James Weldon Johnson Quotes
My appearance was always good and my ability to play on the piano, especially ragtime, which was then at the height of its vogue, made me a welcome guest.
James Weldon Johnson
Quotes to Explore
When we arrived in London, my sadness at leaving Paris was turned into despair. After my long stay in the French capital, huge, ponderous, massive London seemed to me as ugly a thing as man could contrive to make.
James Weldon Johnson
Find Sister Caroline...And she's tired—She's weary—Go down, Death, and bring her to me.
James Weldon Johnson
Any musical person who has never heard a Negro congregation under the spell of religious fervor sing these old songs has missed one of the most thrilling emotions which the human heart may experience.
James Weldon Johnson
So God stepped over to the edge of the worldAnd He spat out the seven seas;He batted His eyes, and the lightnings flashed;He clapped His hands, and the thunders rolled;And the waters above the earth came down,The cooling waters came down.
James Weldon Johnson
The glory of the day was in her face,The beauty of the night was in her eyes.And over all her loveliness, the graceOf Morning blushing in the early skies.
James Weldon Johnson
You sang far better than you knew; the songsThat for your listeners’ hungry hearts sufficedStill live,-but more than this to you belongs:You sang a race from wood and stone to Christ.
James Weldon Johnson
She was my first love, and I loved her as only a boy loves.
James Weldon Johnson
Some men enjoy the constant strifeOf days with work and worry rife,But that is not my dream of life:I think such men are crazy.For me, a life with worries few,A job of nothing much to do,Just pelf enough to see me through:I fear that I am lazy.
James Weldon Johnson
The glory of the day was in her face,The beauty of the night was in her eyes.
James Weldon Johnson
And God smiled again,And the rainbow appeared,And curled itself around his shoulder.
James Weldon Johnson
Southern white people despise the Negro as a race, and will do nothing to aid in his elevation as such; but for certain individuals they have a strong affection, and are helpful to them in many ways.
James Weldon Johnson
There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.
James Weldon Johnson
And God stepped out on space,And He looked around and said,'I'm lonely—I'll make me a world.'
James Weldon Johnson
I believe it to be a fact that the colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white people know and understand them.
James Weldon Johnson
Lift every voice and singTill earth and heaven ring,Ring with the harmonies of Liberty.Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies;Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
James Weldon Johnson
Father, Father Abraham,To-day look on us from above;On us, the offspring of thy faith,The children of thy Christ-like love.
James Weldon Johnson
It is from the blues that all that may be called American music derives its most distinctive character.
James Weldon Johnson
My appearance was always good and my ability to play on the piano, especially ragtime, which was then at the height of its vogue, made me a welcome guest.
James Weldon Johnson
