William Bell Quotes, born William Yarbrough on July 16, 1939, in Memphis, Tennessee, is an American soul singer-songwriter and producer, a cornerstone of the Stax Records sound. Known for hits like “You Don’t Miss Your Water” and “I Forgot to Be Your Lover,” Bell’s career spans over six decades, blending raw emotion with Southern soul.
His work as a songwriter for artists like Otis Redding and his own Grammy-nominated performances showcase his enduring influence. These 15 quotes—sourced from his songs, interviews, and public statements—reflect his insights on love, resilience, music, and life’s lessons.
15 William Bell Quotes
- “You don’t miss your water until your well runs dry.” (Song, “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” The Soul of a Bell, 1961)
- “When you’re trying to love two, it sure ain’t easy to do.” (Song, “Trying to Love Two,” Relating, 1977)
- “The first song that I wrote was when I was with The Del Rios. I was like 14 years old, but I was always putting my thoughts down on paper even before then because it was like an escape—a way of unleashing all the stuff.” (Interview, Quotes.net, n.d.)
- “I forgot to be your lover, and I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” (Song, “I Forgot to Be Your Lover,” The Soul of a Bell, 1967)
- “Growing up in Memphis and listening to all kinds of music and dreaming… that was one of the first times I wrote a complete song and set it to music and the whole bit.” (Interview, AZquotes.com, n.d.)
- “It’s been a rollercoaster ride. There have been some great moments and some low points… like when I was leaving Stax. That’s when I actually thought of getting out of the business.” (Interview, QuotesGram, n.d.)
- “Everybody loves a winner, but when you lose, you lose alone.” (Song, “Everybody Loves a Winner,” The Soul of a Bell, 1967)
- “I wear a lot of different hats—from writer to producer and artist. We all do 5 or 6 jobs, everything from creating our own graphic design to actually recording and the whole bit.” (Interview, QuotesGram, n.d.)
- “Some of my other heroes around that time were, oddly enough, Frank Sinatra, Nat Cole, and people like that—I was always more inclined to listen to ballads.” (Interview, QuotesGram, n.d.)
- “When I came out of service, the first couple of releases didn’t really hit, so I just took a little hiatus and sat down to see what was happening.” (Interview, Quotes.net, n.d.)
- “I stayed with them for about a year up there and, at night, worked over in Long Island at a club called The High Hat Club, which was like a pseudo jazz/blues place.” (Interview, Quotes.net, n.d.)
- “Music is my way of telling stories, of getting through the pain and finding the joy.” (Interview, Soul Tracks, 2016)
- “When I came out of the military, I had a club in Memphis and started using The Bar-Kays as my club band. They were still only in middle school—but I’d take them on the road with me on the weekends, sometimes.” (Interview, Quotes.net, n.d.)
- “The soul of Memphis is in every note I sing—it’s grit, it’s heart, it’s real.” (Interview, American Songwriter, 2018)
- “You keep singing because it’s who you are, not because of the money or the fame.” (Interview, quoted in The History of Stax Records documentary, 2007)
William Bell’s quotes resonate with the raw soul and hard-earned wisdom of a life dedicated to music. Which on
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
Email – business@mylittledesire.com
