--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My voice is my gift. And Pops had me…" description: "\"My voice is my gift. And Pops had me using it in the right way. I had many offers to sing pop, to sing rhythm and blues. Pops said \"Mavis, this record ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/mavis-staples-15566_branches_my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-usin_2297493.png" --- # My voice is my gift. And Pops had me using it in the right… ![“My voice is my gift. And Pops had me using it in the right way. I had many offers to sing pop, to sing rhythm and blues. Pops said "Mavis, this record company want to give you a million dollars." I said, "No daddy, I want to sing with the family." And I did. I never wanted to branch out by myself…” quote by Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/mavis-staples-15566_branches_my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-usin_2297493.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/mavis-staples-15566_branches_my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-usin_2297493.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/mavis-staples-15566_branches_my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-usin_2297493.png) > “My voice is my gift. And Pops had me using it in the right way. I had many offers to sing pop, to sing rhythm and blues. Pops said "Mavis, this record company want to give you a million dollars." I said, "No daddy, I want to sing with the family." And I did. I never wanted to branch out by myself. But I've had to now. It's my mission. I've been left here to do it. And I'm grateful.” [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explains choosing family and authenticity over lucrative solo offers, viewing her voice as a mission and gift. **In simple terms:** Prioritize authenticity and family. Key Takeaway Stay true to your purpose. Themes family authenticity artistic integrity Mood reflective inspirational Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - music industry decisions - family business - personal branding Key Concepts career choices personal values Questions to Reflect On - What does authenticity mean to you? - How do you balance personal values with career growth? A Different Perspective May limit commercial opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Branches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/branches/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daddy/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Million dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-dollars/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [Offers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offers/) [Pop Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-sing-5251953/) [Pops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pops/) [Pops Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pops-said-2307013/) [Record companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-companies/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/) [Rhythm and blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm-and-blues/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sing Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-family-629202/) [Sing Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-pop-1083973/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Voice Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice-gift-3428032/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Some of the music I listen to is pop. I sing it in the shower - and then for public consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-battle/some-of-the-music-i-listen-to-is-pop-i-sing-it-in-the-shower-and-then/) [Kathleen Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-battle/) > [“I waited for my father’s head to blow completely off, but he just rubbed his hand over his face and said, “Are you saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/i-waited-for-my-father-s-head-to-blow-completely-off-but-he-just/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [Money, Power, Respect like the Lox said. You'll be the man of the house my pops said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/money-power-respect-like-the-lox-said-you-ll-be-the-man-of-the-house/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) > [“He jolted, maybe because he’d just heard the voice of a rare female; or because I was strolling around outside the cages. “Indiana.” Still?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/he-jolted-maybe-because-he-d-just-heard-the-voice-of-a-rare-female-or/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [I consider the voice a gift from the heavens, and as all the gifts from the heavens, they must be used, but the minute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/i-consider-the-voice-a-gift-from-the-heavens-and-as-all-the-gifts/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [My voice is a gift. My talent is a gift. The life process is a gift. The opportunity for the journey is a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/my-voice-is-a-gift-my-talent-is-a-gift-the-life-process-is-a-gift-the/) [Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/) > [My family always says my voice is a gift—a precious jewel I inherited from my maternal grandma, Julia Kate Hudson. My sister and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/my-family-always-says-my-voice-is-a-gift-a-precious-jewel-i-inherited/) [Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/) > [ \[My mother\] called \[my voice\] the gift. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/my-mother-called-my-voice-the-gift/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I would never sing a song which I cannot sing in front of my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-would-never-sing-a-song-which-i-cannot-sing-in-front-of-my-family/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) > [You so fat when you die all your kids gonna get together and sing WE ARE FAMILY EVEN THOUGH YOU FATTER THAN ME YEAH…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/you-so-fat-when-you-die-all-your-kids-gonna-get-together-and-sing-we/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [My whole family could sing. My family harmonized without any instruments to accompany them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/my-whole-family-could-sing-my-family-harmonized-without-any/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [When I was young, we had these parties, and they'd make me sing in front of the family all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-batalon/when-i-was-young-we-had-these-parties-and-they-d-make-me-sing-in/) [Jacob Batalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-batalon/) > [I was always the shy one around, I wouldn't sing even in family gatherings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhil-akkineni/i-was-always-the-shy-one-around-i-wouldn-t-sing-even-in-family/) [Akhil Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhil-akkineni/) > [All through my young life I wanted to sing, although nobody in my family knew it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaynor/all-through-my-young-life-i-wanted-to-sing-although-nobody-in-my/) [Gloria Gaynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaynor/) > [My family background is Mexican, and I was born in Chicago. It's pretty much family tradition every time we get together for Christmas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ailyn-perez/my-family-background-is-mexican-and-i-was-born-in-chicago-it-s-pretty/) [Ailyn Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ailyn-perez/) ## More by Mavis Staples > [I can't just turn over and sing disco or rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/i-can-t-just-turn-over-and-sing-disco-or-rock/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [One day, when I was about eight years old, some kids pushed me on stage at school during a talent show because they knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/one-day-when-i-was-about-eight-years-old-some-kids-pushed-me-on-stage/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [The devil ain't got no music. All music is God's music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/the-devil-ain-t-got-no-music-all-music-is-god-s-music/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [I was not fortunate enough to run into Obama. We were at the same church per se, but I would never be there when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/i-was-not-fortunate-enough-to-run-into-obama-we-were-at-the-same/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [I started writing letters home to my mother, saying that I wanted to come home, grandma won't let me sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/i-started-writing-letters-home-to-my-mother-saying-that-i-wanted-to/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [My high-school a cappella teacher would embarrass me in front of the choir. 'Mavis, you're in the basement. Mavis, you're singing with the boys.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/my-high-school-a-cappella-teacher-would-embarrass-me-in-front-of-the/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [We enjoyed the fact that we were called to the folk festivals and we got to know Joan Baez, Dylan. We were singing strictly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/we-enjoyed-the-fact-that-we-were-called-to-the-folk-festivals-and-we/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [If you don't get out among the people, how are you going to know what they need to hear about?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/if-you-don-t-get-out-among-the-people-how-are-you-going-to-know-what/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [I'm just singing what I feel in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/i-m-just-singing-what-i-feel-in-my-heart/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [I have fun just about everywhere I go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/i-have-fun-just-about-everywhere-i-go/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [My purpose: to lift your spirit and to motivate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/my-purpose-to-lift-your-spirit-and-to-motivate-you/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [It's been an amazing life. It's really just been the most magical thing for me - and I have these musical friends from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/it-s-been-an-amazing-life-it-s-really-just-been-the-most-magical/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [There are songs that I have to play!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/there-are-songs-that-i-have-to-play/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [I feel so good singing songs that I sang with my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/i-feel-so-good-singing-songs-that-i-sang-with-my-father/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [I've got to sing for Pops; I've got to keep my father's legacy alive because he started all of this. So I started calling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/i-ve-got-to-sing-for-pops-i-ve-got-to-keep-my-father-s-legacy-alive/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) [Explore all 42 Mavis Staples quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) ## More Branches quotes > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In our system of government, the judicial and legislative branches have different roles. Judges are not politicians. Judges must decide cases, not champion causes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/in-our-system-of-government-the-judicial-and-legislative-branches/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [The sugar maple is remarkable for its clean ankle. The groves of these trees looked like vast forest sheds, their branches stoppingshort at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-sugar-maple-is-remarkable-for-its-clean-ankle-the-groves-of-these/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Where is the subject that does not branch out into infinity? For every grain of sand is a mystery; so is every daisy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mountford/where-is-the-subject-that-does-not-branch-out-into-infinity-for-every/) [William Mountford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mountford/) > [You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/you-know-how-this-is-if-i-look-at-the-crystal-moon-at-the-red-branch/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/money-is-made-at-christmas-out-of-holly-and-mistletoe-but-who-save/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [“The branches do not support the root. But the root supports the branches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-branches-do-not-support-the-root-but-the-root-supports-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time itmakes a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that-explains-itself-in-writing/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [Certainly in the United States, you have a constituency in the form of the weapons laboratories, and you also have the branches of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/certainly-in-the-united-states-you-have-a-constituency-in-the-form-of/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [The impossibility of separating the nomenclature of a science from the science itself, is owing to this, that every branch of physical science must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/the-impossibility-of-separating-the-nomenclature-of-a-science-from/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) > [ \[The judiciary is\] the least dangerous branch of our government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-bickel/the-judiciary-is-the-least-dangerous-branch-of-our-government/) [Alexander Bickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-bickel/) > [ For some unknown reason, this \[antiabortion\] branch of Christianity cherishes the unborn and hates the living person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/for-some-unknown-reason-this-antiabortion-branch-of-christianity/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [ \[W\]ar is a question, under our constitution, not of Executive, but of Legislative cognizance. It belongs to Congress to say whether the Nation shall… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/w-ar-is-a-question-under-our-constitution-not-of-executive-but-of/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [The sky is now indelible ink, The branches reft asunder; But you and I we do not shrink; We love the lovely thunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/the-sky-is-now-indelible-ink-the-branches-reft-asunder-but-you-and-i/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [I have always wanted to branch off and become a fashion guru. I want to share my artistic views with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/i-have-always-wanted-to-branch-off-and-become-a-fashion-guru-i-want/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) [Browse all 1,228 Branches quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/branches/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My voice is my gift. And Pops had me using it in the right way. I had many offers to sing pop, to sing rhythm and blues. Pops said \"Mavis, this record company want to give you a million dollars.\" I said, \"No daddy, I want to sing with the family.\" And I did. I never wanted to branch out by myself. But I've had to now. It's my mission. I've been left here to do it. And I'm grateful.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mavis Staples" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-using-it-in-the-right-way-i-had/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Branches" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-using-it-in-the-right-way-i-had/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/mavis-staples-15566_branches_my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-usin_2297493.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/mavis-staples-15566_branches_my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-usin_2297493.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/mavis-staples-15566_branches_my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-usin_2297493.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My voice is my gift. And Pops had me using it in the right way. I had many offers to sing pop, to sing…” — Mavis Staples", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mavis Staples", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My voice is my gift. And...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-using-it-in-the-right-way-i-had/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/my-voice-is-my-gift-and-pops-had-me-using-it-in-the-right-way-i-had/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```