--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My mother and father come from that…" description: "\"My mother and father come from that post-Depression, middle-of-World-War -I kind of thinking that says, 'Find a practical job. You know what I mean, Mr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/al-jarreau-7533_big_my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post_986012.png" --- # My mother and father come from that post-Depression… ![“My mother and father come from that post-Depression, middle-of-World-War -I kind of thinking that says, 'Find a practical job. You know what I mean, Mr. Big Shot? So, you can sing a song ...'” quote by Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/al-jarreau-7533_big_my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post_986012.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/al-jarreau-7533_big_my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post_986012.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/al-jarreau-7533_big_my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post_986012.png) > “My mother and father come from that post-Depression, middle-of-World-War -I kind of thinking that says, 'Find a practical job. You know what I mean, Mr. Big Shot? So, you can sing a song ...'” [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on his family's pragmatic mindset during tough economic times, urging practical work over lofty dreams. **In simple terms:** Family taught him to find a practical job during hard times. Key Takeaway Balance practicality with passion in career choices. Themes family pragmatism career economic hardship Mood thoughtful realistic Type motivational pragmatic When to use this quote - job search - skill development - financial planning Key Concepts survival mindset generational advice Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance practicality and passion? - What practical steps can you take toward a dream? A Different Perspective May overlook creative fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Big Shot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-shot/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Depression Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-middle-1987368/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother and father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-and-father/) [Mother Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-father/) [Mr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mr/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Post Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/post-depression-1987366/) [Practical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical/) [Practical Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical-job-1987367/) [Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says/) [Shot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shot/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [“People will always try to steal your power. When you do well, they’ll say it’s only because you’re rich and your parents are big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/people-will-always-try-to-steal-your-power-when-you-do-well-they-ll/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I am no big shot. I am not anybody's boss. I want to be everybody's servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-am-no-big-shot-i-am-not-anybody-s-boss-i-want-to-be-everybody-s/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [One person can make a difference. You don't have to be a big shot. You don't have to have a lot of influence. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-person-can-make-a-difference-you-don-t-have-to-be-a-big-shot-you/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“I got something to say to you, big shot." "Say it, then," I said, "while I'm used to the drone of your voice. I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/i-got-something-to-say-to-you-big-shot-say-it-then-i-said-while-i-m/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [I'm not afraid to take big shots. I'm not afraid to take any type of shots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-green/i-m-not-afraid-to-take-big-shots-i-m-not-afraid-to-take-any-type-of/) [Gerald Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-green/) > [“He dabbed at his tuxedo with a damp rag, and the fungi came away easily. "Hate to do this, Bill," he said of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/he-dabbed-at-his-tuxedo-with-a-damp-rag-and-the-fungi-came-away/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I'll take any big shot. If I miss 10 in a row, I miss 10 in a row.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-reaves/i-ll-take-any-big-shot-if-i-miss-10-in-a-row-i-miss-10-in-a-row/) [Austin Reaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-reaves/) > [In fact, our need to feel like big shots keeps us wedded to inadequate perspectives on the world, keeps us from exploring and dealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/in-fact-our-need-to-feel-like-big-shots-keeps-us-wedded-to-inadequate/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [“ON PLAYING back the 911 recording, it’d seem that Mrs. Stegman was more concerned that the man outside her apartment door was naked than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/on-playing-back-the-911-recording-it-d-seem-that-mrs-stegman-was-more/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [I always talk about, like, with end-of-game situations, making and missing big shots, I know I can shoulder that. I can live with having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lillard/i-always-talk-about-like-with-end-of-game-situations-making-and/) [Damian Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lillard/) > [“What kind of a big shot has the nickname of Skinny Razor? John got the name Skinny Razor because he used to own a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/what-kind-of-a-big-shot-has-the-nickname-of-skinny-razor-john-got-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [I'm not the guy who's afraid of failure. I like to take risks, take the big shot and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-curry/i-m-not-the-guy-who-s-afraid-of-failure-i-like-to-take-risks-take-the/) [Stephen Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-curry/) > [“Big-shot town, small-shot town, jet-propelled old-fashioned town, by old-world hands with new-world tools built into a place whose heartbeat carries farther than its shout,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/big-shot-town-small-shot-town-jet-propelled-old-fashioned-town-by-old/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [I am the jongleur. I leap and pirouette, and make you laugh. I make fun of those in power, and I show you how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-fo/i-am-the-jongleur-i-leap-and-pirouette-and-make-you-laugh-i-make-fun/) [Dario Fo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-fo/) > [Runs are runs, even if they are coming off playing cut shots or in front, but it's not like T20 can only be played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/runs-are-runs-even-if-they-are-coming-off-playing-cut-shots-or-in/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) ## More by Al Jarreau > [I want to give the audience the whole package, and for me, the whole package is to give them something fresh as well. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-want-to-give-the-audience-the-whole-package-and-for-me-the-whole/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I'm a Buckeye at heart. I spend more time giving concerts in Ohio than I do in any other state - perhaps more time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-m-a-buckeye-at-heart-i-spend-more-time-giving-concerts-in-ohio-than/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [Let that get you up in the morning and put the light in your eyes. I'm telling you, it makes you a better husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/let-that-get-you-up-in-the-morning-and-put-the-light-in-your-eyes-i-m/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I'm an R&B and pop singer as well as a jazzer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-m-an-r-b-and-pop-singer-as-well-as-a-jazzer/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I really do see it as the start of the second half of my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-really-do-see-it-as-the-start-of-the-second-half-of-my-career/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [Every day is Thanksgiving.On this stage you're going to hear God and none of them other words, and I ain't going to touch my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/every-day-is-thanksgiving-on-this-stage-you-re-going-to-hear-god-and/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I came along with that crowd of singer-songwriters who were able to make their own statements in such a personal way that it changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-came-along-with-that-crowd-of-singer-songwriters-who-were-able-to/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I think being a little older and a little more determined and being a little more evolved in my case and maturity in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-think-being-a-little-older-and-a-little-more-determined-and-being-a/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [When you do a lyric for 'April in Paris,' those who have heard it before can hear it in a different way now. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/when-you-do-a-lyric-for-april-in-paris-those-who-have-heard-it-before/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I was age six or seven, and singing, "Jesus wants me for her son, beep, to shine for him," and people smiled and pinched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-was-age-six-or-seven-and-singing-jesus-wants-me-for-her-son-beep-to/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I have this image in my head of me in the house I grew up in, and hearing this incredible music on the television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-have-this-image-in-my-head-of-me-in-the-house-i-grew-up-in-and/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I sat on the piano bench next to my mother in church. Something happened before I set foot on this planet. I was crawling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-sat-on-the-piano-bench-next-to-my-mother-in-church-something/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I'm a little bit nervous for us with all of this electronically generated new hyper-space that we've moved into, where not only people but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-m-a-little-bit-nervous-for-us-with-all-of-this-electronically/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [The Metropole Orchestra is like Count Basie or Duke Ellington with strings... it's strings that swing. Strings that swing like Dizzy Gillespie... keep swinging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/the-metropole-orchestra-is-like-count-basie-or-duke-ellington-with/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I came here with something in me that I inherited from my folks. So I'm going to do something called life and times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-came-here-with-something-in-me-that-i-inherited-from-my-folks-so-i/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) [Explore all 90 Al Jarreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) ## More Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [What I know about Ali Krieger is no moment is ever going to be too big for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/what-i-know-about-ali-krieger-is-no-moment-is-ever-going-to-be-too/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) [Browse all 12,477 Big quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My mother and father come from that post-Depression, middle-of-World-War -I kind of thinking that says, 'Find a practical job. You know what I mean, Mr. Big Shot? So, you can sing a song ...'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Al Jarreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post-depression-middle-of-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post-depression-middle-of-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/al-jarreau-7533_big_my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post_986012.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/al-jarreau-7533_big_my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post_986012.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/al-jarreau-7533_big_my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post_986012.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My mother and father come from that post-Depression, middle-of-World-War -I kind of thinking that says…” — Al Jarreau", "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": "Al Jarreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My mother and father come from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post-depression-middle-of-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/my-mother-and-father-come-from-that-post-depression-middle-of-world/#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 } } ] } ```