--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm living in a world that was created a…" description: "\"I'm living in a world that was created a hundred years ago with vaudeville and people traveling around and medicine shows and things and making live mu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/don-mclean-6904_art_i-m-living-in-a-world-that-was-created-a_2374812.jpg" --- # I'm living in a world that was created a hundred years ago… ![“I'm living in a world that was created a hundred years ago with vaudeville and people traveling around and medicine shows and things and making live music on stage and I'm still doing that. I like it that way. I like to present something to people that's had 40 years of being honed and perfected…” quote by Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/don-mclean-6904_art_i-m-living-in-a-world-that-was-created-a_2374812.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/don-mclean-6904_art_i-m-living-in-a-world-that-was-created-a_2374812.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/don-mclean-6904_art_i-m-living-in-a-world-that-was-created-a_2374812.jpg) > “I'm living in a world that was created a hundred years ago with vaudeville and people traveling around and medicine shows and things and making live music on stage and I'm still doing that. I like it that way. I like to present something to people that's had 40 years of being honed and perfected. It's something that you're not going to find with an artist who's been around for two or three years, or even ten years.” [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values traditional, time‑tested performance styles over fleeting trends, emphasizing depth built over decades. **In simple terms:** He prefers classic, honed performance over new trends. Key Takeaway Prioritize mastering your craft over chasing novelty. Themes tradition craftsmanship authenticity experience longevity Mood nostalgic proud reflective Type statement philosophical When to use this quote - live music venues - theater productions - heritage festivals - educational workshops Key Concepts cultural heritage artistic integrity skill refinement Questions to Reflect On - How does longevity affect artistic relevance? - What balance should be struck between tradition and innovation? A Different Perspective May not resonate with audiences seeking innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Live music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Vaudeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vaudeville/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [There were a great many in vaudeville - people who never quite came through. But they had their place, and they filled it. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lunt/there-were-a-great-many-in-vaudeville-people-who-never-quite-came/) [Alfred Lunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lunt/) > [I knew I wanted to be a writer at 13. Before that, I told everyone I was going to be an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-at-13-before-that-i-told-everyone-i/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [In Brazil, when you say you're going to be an artist you always get that point of view that this is a crazy career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodrigo-santoro/in-brazil-when-you-say-you-re-going-to-be-an-artist-you-always-get/) [Rodrigo Santoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodrigo-santoro/) > [If you're going to be an artist, you have to create music that moves you, and to not try to fit in so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikka-costa/if-you-re-going-to-be-an-artist-you-have-to-create-music-that-moves/) [Nikka Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikka-costa/) > [If you're going to be an artist, you need to be an original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinky-friedman/if-you-re-going-to-be-an-artist-you-need-to-be-an-original/) [Kinky Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinky-friedman/) > [My father kind of had hopes that I was going to become an artist like him - the typical thing. Of course I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-russell/my-father-kind-of-had-hopes-that-i-was-going-to-become-an-artist-like/) [David Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-russell/) > [I never thought, "I'm going to be an artist". When I actually began to become successful in the art world I made it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/i-never-thought-i-m-going-to-be-an-artist-when-i-actually-began-to/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Sometime during the mid-50s I said, 'I am an artist.' Before that, for many years, I had said, 'I'm going to be an artist.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/sometime-during-the-mid-50s-i-said-i-am-an-artist-before-that-for/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) > [I'm going to be a better actor, or I'm going to try to be a better actor. I'm going to try to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-kirke/i-m-going-to-be-a-better-actor-or-i-m-going-to-try-to-be-a-better/) [Lola Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-kirke/) > [I was at one point thinking about being an art historian, when I was in school. And not being an artist, but I decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-was-at-one-point-thinking-about-being-an-art-historian-when-i-was/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [If you're going to be an artist, real life is your inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/if-you-re-going-to-be-an-artist-real-life-is-your-inspiration/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Growing up, I was always surrounded by musicians. After I got into that trouble, got locked up and when I got out I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akon/growing-up-i-was-always-surrounded-by-musicians-after-i-got-into-that/) [Akon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akon/) > [Every time I'm in the studio, I always think of my professor in undergrad. He was like, "There are so many artists in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wardell-milan/every-time-i-m-in-the-studio-i-always-think-of-my-professor-in/) [Wardell Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wardell-milan/) > [I always thought I was going to be an artist. I used to draw, and I would read Russian novels until 3 or 4…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-klein/i-always-thought-i-was-going-to-be-an-artist-i-used-to-draw-and-i/) [William Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-klein/) > [Nothing irritates me more than going to see an artist and paying all this money and then have them rant about very specific political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corabi/nothing-irritates-me-more-than-going-to-see-an-artist-and-paying-all/) [John Corabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corabi/) ## More by Don McLean > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [I am what I do, and that's partly why I don't want to give up singing. But when I can't sing well, I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-am-what-i-do-and-that-s-partly-why-i-don-t-want-to-give-up-singing/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [The society that produced The Who, The Stones, Dylan, Paul McCartney and later on people, like myself, is over. The materialistic society that produces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/the-society-that-produced-the-who-the-stones-dylan-paul-mccartney-and/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [And if she asks you why you can tell her that I told you That I'm tired of Castles in the Air I've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/and-if-she-asks-you-why-you-can-tell-her-that-i-told-you-that-i-m/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [I saw satan laughing with delight The day the music died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-saw-satan-laughing-with-delight-the-day-the-music-died/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [I mean, I've been given a terrific life by the audiences who stuck with me all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-mean-i-ve-been-given-a-terrific-life-by-the-audiences-who-stuck/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [You're going to be buying your ticket with your heartache, you're gonna be payin' the man with your dues. You're gonna be living alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/you-re-going-to-be-buying-your-ticket-with-your-heartache-you-re/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Starry, starry night, flaming flowers that brightly blaze, swirling clouds in violet haze reflect Vincent's eyes of china blue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/starry-starry-night-flaming-flowers-that-brightly-blaze-swirling/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Faces come and faces go in circular rotation.But something yearns within to grow beyond infatuation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/faces-come-and-faces-go-in-circular-rotation-but-something-yearns/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Every thread of creation is held in position by still other strands of things living. In an earthly tapestry hung from the skyline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/every-thread-of-creation-is-held-in-position-by-still-other-strands/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Herman Melville was supposed to be an accountant. Van Gogh was meant to be an art dealer. I was meant to take the train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/herman-melville-was-supposed-to-be-an-accountant-van-gogh-was-meant/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [American Pie speaks to the loss that we feel. That's why that song has found the niche that it has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/american-pie-speaks-to-the-loss-that-we-feel-that-s-why-that-song-has/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [And when no hope was left inside on that starry, starry night, you took your life as lovers often do. But I could have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/and-when-no-hope-was-left-inside-on-that-starry-starry-night-you-took/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [The horrible thing about Death of princess Diana - the sacrificial lamb, which she was. And I believe, in a sense, John Kennedy, Jr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/the-horrible-thing-about-death-of-princess-diana-the-sacrificial-lamb/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Not a word was spoken. The church bells all were broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/not-a-word-was-spoken-the-church-bells-all-were-broken/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) [Explore all 96 Don McLean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm living in a world that was created a hundred years ago with vaudeville and people traveling around and medicine shows and things and making live music on stage and I'm still doing that. 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