--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was only a young whippersnapper at that…" description: "\"I was only a young whippersnapper at that point. I was in pubs playing Barry Manilow songs. I didn't know what to expect.\" — Chesney Hawkes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/chesney-hawkes-10644_expect_i-was-only-a-young-whippersnapper-at-tha_222857.jpg" --- # I was only a young whippersnapper at that point. I was in… ![“I was only a young whippersnapper at that point. I was in pubs playing Barry Manilow songs. I didn't know what to expect.” quote by Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/chesney-hawkes-10644_expect_i-was-only-a-young-whippersnapper-at-tha_222857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/chesney-hawkes-10644_expect_i-was-only-a-young-whippersnapper-at-tha_222857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/chesney-hawkes-10644_expect_i-was-only-a-young-whippersnapper-at-tha_222857.jpg) > “I was only a young whippersnapper at that point. I was in pubs playing Barry Manilow songs. I didn't know what to expect.” [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A youthful narrator reflects on early, carefree days performing popular songs in pubs, unaware of future expectations. **In simple terms:** Young performer reminiscing about early gigs. Key Takeaway Embrace early experiences as learning steps. Themes nostalgia music growth Mood reflective hopeful Type personal narrative anecdotal When to use this quote - pub performances - first gigs - learning on stage Key Concepts self-discovery career beginnings Questions to Reflect On - What did those early gigs teach you? - How might they shape your future? A Different Perspective Limited perspective may overlook deeper aspirations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pubs/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) ## Related quotes > [“I’ll break every bone in your damned body, you dirty little whippersnapper,” he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-ll-break-every-bone-in-your-damned-body-you-dirty-little/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [When you play all that as a body of work there are four great songs, four mediocre songs and four bad songs. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-bachman/when-you-play-all-that-as-a-body-of-work-there-are-four-great-songs/) [Randy Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-bachman/) > [It never really interested me in the past but, for the first time, I wanted to make a pop record. I thought a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bejar/it-never-really-interested-me-in-the-past-but-for-the-first-time-i/) [Dan Bejar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bejar/) > [There's only one reason why you write new songs: You get sick of the old songs. It's not that I didn't do anything during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/there-s-only-one-reason-why-you-write-new-songs-you-get-sick-of-the/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I think when I was younger I was not very good at writing love songs that didn't have a twist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-think-when-i-was-younger-i-was-not-very-good-at-writing-love-songs/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [The fact is, for the first 10 years I toured as a solo artist, I wasn't playing any of the songs I didn't write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/the-fact-is-for-the-first-10-years-i-toured-as-a-solo-artist-i-wasn-t/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [“On a bad day, he could only remember Justin Bieber songs, which didn't do anything except give me a headache.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/on-a-bad-day-he-could-only-remember-justin-bieber-songs-which-didn-t/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [ You can't outdo 'Street Songs' and I didn’t even try. \[It\] had that special magic that comes with timing and good vibrations and you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-james/you-can-t-outdo-street-songs-and-i-didn-t-even-try-it-had-that/) [Rick James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-james/) > [I didn't even know I could sing or write songs. I didn't have that education. But people shouldn't think they can look down on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-murs/i-didn-t-even-know-i-could-sing-or-write-songs-i-didn-t-have-that/) [Olly Murs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-murs/) > [I wanted to put a sheet in explaining what all the songs are about, but they didn't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-wanted-to-put-a-sheet-in-explaining-what-all-the-songs-are-about/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [My career was really odd, because I literally had a greatest hits album out and nobody knew who I was. They knew the songs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/my-career-was-really-odd-because-i-literally-had-a-greatest-hits/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [I had been told by a number of people that if you get half of what you want on your first album, you're doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-aiken/i-had-been-told-by-a-number-of-people-that-if-you-get-half-of-what/) [Clay Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-aiken/) > [The Washed Out thing happened really quickly, and I wasn't really actively promoting the songs. I didn't think of them as any more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washed-out/the-washed-out-thing-happened-really-quickly-and-i-wasn-t-really/) [Washed Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washed-out/) > [As a producer you can be more objective about the songs because you didn't write them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bachmann/as-a-producer-you-can-be-more-objective-about-the-songs-because-you/) [Eric Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bachmann/) > [I got really sick of playing just, like, 'Bop-bop-bop-bada-bop-bop-bada-rapa-pah.' Just playing that 190-beats-per-minute punk-rock songs, I didn't feel it anymore. And I always loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rzeznik/i-got-really-sick-of-playing-just-like-bop-bop-bop-bada-bop-bop-bada/) [John Rzeznik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rzeznik/) ## More by Chesney Hawkes > [My dad was lead singer of the Tremeloes and he gave me advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/my-dad-was-lead-singer-of-the-tremeloes-and-he-gave-me-advice/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [I ripped all the cartilage out of my hip in a water ski jumping accident. I am a bit accident prone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/i-ripped-all-the-cartilage-out-of-my-hip-in-a-water-ski-jumping/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [My day job these days is I am writing, producing and developing young artists here in the States, in between working on my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/my-day-job-these-days-is-i-am-writing-producing-and-developing-young/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [I remember there was days when I would do six, seven countries in a day, you'd just be flying around and I'd get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/i-remember-there-was-days-when-i-would-do-six-seven-countries-in-a/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [It feels like I've been dancing for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/it-feels-like-i-ve-been-dancing-for-years/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [Of course I had a good family, so that kept my feet on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/of-course-i-had-a-good-family-so-that-kept-my-feet-on-the-ground/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [Seriously, I lived in America for a while, I've been in lots of different bands, I write songs for all sorts of different artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/seriously-i-lived-in-america-for-a-while-i-ve-been-in-lots-of/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [Over the years I've worked in everything from R&B, pop, country to rock 'n' roll to heavy rock, alternative... if there's one thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/over-the-years-i-ve-worked-in-everything-from-r-b-pop-country-to-rock/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [I'd been spending way too much money. I wasn't very sensible. I got to the point where I couldn't afford to even pay the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/i-d-been-spending-way-too-much-money-i-wasn-t-very-sensible-i-got-to/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [In fact one of the main reasons I head out to Los Angeles quite a bit is because they have the most amazing sushi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/in-fact-one-of-the-main-reasons-i-head-out-to-los-angeles-quite-a-bit/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [Well I do like to give myself a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/well-i-do-like-to-give-myself-a-challenge/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [I've done panto down the years, I love that. So never say never for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/i-ve-done-panto-down-the-years-i-love-that-so-never-say-never-for/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [When I first released 'The One And Only' nobody knew it was going to be so big. I just thought, 'Oh, this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/when-i-first-released-the-one-and-only-nobody-knew-it-was-going-to-be/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [I've worked with a lot of 'American Idols' over there and I've worked with the 'German Idol' winner and had songs on 'Australian Idol.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/i-ve-worked-with-a-lot-of-american-idols-over-there-and-i-ve-worked/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [Yeah... my wife says no more reality shows in case I break another bone or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/yeah-my-wife-says-no-more-reality-shows-in-case-i-break-another-bone/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) [Explore all 64 Chesney Hawkes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) ## More Expect quotes > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you expect the worst from a person you can never be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-never-be-disappointed/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [Beare with evill, and expect good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/beare-with-evill-and-expect-good/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/therefore-you-also-must-be-ready-for-the-son-of-man-is-coming-at-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People expect more and more every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-boosie/people-expect-more-and-more-every-time/) [Lil Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-boosie/) > [“Love is promising to give someone everything and not expect anything in return.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-hart/love-is-promising-to-give-someone-everything-and-not-expect-anything/) [Emma Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-hart/) > [I wanted to make a place for filmmakers and artists to come and 'do their stuff,' but I didn't expect it to have had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-anderson/i-wanted-to-make-a-place-for-filmmakers-and-artists-to-come-and-do/) [Tom Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-anderson/) > [Parents should have perfect control over their own spirits, and with mildness and yet firmness bend the will of the child until it shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/parents-should-have-perfect-control-over-their-own-spirits-and-with/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [“When you have a relationship with Jesus, you learn to expect something different everyday of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mlungisi-simelane/when-you-have-a-relationship-with-jesus-you-learn-to-expect-something/) [Mlungisi Simelane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mlungisi-simelane/) > [I didn't expect I will get the Arjuna at 18 years. I thought 19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/i-didn-t-expect-i-will-get-the-arjuna-at-18-years-i-thought-19/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Sometimes when you least expect it, hope wiggles into your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-plourde/sometimes-when-you-least-expect-it-hope-wiggles-into-your-heart/) [Lynn Plourde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-plourde/) > [I laid my life on the line, so I expect nothing less from you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/i-laid-my-life-on-the-line-so-i-expect-nothing-less-from-you/) [A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/) Browse all 2,143 Expect quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was only a young whippersnapper at that point. 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