--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've said that playing the blues is like…" description: "\"I've said that playing the blues is like having to be black twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan missed on both counts, but I never noticed.\" — B. B. King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/b-b-king-4531_black_i-ve-said-that-playing-the-blues-is-like_2646045.png" --- # I've said that playing the blues is like having to be… ![“I've said that playing the blues is like having to be black twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan missed on both counts, but I never noticed.” quote by B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/b-b-king-4531_black_i-ve-said-that-playing-the-blues-is-like_2646045.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/b-b-king-4531_black_i-ve-said-that-playing-the-blues-is-like_2646045.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/b-b-king-4531_black_i-ve-said-that-playing-the-blues-is-like_2646045.png) > “I've said that playing the blues is like having to be black twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan missed on both counts, but I never noticed.” [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing blues feels like embodying a double identity, reflecting deep cultural roots and personal experience. **In simple terms:** Blues is a double‑layered identity. Key Takeaway Acknowledge cultural depth in music. Themes culture identity blues Mood thoughtful historical Type musical cultural When to use this quote - music education - cultural festivals - personal storytelling Key Concepts racial identity musical heritage Questions to Reflect On - What does “black twice” mean to you? - How can artists honor cultural origins? A Different Perspective Risk of oversimplifying complex histories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Workout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workout/) ## Related quotes > [Stevie Ray Vaughan was very intense. Maybe that's what caught everybody's attention. As a player, he didn't do anything amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-blackmore/stevie-ray-vaughan-was-very-intense-maybe-that-s-what-caught/) [Ritchie Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-blackmore/) > [It is a well-known mystery that guitar players suddenly get better once they are dead. Buddy Holly was the first. Stevie Ray Vaughan is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy-kilmister/it-is-a-well-known-mystery-that-guitar-players-suddenly-get-better/) [Lemmy Kilmister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy-kilmister/) > [It's definitely true that Stevie Ray Vaughan is one of my all-time favorite guitarists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/it-s-definitely-true-that-stevie-ray-vaughan-is-one-of-my-all-time/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [I was reading an article with Stevie Ray Vaughan a long time ago, and the number '1959' stuck out to me for some reason.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccready/i-was-reading-an-article-with-stevie-ray-vaughan-a-long-time-ago-and/) [Mike McCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccready/) > [My guitar setup is inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/my-guitar-setup-is-inspired-by-stevie-ray-vaughan/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [The blues was like that problem child that you may have had in the family. You was a little bit ashamed to let anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/the-blues-was-like-that-problem-child-that-you-may-have-had-in-the/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Jazz is the big brother of the blues. If a guy's playing blues like we play, he's in high school. When he starts playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/jazz-is-the-big-brother-of-the-blues-if-a-guy-s-playing-blues-like-we/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [“Do the thing you love to do. Hank Williams died at the ripe old age of twentynine. Stevie Ray Vaughan at thirty-five. Jesus at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-s-alexander/do-the-thing-you-love-to-do-hank-williams-died-at-the-ripe-old-age-of/) [Jill S. Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-s-alexander/) > [I used to watch MTV when they played music, and discovered Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Healey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-used-to-watch-mtv-when-they-played-music-and-discovered-robert-cray/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I was inspired to play electric guitar from listening to a lot of Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and B.B. King, and that's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-was-inspired-to-play-electric-guitar-from-listening-to-a-lot-of/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [I used to sit for hours and copy every lick on those early AC/DC and Kiss records. From there, I went on to Eric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccready/i-used-to-sit-for-hours-and-copy-every-lick-on-those-early-ac-dc-and/) [Mike McCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccready/) > [I think there are always people who, when they get the bug to play an instrument, they want to get as good as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-think-there-are-always-people-who-when-they-get-the-bug-to-play-an/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [I've always been a fan of Buddy Guy as a guitarist, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan and those blues guys. I'd say those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carmack/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-buddy-guy-as-a-guitarist-as-well-as-stevie/) [Chris Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carmack/) > [You could play the blues like it was a lonesome thing - it was a feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edwards/you-could-play-the-blues-like-it-was-a-lonesome-thing-it-was-a-feeling/) [David Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edwards/) > [I had an invitation to contribute a track to a Robert Johnson tribute album, and it was the first time I'd done anything like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-palmer/i-had-an-invitation-to-contribute-a-track-to-a-robert-johnson-tribute/) [Robert Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-palmer/) ## More by B. B. King > [Blues purists never cared for me. I don't worry about it. I think if it this way: When I made 'Three O' Clock Blues,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/blues-purists-never-cared-for-me-i-don-t-worry-about-it-i-think-if-it/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die to get there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/everybody-wants-to-go-to-heaven-but-no-one-wants-to-die-to-get-there/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [My ex-wife was trying to be nice once, so she took me to a concert in Los Angeles. I went with her to Symphony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/my-ex-wife-was-trying-to-be-nice-once-so-she-took-me-to-a-concert-in/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [When I do eventually drop, I pray to God that it'll happen in one of three ways. Firstly, on stage or leaving the stage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/when-i-do-eventually-drop-i-pray-to-god-that-it-ll-happen-in-one-of/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Many people leave the country to see beautiful places. I just look out the window and see some of the most gorgeous scenery ever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/many-people-leave-the-country-to-see-beautiful-places-i-just-look-out/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Albert King wasn't my brother in blood, but he sure was my brother in Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/albert-king-wasn-t-my-brother-in-blood-but-he-sure-was-my-brother-in/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [ Playing the guitar is like telling the truth - you never have to worry about repeating the same \[lie\] if you told the truth.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/playing-the-guitar-is-like-telling-the-truth-you-never-have-to-worry/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [I'd rather be B.B. King. That's the way I started. Let the heavy metal guys play heavy metal, let the others play the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-d-rather-be-b-b-king-that-s-the-way-i-started-let-the-heavy-metal/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [There's a sadness to all kinds of music if you want to hear it. There's also happiness to it if you want to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/there-s-a-sadness-to-all-kinds-of-music-if-you-want-to-hear-it-there/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Touring a segregated America - forever being stopped and harassed by white cops hurt you most 'cos you don't realise the damage. You hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/touring-a-segregated-america-forever-being-stopped-and-harassed-by/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [I was glad to see other blues guitarists like Albert King have crossover successes like me. We played in the same places like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-was-glad-to-see-other-blues-guitarists-like-albert-king-have/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [There was a lot of other young players around at that time when I was coming, but there was older people like Blind Lemon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/there-was-a-lot-of-other-young-players-around-at-that-time-when-i-was/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [When I was in the country and I was trying to play, nobody seemed to pay too much attention to me. People used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/when-i-was-in-the-country-and-i-was-trying-to-play-nobody-seemed-to/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Hard times don't necessarily mean being poor all the time. I've known people that was a part of a family and always feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/hard-times-don-t-necessarily-mean-being-poor-all-the-time-i-ve-known/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [I don't think anybody steals anything; all of us borrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-don-t-think-anybody-steals-anything-all-of-us-borrow/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) [Explore all 109 B. B. King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. 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I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. 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