--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was very small, when I was five or…" description: "\"When I was very small, when I was five or six, that's what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a song and dance man. Then I got a lot of inspiration from go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/denis-lawson-11527_dance_when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or_2411326.jpg" --- # When I was very small, when I was five or six, that's what… ![“When I was very small, when I was five or six, that's what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a song and dance man. Then I got a lot of inspiration from going to visit my grandparents in Glasgow, where I'd go to see variety. That made me want to do it as well.” quote by Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/denis-lawson-11527_dance_when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or_2411326.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/denis-lawson-11527_dance_when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or_2411326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/denis-lawson-11527_dance_when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or_2411326.jpg) > “When I was very small, when I was five or six, that's what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a song and dance man. Then I got a lot of inspiration from going to visit my grandparents in Glasgow, where I'd go to see variety. That made me want to do it as well.” [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child’s early dream of performing was shaped by family visits and exposure to live variety shows, fueling a lifelong passion for entertainment. **In simple terms:** Childhood dream shaped by family and variety shows. Key Takeaway Embrace early inspirations to guide career choices. Themes dreams family influence performance career development Mood nostalgic inspired reflective Type personal motivational When to use this quote - Choosing a career in entertainment - seeking mentorship - attending live performances - overcoming self‑doubt Key Concepts Inspiration cultural exposure identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How have family experiences shaped your aspirations? - What steps can you take to keep childhood passions alive? A Different Perspective Early enthusiasm may fade without continued support or opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Grandparents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandparents/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Song and dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-and-dance/) ## Related quotes > [I always give the audience a variety because I want to make sure they hear the favorites and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vonda-shepard/i-always-give-the-audience-a-variety-because-i-want-to-make-sure-they/) [Vonda Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vonda-shepard/) > [I always look for variety. I always want to run the gamut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wright/i-always-look-for-variety-i-always-want-to-run-the-gamut/) [Robin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wright/) > [As an actor, that's what you want. You want variety. I want to try things that I'm not used to and push my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/as-an-actor-that-s-what-you-want-you-want-variety-i-want-to-try/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [My initial impulse was to be an entertainer, a song and dance man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/my-initial-impulse-was-to-be-an-entertainer-a-song-and-dance-man/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [Wisdom will always be there and inspiration will keep on going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simie/wisdom-will-always-be-there-and-inspiration-will-keep-on-going-on/) [Simie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simie/) > [Motion Before Motivation: It means you get started FIRST, then FEEL the Inspiration to keep going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d/motion-before-motivation-it-means-you-get-started-first-then-feel-the/) [Mike D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d/) > [Sometimes, you don't know where your inspiration's going to come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ranaldo/sometimes-you-don-t-know-where-your-inspiration-s-going-to-come-from/) [Lee Ranaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ranaldo/) > [You never know where inspiration is going to come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-enninful/you-never-know-where-inspiration-is-going-to-come-from/) [Edward Enninful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-enninful/) > [You don't know when inspiration is going to come. But you have to be aware of what's going on around you, so that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keller/you-don-t-know-when-inspiration-is-going-to-come-but-you-have-to-be/) [Thomas Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keller/) > [This is what I always tell my filmmakers-you have to do tons of research, because you don't know where the inspiration is going come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/this-is-what-i-always-tell-my-filmmakers-you-have-to-do-tons-of/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [No amount of trying to inhale one more shred of inspiration is going to make it any easier to put your heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-kane/no-amount-of-trying-to-inhale-one-more-shred-of-inspiration-is-going/) [Christine Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-kane/) > [I like to sit at my desk... sometimes I get inspiration when I'm going about my normal day-to-day life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/i-like-to-sit-at-my-desk-sometimes-i-get-inspiration-when-i-m-going/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [When women hear each other's stories, told from the heart, it gives us inspiration to keep on going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/when-women-hear-each-other-s-stories-told-from-the-heart-it-gives-us/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [My parents came out of Glasgow during the Depression and both - particularly my father - had very tough childhoods. They fought their way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/my-parents-came-out-of-glasgow-during-the-depression-and-both/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [My family are all Glasgow. I was born there. Govan. When it was very tough. The tenements. All that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/my-family-are-all-glasgow-i-was-born-there-govan-when-it-was-very/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) ## More by Denis Lawson > [My parents came out of Glasgow during the Depression and both - particularly my father - had very tough childhoods. They fought their way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/my-parents-came-out-of-glasgow-during-the-depression-and-both/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > ['Local Hero' was probably the most enjoyable job I've ever done then or since. It's had a very long shelf life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/local-hero-was-probably-the-most-enjoyable-job-i-ve-ever-done-then-or/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I don't really have a problem at all with doing a show that a lot of people watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-don-t-really-have-a-problem-at-all-with-doing-a-show-that-a-lot-of/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I do some very high energy comedy, vaudeville, music hall stuff, and people who've seen my work on camera, on TV and movies, would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-do-some-very-high-energy-comedy-vaudeville-music-hall-stuff-and/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I rather like contemporary art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-rather-like-contemporary-art/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [The way the show was conceived originally and developed, has always had good writing at the heart of it, it's very difficult to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/the-way-the-show-was-conceived-originally-and-developed-has-always/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [The first four years, I worked exclusively in the theater. I did a great deal of different types of acting - avant garde and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/the-first-four-years-i-worked-exclusively-in-the-theater-i-did-a/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [Way back at the beginning, I went to see George Lucas when he first came to London for 'Star Wars.' I met him months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/way-back-at-the-beginning-i-went-to-see-george-lucas-when-he-first/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [A big moment for me came when 'Singin' in the Rain' came out. It hit me like a sledgehammer - that's what I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/a-big-moment-for-me-came-when-singin-in-the-rain-came-out-it-hit-me/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I get so bored about that, please don't ask me about 'Star Wars.' It was just so unimportant to me as a job, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-get-so-bored-about-that-please-don-t-ask-me-about-star-wars-it-was/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I got married on a beach in Italy. It was very romantic getting married in Italian. But I've no idea what we agreed to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-got-married-on-a-beach-in-italy-it-was-very-romantic-getting/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [In P7, I played Robin in a musical version of 'Robin Hood' and afterwards DO McLean was standing with mum and dad and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/in-p7-i-played-robin-in-a-musical-version-of-robin-hood-and/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I had a feeling 'Star Wars' might do well, but I didn't anticipate just how well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-had-a-feeling-star-wars-might-do-well-but-i-didn-t-anticipate-just/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I hadn't read Dickens for a while and doing 'Bleak House' was great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-hadn-t-read-dickens-for-a-while-and-doing-bleak-house-was-great/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I've always been interested in Jewish culture, but never had a chance to dip into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-jewish-culture-but-never-had-a-chance/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) [Explore all 59 Denis Lawson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) ## More Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was very small, when I was five or six, that's what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a song and dance man. Then I got a lot of inspiration from going to visit my grandparents in Glasgow, where I'd go to see variety. That made me want to do it as well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denis Lawson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or-six-that-s-what-i-wanted-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or-six-that-s-what-i-wanted-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/denis-lawson-11527_dance_when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or_2411326.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/denis-lawson-11527_dance_when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or_2411326.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/denis-lawson-11527_dance_when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or_2411326.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was very small, when I was five or six, that's what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a song and dance…” — Denis Lawson", "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": "Denis Lawson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was very small, when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or-six-that-s-what-i-wanted-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/when-i-was-very-small-when-i-was-five-or-six-that-s-what-i-wanted-to/#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 } } ] } ```