--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know Bakersfield was full of workers…" description: "\"You know Bakersfield was full of workers from the south, from Texas and Arkansas, and they brought their gospel and blues with them. And that's the sou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/gregory-porter-10292_bakersfield_you-know-bakersfield-was-full-of-workers_322814.jpg" --- # You know Bakersfield was full of workers from the south… ![“You know Bakersfield was full of workers from the south, from Texas and Arkansas, and they brought their gospel and blues with them. And that's the sound I grew with.” quote by Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/gregory-porter-10292_bakersfield_you-know-bakersfield-was-full-of-workers_322814.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/gregory-porter-10292_bakersfield_you-know-bakersfield-was-full-of-workers_322814.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/gregory-porter-10292_bakersfield_you-know-bakersfield-was-full-of-workers_322814.jpg) > “You know Bakersfield was full of workers from the south, from Texas and Arkansas, and they brought their gospel and blues with them. And that's the sound I grew with.” [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Southern migrant workers infused their cultural heritage into local music, shaping personal sound. **In simple terms:** Migrants brought gospel and blues, influencing his music. Key Takeaway Recognize how cultural roots shape artistic identity. Themes culture heritage music Mood nostalgic proud Type cultural inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - live performances - community events - educational workshops Key Concepts migration cultural fusion Questions to Reflect On - How does your background influence your art? - In what ways can you honor tradition while innovating? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on origin may overlook individual creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Texas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/texas/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) ## Related quotes > [The nice thing about living in a semi-small town is that I can just go home and switch off. I go home now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/the-nice-thing-about-living-in-a-semi-small-town-is-that-i-can-just/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [“Forest sounds/ all around/ but on the ground/ the sound/ of Me/ grew. Echoed,/ I heard a path I could not see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skila-brown/forest-sounds-all-around-but-on-the-ground-the-sound-of-me-grew/) Skila Brown > [“In his Greenwich Village apartment, Jose Garcia Villa fords his fiords of books and papers on his way to the bar of the anchored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-m-de-ungria/in-his-greenwich-village-apartment-jose-garcia-villa-fords-his-fiords/) [Ricardo M. de Ungria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-m-de-ungria/) > [I looked out the window and saw this white light.It was zigzagging around. I went up to the pilot and said,Have you ever seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-looked-out-the-window-and-saw-this-white-light-it-was-zigzagging/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's people wanting to do something about global climate change. People fed up with the high price of gas. People tired of breathing dirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/it-s-people-wanting-to-do-something-about-global-climate-change/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I did a show called 'Bakersfield, P.D.' That was one of the best things I have ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-eldard/i-did-a-show-called-bakersfield-p-d-that-was-one-of-the-best-things-i/) [Ron Eldard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-eldard/) > [We can bring crews in from other areas, too. If Monterey is hard hit and Bakersfield, for example, is not, we can bring crews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-swanson/we-can-bring-crews-in-from-other-areas-too-if-monterey-is-hard-hit/) Bryan Swanson > [When there's an imbalance in terms of what people get to hear, then that's negative. Then blues, jazz, it will die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/when-there-s-an-imbalance-in-terms-of-what-people-get-to-hear-then/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [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'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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Gregory Porter > [Sometimes I'll be in circles, and I'll say I'm a jazz singer, and they have no idea what that means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/sometimes-i-ll-be-in-circles-and-i-ll-say-i-m-a-jazz-singer-and-they/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [Because I am away so much, I try to establish home in people, rather than places. For example, wherever I get together with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/because-i-am-away-so-much-i-try-to-establish-home-in-people-rather/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [Nat King Cole's lyrics were speaking to me, almost like fatherly advice, when I was listening to him alongside the console stereo player. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/nat-king-cole-s-lyrics-were-speaking-to-me-almost-like-fatherly/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [The songs I write and the way I see the world have been affected a certain amount since I became a father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/the-songs-i-write-and-the-way-i-see-the-world-have-been-affected-a/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [My mother gave me the courage to pursue music as a career on her deathbed. She became very ill when I was 21. 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When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/my-part-of-brooklyn-has-always-been-a-very-warm-neighbourhood-even/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > ['Take Me to the Alley' is about trying to uplift the lives of people who have been afflicted, maybe the homeless or somebody with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/take-me-to-the-alley-is-about-trying-to-uplift-the-lives-of-people/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [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 was quite shy as a child. My sisters were the gang leaders, my brothers were the enforcers and I was a tag-a-long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/i-was-quite-shy-as-a-child-my-sisters-were-the-gang-leaders-my/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [Being a singer, it's feast or famine. You have to hit it when it's hot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/being-a-singer-it-s-feast-or-famine-you-have-to-hit-it-when-it-s-hot/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) [Explore all 66 Gregory Porter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) ## More Bakersfield quotes > [We can bring crews in from other areas, too. If Monterey is hard hit and Bakersfield, for example, is not, we can bring crews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-swanson/we-can-bring-crews-in-from-other-areas-too-if-monterey-is-hard-hit/) Bryan Swanson > [I did a show called 'Bakersfield, P.D.' That was one of the best things I have ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-eldard/i-did-a-show-called-bakersfield-p-d-that-was-one-of-the-best-things-i/) [Ron Eldard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-eldard/) > [It's people wanting to do something about global climate change. People fed up with the high price of gas. People tired of breathing dirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/it-s-people-wanting-to-do-something-about-global-climate-change/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I looked out the window and saw this white light.It was zigzagging around. I went up to the pilot and said,Have you ever seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-looked-out-the-window-and-saw-this-white-light-it-was-zigzagging/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The nice thing about living in a semi-small town is that I can just go home and switch off. I go home now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/the-nice-thing-about-living-in-a-semi-small-town-is-that-i-can-just/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [“In his Greenwich Village apartment, Jose Garcia Villa fords his fiords of books and papers on his way to the bar of the anchored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-m-de-ungria/in-his-greenwich-village-apartment-jose-garcia-villa-fords-his-fiords/) [Ricardo M. de Ungria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-m-de-ungria/) Browse all 7 Bakersfield quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know Bakersfield was full of workers from the south, from Texas and Arkansas, and they brought their gospel and blues with them. 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