Ray quotes

View Quote Aretha Robinson: Always remember your promise to me. Never let nobody or nothin' turn you into no cripple.

View Quote Della Bea Robinson: [about one of Ray's sons] He isn't my gift to you, he's your son.

View Quote Aretha Robinson: Somebody'll fetch you when the bus gets to St. Augustine. When your there, show 'em this. [shows Ray a name tag] Tell them your name is Ray Charles Robinson. An' them sandwiches I made, don't eat them all at once... ya hear me?
Young Ray Robinson: [starting to cry] Mama... please don't make me go away. I'll keep up with the normal kids. I'll be good, just like George.
Aretha Robinson: This ain't got nothin' to do with George... I've taken you as far as I can, baby. The teachers at St. Augustine know things I can't teach you. An' you need an education in this world.
Young Ray Robinson: I don't want no education!
Aretha Robinson: Shh! don't say that!
Young Ray Robinson: I don't! I wanna stay here with you!
Aretha Robinson: Stop it, Ray! I won't have you livin' hand to mouth like me, you hear? [Ray nods] Now... If you wanna do something to make Mama proud, promise me you'll never let nobody turn you into no cripple... You won't become no charity case. An' you will always stand on your own two feet.
Young Ray Robinson: I promise.
Aretha Robinson: I love you baby... I'm so proud of you.

View Quote Della Bea Robinson: [just discovered Ray's drug problem] That stuff kills people, Ray. Now you've gotta stop it.
Ray Charles: I don't have to do a GODDAMN thing!

View Quote Della Bea Robinson: The only thing that can help you is God, Ray!
Ray Charles: Don't you talk about God! You have any idea how it feels to go blind and still be afraid of the dark? And every day, you stand and pray just for a little light, and you don't get nothing. Cause God don't listen to people like me.
Della Bea Robinson: Stop talking like that, Ray.
Ray Charles: As far as I'm concerned, me and God is even, and I do what I damn well please. And goddamnit, if I wanna shoot, I'm gonna shoot up.

View Quote Fathead Newman: Ray, this fool, Joe Adams, is trying to fine for me for being late.
Ray Charles: What time did you get here?
Fathead Newman: What? Just now. The band's still setting up. Jeff never...
Joe Adams: I'm not Jeff.
Fathead Newman: That's a fact, Jack.
Jeff Brown: Ray, you said the band was my thing.
Ray Charles: That's right, I did.
Jeff Brown: Fathead, you go on back to rehearsal.
Fathead Newman: Ray! You know how it is, you've been there.
Jeff Brown: Fathead, go on now. I'll take care of this. Ray, you want to tell me what the hell is going on.
Joe Adams: I'm not doing anything I haven't been asked to do. Ray's running a business. He shouldn't have to waste time hearing why people were late.
Jeff Adams: I'm not talking to you, Joe. I'm talking to Ray.

View Quote George Robinson: I'm a giant! [falls into a washtub]
Young Ray Robinson: Some giant.

View Quote Gossie McGee: [about Jack Lauderdale] You need watching out for and he ain't got time to look after you the way I been looking after you.
Ray Charles: Is that what you been doing, Gossie, watching out for me? Is that why you get paid double what I do?
Gossie McGee: Who told you that?
Ray Charles: Well it's true, ain't it? You and Marlene been gaming me since I got here.
Marlene Andres: Ray, baby, listen...
Ray Charles: I ain't got to listen to you!
Gossie McGee: Listen Ray, I been meaning to talk to you about that.
Ray Charles: Then why aren't you talking?
Gossie McGee: Look Ray, let's do nothing stupid.
Ray Charles: I might be blind but I ain't stupid!

View Quote Quincy Jones: Say, daddy-o, what axe you play?
Ray Charles: Uh, piano. Just blew in from Tampa, Florida. Me and my partner, Gossie McGee, came here, you know, want to fatten up our style. Cop some licks from some more experienced cats, you dig?
Quincy Jones: You know what? Why don't you let me take you inside? You know, show you around.
Ray Charles: All right. Perfect gentleman.
Quincy Jones: Yeah, this is just like my place. So, what's your name?
Ray Charles: Ray Robinson.
Quincy Jones: I'm Quincy Jones.

View Quote Ray Charles: [accuses Jeff of stealing] Promoters swear that you did side deals so that you could strip my overages. How could you do that? We've been through so much. We were like brothers.
Jeff Brown: You know, Ray... if we were like brothers, why are you paying Joe more than you're paying me?
Ray Charles: Damn all that. You broke my heart, man.
Jeff Brown: You know what, Ray? You broke mine a long goddamn time ago.
Ray Charles: Well, there it is.
Jeff Brown: [walks away] You know something, Ray? You're gonna get yours one day. And I pray to God he has mercy on you soul, you son of a bitch!
Joe Adams: [walks out of his office] Everything all right, Ray?
Ray Charles: How the hell do you think it is?

View Quote Ray Charles: Could you do me a favor and close that bag?
Quincy Jones: What's wrong with you? You got two hands. You can close it yourself.
Ray Charles: I got two feet too. Could you close that bag?
Quincy Jones: [chuckling] I got it.

View Quote Ray Charles: I have a question for all of you: How would like to go on the road with me?
Margie Hendricks: Um, how much are you gonna pay us?
Ray Charles: Ahmet takes care of all of that.
Margie Hendricks: You mean he don't listen to you?
Ray Charles: You better know he does. Don't worry about it. Brother Ray will take care of all of you.
Margie Hendricks: Well my mama taught me to take care of myself, honey.
Ray Charles: Well is your mother here?
Margie Hendricks: No she's not, but I speak for us.
Ray Charles: Okay Speak For Us, how about $20 a week?
Margie Hendricks: We'll take $40. Each.
Ray Charles: $40 each?
Margie Hendricks: You heard me.
Ray Charles: Naw! How about $25?
Margie Hendricks: We'll take $30.
Ray Charles: I better say yes before you talk me out of my drawers.
[The Cookies cheer and laugh]
Ray Charles: Is it a deal?
Margie Hendricks: Oh! Yeah!
Ray Charles: From now on you guys are gonna be called the Raylettes.
Margie Hendricks: Does that mean we have to "let Ray"?
Ray Charles: Oh, what am I gonna do with you?
Margie Hendricks: I'm sure you'll think of something.

View Quote Ray Charles: I hear like you see. Like that hummingbird outside the window, for instance.
Della Bea Robinson: [astonished] I can't hear her.
Ray Charles: You have to listen.
Della Bea Robinson: [closes her eyes and hears the hummingbird] Yes!
Ray Charles: Yeah. Yes, you can... Uh-oh. Did you hear that?
Della Bea Robinson: What?
Ray Charles: Her heart just skipped a beat.

View Quote Ray Charles: Margie is drunk, Jeff. You should go home and sleep it off.
Jeff Brown: Margie, come on now, let me take you home.
Margie Hendricks: No, I'll leave when I'm good and goddamn ready to!
Ray Charles: She's good and goddamn ready right now.
Margie Hendricks: Why don't you make me leave this, sucker! Teach you to treat me like some piece of meat!

View Quote Ray Charles: Miss Antoine, it's been two weeks.
Della Bea Robinson: It's been three.
[They kiss and she pushes him inside]
Ray Charles: Well, where's the preacher at and the wife?
Della Bea Robinson: They're in Dallas till Monday.
Ray Charles: Well, hallelujah!