“I was alive, and Buddy and those boys were dead, and I didn’t know how, but somehow I’d caused it.”

I was king of the mountain for a long time, well, I don’t want that no more.

Lately I’ve heard rumors that the eagle may be lame. Just because I’ve been idle, don’t mean that I’m tame.

This is getting funny, but there ain’t nobody laughing.

He gave us all a mind to think with and to know what’s right or wrong, he is that inner spirit that keeps us strong.

I don’t think there’s anything you can do this way or that way to change anything.

But ya know what, I am a part of something that happened.

If you see me getting smaller, I’m leaving, don’t be grieving, just gotta get away from here. If you see me getting smaller, don’t worry, and no hurry, I’ve got the right to disappear.

Each tomorrow will depend on the love you give today.

I could have killed her when we first met and I’ve been out of jail by now.

Those neon light nights, couldn’t stay out of fights, keeps a-haunting me in memories.

Heaven is laying in my sweet baby’s arms, hell is when my baby’s not here.

I didn’t aim at anything except good music.

There’s always one more way to do something– your way.

If we all could sound like we wanted to, we’d all sound like George Jones.

I’m a part of the music that happened. My voice is one more instrument, is what it is. So that’s the way I feel about people who “play on sessions.

I like to perform every once in a while for people who want to see me, and cut albums of music that is what I’m really about.

You need a wisecracking buddy standing next to you? That’s the role for me. You got the guys who are knock-down, drag-out handsome. That’s what people want to see. Let that guy be the hero. But there’s always a role for the Everyman.

But Buddy was an upper. He was happy. He loved music, and he was really happy. I don’t know…

The rock and roll spirit. I learned a lot of that because I worked with Buddy Holly. I played bass with him, and he taught me a lot about that.

Mainly what I learned from Buddy… was an attitude. He loved music, and he taught me that it shouldn’t have any barriers to it.

I was very young then. Buddy taught me so much in such a short time.

I have come up at the end of a dive, and the boat was not where I left it. I had to take care of a buddy who did panic. But I was confident the boat would come back.

Like if I go to a movie for example, and I watch a movie, and I wasn’t a fan of it. I don’t mind turning to my family or some buddies