---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Charley Patton is the original…"
description: "\"Charley Patton is the original inspiration. I didn't play anything when I was a kid. Then, when I was 20, I went into my mam's bedroom because she had ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/chris-rea-8856_guitar_charley-patton-is-the-original-inspirati_2149629.jpg"
---

#  Charley Patton is the original inspiration. I didn't play…

![“Charley Patton is the original inspiration. I didn't play anything when I was a kid. Then, when I was 20, I went into my mam's bedroom because she had a double mirror, and I wanted to see what the back of my hair was doing. She had an alarm-clock radio, and it came on with this old guy moaning and…” quote by Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/chris-rea-8856_guitar_charley-patton-is-the-original-inspirati_2149629.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/chris-rea-8856_guitar_charley-patton-is-the-original-inspirati_2149629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/chris-rea-8856_guitar_charley-patton-is-the-original-inspirati_2149629.jpg)

> “Charley Patton is the original inspiration. I didn't play anything when I was a kid. Then, when I was 20, I went into my mam's bedroom because she had a double mirror, and I wanted to see what the back of my hair was doing. She had an alarm-clock radio, and it came on with this old guy moaning and hollering, playing this strange guitar.”

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Early inspiration came unexpectedly from a mirror and a radio, showing that creativity can spark in mundane moments.

**In simple terms:** Inspiration can arise from ordinary, unexpected places.

Key Takeaway

Stay open to surprising sources of ideas.

Themes

creativity inspiration unexpected sources

Mood

curious reflective

Type

artistic inspirational

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- visual arts
- personal development

Key Concepts

serendipity early influences

Questions to Reflect On

- What everyday moments could spark your next idea?
- How do you capture fleeting inspiration?

A Different Perspective

Not all inspiration is deliberate; randomness can be fleeting.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/)

## Related quotes

> [My original inspiration was my mom: a few years after the death of my dad, she started dating one my teachers!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/my-original-inspiration-was-my-mom-a-few-years-after-the-death-of-my/)

[Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/)

> [If you go for the money first and try to think of what other people want to see, you change your original inspiration and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron-mitchell/if-you-go-for-the-money-first-and-try-to-think-of-what-other-people/)

[John Cameron Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron-mitchell/)

> [I don't think China should care if this crazy old guy should have a show here or not. You have so many museums in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-don-t-think-china-should-care-if-this-crazy-old-guy-should-have-a/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [New guy, old lines. Old guy, new lies. What's the use? Why even try?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/new-guy-old-lines-old-guy-new-lies-what-s-the-use-why-even-try/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Right guy, Wrong time. Right time, Wrong guy. New guy, Old lines. Old guy, New lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-h/right-guy-wrong-time-right-time-wrong-guy-new-guy-old-lines-old-guy/)

[Miranda H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-h/)

> [“The city overwhelmed me. Every day I’d walk by hundreds of strangers, compete for space in crowded coffee shops, and stand shoulder to shoulder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/the-city-overwhelmed-me-every-day-i-d-walk-by-hundreds-of-strangers/)

[Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/)

> [I always thought if you run a Marathon in less than 4 hours, there is a tick of athletic accomplishment in that. Anything over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/i-always-thought-if-you-run-a-marathon-in-less-than-4-hours-there-is/)

[Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/)

> [“When I was eleven or twelve, we had this real old guy as a Sunday school teacher. Mom said he'd been in some war:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mullin/when-i-was-eleven-or-twelve-we-had-this-real-old-guy-as-a-sunday/)

[Mike Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mullin/)

> [I hope to give you at least 15 more years of movies. I'm not going to be this old guy that keeps cranking them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-hope-to-give-you-at-least-15-more-years-of-movies-i-m-not-going-to/)

[Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/)

> [“New Rule: Democrats must get in touch with their inner asshole. I refer to the case of Van Jones, the man the Obama administration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-democrats-must-get-in-touch-with-their-inner-asshole-i-refer/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [“I rooted through my pocketbook and did a fast paraphernalia inventory. I was carrying defense spray, which was a big no-no in a crowded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-rooted-through-my-pocketbook-and-did-a-fast-paraphernalia-inventory/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [It sounds strange to say it, but you can be in a war zone and have a lot of fun. Even though war is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cockburn/it-sounds-strange-to-say-it-but-you-can-be-in-a-war-zone-and-have-a/)

[Bruce Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cockburn/)

> [Yes, e-commerce is a strange situation for an old guy like me. You can buy a TV online, OK, but to buy a dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-azria/yes-e-commerce-is-a-strange-situation-for-an-old-guy-like-me-you-can/)

[Max Azria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-azria/)

> [We all experience many freakish and unexpected events - you have to be open to suffering a little. The philosopher Schopenhauer talked about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/we-all-experience-many-freakish-and-unexpected-events-you-have-to-be/)

[Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/)

> [“I heard Tash say: Nomi, you’re sad man. Get a grip. Walk away. What have I taught you? And I thought: You taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/i-heard-tash-say-nomi-you-re-sad-man-get-a-grip-walk-away-what-have-i/)

[Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/)

## More by Chris Rea

> [Eric Clapton's scales - when he comes off a high note and it's time for a refrain or a little bit of a rest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/eric-clapton-s-scales-when-he-comes-off-a-high-note-and-it-s-time-for/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [I actually, truly do love my family. It's not a public relations exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/i-actually-truly-do-love-my-family-it-s-not-a-public-relations/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [Nothing was ever clean enough for my father. You could never clean as good as he could; you could never clean as fast and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/nothing-was-ever-clean-enough-for-my-father-you-could-never-clean-as/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [Being on the road isn't hell - it's pure pleasure now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/being-on-the-road-isn-t-hell-it-s-pure-pleasure-now/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [My father used to control the wholesale of many ice-cream items in Middlesbrough. He was central distributor for most of the region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/my-father-used-to-control-the-wholesale-of-many-ice-cream-items-in/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [This ain't no upwardly mobile freeway, oh no, this is the road to hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/this-ain-t-no-upwardly-mobile-freeway-oh-no-this-is-the-road-to-hell/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [Music is a saviour for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/music-is-a-saviour-for-me/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [I think all the business stuff - the promotion, the hype, the high-power lunches, and the permanently injected smiles - is boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/i-think-all-the-business-stuff-the-promotion-the-hype-the-high-power/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [I never had a desire to be famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/i-never-had-a-desire-to-be-famous/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [You can waste a whole lifetime Trying to be What you think is expected of you But youll never be free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/you-can-waste-a-whole-lifetime-trying-to-be-what-you-think-is/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [That is the music that I have always wanted to play: real, genuine guitar music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/that-is-the-music-that-i-have-always-wanted-to-play-real-genuine/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [I'm lucky to be alive. I'm one of only 40 people who have survived the surgery I had, and when you've been that close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/i-m-lucky-to-be-alive-i-m-one-of-only-40-people-who-have-survived-the/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [If the heads of all the music companies had known about music and about Chris Rea fans, they wouldn't have worried about 'Stony Road.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/if-the-heads-of-all-the-music-companies-had-known-about-music-and/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [I've given up my Ferrari - the idea of going through my village in a 488... You can't drive them on English roads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/i-ve-given-up-my-ferrari-the-idea-of-going-through-my-village-in-a/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

> [In a funny way, the illness spurred me on. I thought to myself, 'I've got to get through this operation to make a blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/in-a-funny-way-the-illness-spurred-me-on-i-thought-to-myself-i-ve-got/)

[Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

[Explore all 77 Chris Rea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/)

## More Guitar quotes

> [I'll tell you one thing: I will always play the sh\*\* out of my guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-ll-tell-you-one-thing-i-will-always-play-the-sh-out-of-my-guitar/)

[Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/)

> [I remember people would talk about Country Music like it was this sexist, lame thing. Well, no, because Dolly Parton is writing songs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/i-remember-people-would-talk-about-country-music-like-it-was-this/)

[Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/)

> [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/)

[Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/)

> [Growing up in Dallas, my first influences on the guitar were T-Bone Walker and Les Paul. T-Bone taught me how to play lead guitar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/growing-up-in-dallas-my-first-influences-on-the-guitar-were-t-bone/)

[Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/)

> [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/)

[Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/)

> [That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a note on a guitar. To make it matter is something else altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/)

[Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/)

> [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/)

[Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/)

> [I play, like, 12 instruments. Guitar, piano, harmonica, African drums... I'm working on mastering the accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/i-play-like-12-instruments-guitar-piano-harmonica-african-drums-i-m/)

[Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/)

> [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/)

[Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/)

> [I took guitar lessons and recorded the song in New York. It was kind of a dream. I got to pretend I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-took-guitar-lessons-and-recorded-the-song-in-new-york-it-was-kind/)

[Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/)

> [There's a need for music that has urgency and emotional honesty. That's why people are reintroducing themselves to guitar music - that instrument has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mura-masa/there-s-a-need-for-music-that-has-urgency-and-emotional-honesty-that/)

[Mura Masa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mura-masa/)

> [I like to be quiet and play guitar and just chill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/post-malone/i-like-to-be-quiet-and-play-guitar-and-just-chill/)

[Post Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/post-malone/)

> [My first proper 'Here's your guitar, Joseph' was a 1981 Chiquita, one of those Erlewine travel guitars. And it was good for a four-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/my-first-proper-here-s-your-guitar-joseph-was-a-1981-chiquita-one-of/)

[Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/)

> [Kenny Burrell is the grand master of jazz guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/kenny-burrell-is-the-grand-master-of-jazz-guitar/)

[Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/)

> [Because of my background, I never felt comfortable with these R&amp;B divas, but I'd hate to be just some pensive girl with a guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-comfortable-with-these-r-b/)

[Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/)

[Browse all 3,915 Guitar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Charley Patton is the original inspiration. I didn't play anything when I was a kid. Then, when I was 20, I went into my mam's bedroom because she had a double mirror, and I wanted to see what the back of my hair was doing. She had an alarm-clock radio, and it came on with this old guy moaning and hollering, playing this strange guitar.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chris Rea"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/charley-patton-is-the-original-inspiration-i-didn-t-play-anything/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Guitar"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/charley-patton-is-the-original-inspiration-i-didn-t-play-anything/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/chris-rea-8856_guitar_charley-patton-is-the-original-inspirati_2149629.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/chris-rea-8856_guitar_charley-patton-is-the-original-inspirati_2149629.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/chris-rea-8856_guitar_charley-patton-is-the-original-inspirati_2149629.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Charley Patton is the original inspiration. I didn't play anything when I was a kid. Then, when I was 20, I…” — Chris Rea",
                "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": "Chris Rea",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Charley Patton is the original inspiration....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/charley-patton-is-the-original-inspiration-i-didn-t-play-anything/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/charley-patton-is-the-original-inspiration-i-didn-t-play-anything/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
