't copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling.

You can't copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling.

Billie Holiday
A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted.

A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted.

Billie Holiday
If I'm going to sing like someone else, then I don't need to sing at all.

If I'm going to sing like someone else, then I don't need to sing at all.

Billie Holiday
I'm always making a comeback but nobody ever tells me where I've been.

I'm always making a comeback but nobody ever tells me where I've been.

Billie Holiday
I never hurt nobody but myself and that's nobody's business but my own.

I never hurt nobody but myself and that's nobody's business but my own.

Billie Holiday
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.

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
Love is like a faucet, it turns off and on.

Love is like a faucet, it turns off and on.

Billie Holiday
No two people on earth are alike, and it's got to be that way in music or it isn't music.

No two people on earth are alike, and it's got to be that way in music or it isn't music.

Billie Holiday
I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it. That's all I know.

I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it. That's all I know.

Billie Holiday
I never had a chance to play with dolls like other kids. I started working when I was six years old.

I never had a chance to play with dolls like other kids. I started working when I was six years old.

Billie Holiday
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.

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
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.

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
Mom and Pop were just a couple of kids when they got married. He was eighteen, she was sixteen and I was three.

Mom and Pop were just a couple of kids when they got married. He was eighteen, she was sixteen and I was three.

Billie Holiday
If I don't have friends, then I ain't got nothing.

If I don't have friends, then I ain't got nothing.

Billie Holiday
One day a whole damn song fell into place in my head.

One day a whole damn song fell into place in my head.

Billie Holiday
People don't understand the kind of fight it takes to record what you want to record the way you want to record it.

People don't understand the kind of fight it takes to record what you want to record the way you want to record it.

Billie Holiday
There's no damn business like show business - you have to smile to keep from throwing up.

There's no damn business like show business - you have to smile to keep from throwing up.

Billie Holiday
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.

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
I don't think I missed a single picture Billie Dove ever made. I was crazy for her. I tried to do my hair like her, and eventually, I borrowed her name.

I don't think I missed a single picture Billie Dove ever made. I was crazy for her. I tried to do my hair like her, and eventually, I borrowed her name.

Billie Holiday
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.

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
The difficult I'll do right now. The impossible will take a little while.

The difficult I'll do right now. The impossible will take a little while.

Billie Holiday
Love is like a faucet: it turns on and off.

Love is like a faucet: it turns on and off.

Billie Holiday
Singing songs like 'The Man I Love' or 'Porgy' is no more work than sitting down and eating Chinese roast duck, and I love roast duck.

Singing songs like 'The Man I Love' or 'Porgy' is no more work than sitting down and eating Chinese roast duck, and I love roast duck.

Billie Holiday
They think they can make fuel from horse manure - now, I don't know if your car will be able to get 30 miles to the gallon, but it's sure gonna put a stop to siphoning.

They think they can make fuel from horse manure - now, I don't know if your car will be able to get 30 miles to the gallon, but it's sure gonna put a stop to siphoning.

Billie Holiday
Everyones got to be different. You can't copy anybody and end up with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. And without feeling, whatever you do amounts to nothing.

Everyones got to be different. You can't copy anybody and end up with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. And without feeling, whatever you do amounts to nothing.

Billie Holiday
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.

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
I don't think I'm singing. I feel like I'm playing a horn...What comes out is what I feel.

I don't think I'm singing. I feel like I'm playing a horn...What comes out is what I feel.

Billie Holiday