--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to sing spirituals when I thought…" description: "\"I used to sing spirituals when I thought that this was the thing I wanted to do but somehow or another, when I went in the Army. I picked up on Lucille..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/bb-king-24742_blues_i-used-to-sing-spirituals-when-i-thought_753018.jpg" --- # I used to sing spirituals when I thought that this was the… ![“I used to sing spirituals when I thought that this was the thing I wanted to do but somehow or another, when I went in the Army. I picked up on Lucille and started sing the blues. Well, now when I'm paying my dues.” quote by BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/bb-king-24742_blues_i-used-to-sing-spirituals-when-i-thought_753018.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/bb-king-24742_blues_i-used-to-sing-spirituals-when-i-thought_753018.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/bb-king-24742_blues_i-used-to-sing-spirituals-when-i-thought_753018.jpg) > “I used to sing spirituals when I thought that this was the thing I wanted to do but somehow or another, when I went in the Army. I picked up on Lucille and started sing the blues. Well, now when I'm paying my dues.” [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a shift from religious music to blues after joining the Army, reflecting personal growth and adaptation. **In simple terms:** He changed his musical focus after military service. Key Takeaway Embrace change and let new experiences shape your art. Themes identity music growth adaptation Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal musical narrative When to use this quote - military service - musical development - artistic evolution - personal reinvention Key Concepts blues spirituals career transition Questions to Reflect On - How did military life influence your artistic voice? - What does the blues mean to you now? A Different Perspective The new path may bring challenges in authenticity and audience expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Sing Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-blues-1186358/) [Sing Spirituals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-spirituals-5854645/) [Started Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-sing-251513/) ## Related quotes > [“white or black. rich or poor. if you ever had your heart broken you have right to sing the blues”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-mama-thornton/white-or-black-rich-or-poor-if-you-ever-had-your-heart-broken-you/) [Big Mama Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-mama-thornton/) > [Whenever I sing blues from the '50s or the kind of blues that you might have heard Eric Clapton or Duane Allman emulate, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/whenever-i-sing-blues-from-the-50s-or-the-kind-of-blues-that-you/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [“white or black. rich or poor. if you ever had your heart broke you have right to sing the blues”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-mama-thornton/white-or-black-rich-or-poor-if-you-ever-had-your-heart-broke-you-have/) [Big mama Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-mama-thornton/) > [But what I like to sing mostly is blues and cabaret style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/but-what-i-like-to-sing-mostly-is-blues-and-cabaret-style/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [You gotta pay your dues to sing the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-plum-ucci/you-gotta-pay-your-dues-to-sing-the-blues/) [Carol Plum-Ucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-plum-ucci/) > [Most people say, 'Well, Earl, you sing the blues,' or however they want to categorize it. I just sing songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-king/most-people-say-well-earl-you-sing-the-blues-or-however-they-want-to/) [Earl King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-king/) > [I can sing the blues and I have sung the blues. I feel it internally when I'm singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/i-can-sing-the-blues-and-i-have-sung-the-blues-i-feel-it-internally/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [I have heartaches, I have blues. No matter what you got, the blues is there. 'Cause that's all I know - the blues. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-hooker/i-have-heartaches-i-have-blues-no-matter-what-you-got-the-blues-is/) [John Lee Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-hooker/) > [I started to sing a lot more during my twenties when I was struggling with depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-ryan/i-started-to-sing-a-lot-more-during-my-twenties-when-i-was-struggling/) [Jenny Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-ryan/) > [“Somebody said it couldn't be done. But he with a chuckle replied, That maybe it couldn't, but he would be one Who wouldn't say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-albert-guest/somebody-said-it-couldn-t-be-done-but-he-with-a-chuckle-replied-that/) [Edgar Albert Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-albert-guest/) > [I started in the late 70s, beginning of the 80s, and I think I started to sing and make music as a therapy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mari-boine/i-started-in-the-late-70s-beginning-of-the-80s-and-i-think-i-started/) [Mari Boine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mari-boine/) > [As I was not a good singer - I have started to sing. And because no one could write an appropriate song for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verka-serduchka/as-i-was-not-a-good-singer-i-have-started-to-sing-and-because-no-one/) [Verka Serduchka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verka-serduchka/) > [At the start, it would kind of been more about freestyling. But then I started to sing over the beats. And then came a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rag-n-bone-man/at-the-start-it-would-kind-of-been-more-about-freestyling-but-then-i/) [Rag'n'Bone Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rag-n-bone-man/) > [After I went to college, I realized that no matter how much I loved sports, I was ready to have fun, and that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-swindell/after-i-went-to-college-i-realized-that-no-matter-how-much-i-loved/) [Cole Swindell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-swindell/) > [I first started to sing when I started to talk. As soon as I could form words and sounds together, I was singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-labelle/i-first-started-to-sing-when-i-started-to-talk-as-soon-as-i-could/) [Leah LaBelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-labelle/) ## More by BB King > [Thrill is gone. The thrill is gone away. The thrill is gone, baby. The thrill is gone away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/thrill-is-gone-the-thrill-is-gone-away-the-thrill-is-gone-baby-the/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [Oh give me one more kiss darling. Just before I go. Cause when I leave this time little girl. I won't be back no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/oh-give-me-one-more-kiss-darling-just-before-i-go-cause-when-i-leave/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [Although, I'll still live on but so lonely I'll be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/although-i-ll-still-live-on-but-so-lonely-i-ll-be/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [I'm going back to the border. Baby where I'm better known because you haven't done nothing baby but draw the good man from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/i-m-going-back-to-the-border-baby-where-i-m-better-known-because-you/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [Sorta hard to talk to you myself. I guess I'll let Lucille say all of a few words and then...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/sorta-hard-to-talk-to-you-myself-i-guess-i-ll-let-lucille-say-all-of/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [Someday I know I'll be open armed, baby. Just like I know a good man should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/someday-i-know-i-ll-be-open-armed-baby-just-like-i-know-a-good-man/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [How blue can you get baby, the answer is right here in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/how-blue-can-you-get-baby-the-answer-is-right-here-in-my-heart/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [I pick up Lucille and then ping out those funny sounds that sound good to me, you know. Sometimes I get to play where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/i-pick-up-lucille-and-then-ping-out-those-funny-sounds-that-sound/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [Our love is nothing but the blues, baby, how blue can you get?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/our-love-is-nothing-but-the-blues-baby-how-blue-can-you-get/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [When the moon peeps over the mountain. Little girl I'll be on my way. I'm gonna roll the highway until the break of day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/when-the-moon-peeps-over-the-mountain-little-girl-i-ll-be-on-my-way-i/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [I gave you a brand new Ford, but you said I want a Cadillac. I bought you a ten dollar dinner, and you said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/i-gave-you-a-brand-new-ford-but-you-said-i-want-a-cadillac-i-bought/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [Like, well, for instance, if I have a girlfriend and she's misusing me and I go home at night, and maybe I'm lonely, well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/like-well-for-instance-if-i-have-a-girlfriend-and-she-s-misusing-me/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [You know you done me wrong, baby and you'll be sorry someday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/you-know-you-done-me-wrong-baby-and-you-ll-be-sorry-someday/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [You know I'm free, free now, baby. I'm free from your spell. Oh, I'm free, free, free now. I'm free from your spell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/you-know-i-m-free-free-now-baby-i-m-free-from-your-spell-oh-i-m-free/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) > [And now that it's all over. All I can do is wish you well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bb-king/and-now-that-it-s-all-over-all-i-can-do-is-wish-you-well/) [BB King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) [Explore all 24 BB King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bb-king/) ## More Blues quotes > [If they played more blues, people would just get it - they try to hold it back but just about can't hold it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-hooker/if-they-played-more-blues-people-would-just-get-it-they-try-to-hold/) [John Lee Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-hooker/) > [I love Las Vegas, but I never get a chance to play a club like the House of Blues. I guess we've graduated to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-love-las-vegas-but-i-never-get-a-chance-to-play-a-club-like-the/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a note on a guitar. To make it matter is something else altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [“Grits Glossary blues \\’blüz\\ n: nothing but a good man singing about hardship, sorrow, and the things he’s done wrong--but sake’s alive, they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/grits-glossary-blues-bl-z-n-nothing-but-a-good-man-singing-about/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [I guess what I like is mostly country & western or else stuff that has a real blues feel to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-guess-what-i-like-is-mostly-country-western-or-else-stuff-that-has/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I'm a rock/blues guitar player. I'm not wanting to be a pop star or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-m-a-rock-blues-guitar-player-i-m-not-wanting-to-be-a-pop-star-or/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [An element I love about the blues is jamming with other musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hoey/an-element-i-love-about-the-blues-is-jamming-with-other-musicians/) [Gary Hoey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hoey/) > [Well, I don't know how they define that. But they have this Texas blues thing blown kinda out of proportion. I am a Long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hunter/well-i-don-t-know-how-they-define-that-but-they-have-this-texas-blues/) [John Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hunter/) > [Since I was a kid, I've had an absolute obsession with particular kinds of American music. Mississippi Delta blues of the Thirties, Chicago blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-had-an-absolute-obsession-with-particular/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [James Cotton is a real blues guy, and he played with Muddy Waters, and it surprised me that they would want me to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-haden/james-cotton-is-a-real-blues-guy-and-he-played-with-muddy-waters-and/) [Charlie Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-haden/) > [When I discovered blues - I was 12-years-old - I didn't discover it in America where it was from; I discovered it from Fleetwood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/when-i-discovered-blues-i-was-12-years-old-i-didn-t-discover-it-in/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [Elvis deserves a lot of credit for bringing the blues to middle America, not the Vegas stuff. The early stuff, The Sun records, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tork/elvis-deserves-a-lot-of-credit-for-bringing-the-blues-to-middle/) [Peter Tork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tork/) > [Old-school rock bands, and blues bands, too, are kind of a dying breed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/old-school-rock-bands-and-blues-bands-too-are-kind-of-a-dying-breed/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [My favorite moment of the whole thing was when John Belushi suggested that I get a hold of all the blues records I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-cropper/my-favorite-moment-of-the-whole-thing-was-when-john-belushi-suggested/) [Steve Cropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-cropper/) > [I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-listened-to-king-oliver-and-i-listened-to-louis-armstrong-jelly/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) [Browse all 1,026 Blues quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to sing spirituals when I thought that this was the thing I wanted to do but somehow or another, when I went in the Army. I picked up on Lucille and started sing the blues. 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