---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always saw myself as a sideman. I…"
description: "\"I always saw myself as a sideman. I figured I'd end up a drummer.\" — Hank Williams III"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hank-williams-iii-3812_always_i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figur_507122.jpg"
---

#  I always saw myself as a sideman. I figured I'd end up a…

![“I always saw myself as a sideman. I figured I'd end up a drummer.” quote by Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hank-williams-iii-3812_always_i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figur_507122.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hank-williams-iii-3812_always_i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figur_507122.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hank-williams-iii-3812_always_i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figur_507122.jpg)

> “I always saw myself as a sideman. I figured I'd end up a drummer.”

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker sees themselves as a supporting musician, expecting to remain in a secondary role rather than a frontman.

**In simple terms:** Self‑identification as a sideman.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your chosen role.

Themes

identity music career path

Mood

reflective ambivalent

Type

musical personal

When to use this quote

- band dynamics
- career planning
- studio sessions

Key Concepts

role theory self‑concept

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you desire a leading role?
- How can a sideman influence the music?

A Different Perspective

May limit personal growth opportunities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Drummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drummer/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [End Drummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-drummer-4307036/) [Figured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figured/) [Figured End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figured-end-4307037/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Saw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saw/) [Sideman Figured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sideman-figured-4307035/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/)

## Related quotes

> [I guess I figured out my dad was a fight coordinator pretty early, because I always saw him running into walls and stuff and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-bostick/i-guess-i-figured-out-my-dad-was-a-fight-coordinator-pretty-early/)

[Devon Bostick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-bostick/)

> [As a young kid I never saw myself as a drummer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-bonham/as-a-young-kid-i-never-saw-myself-as-a-drummer/)

[Jason Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-bonham/)

> [I did this thing with Trisha Yearwood, a song called 'The Price.' I had been sitting on it for a while, because I figured,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/i-did-this-thing-with-trisha-yearwood-a-song-called-the-price-i-had/)

[Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/)

> [With 'Philharmonics,' I had to do a lot of interviews, and it was like I was corrupting something. In many ways, I've said everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-obel/with-philharmonics-i-had-to-do-a-lot-of-interviews-and-it-was-like-i/)

[Agnes Obel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-obel/)

> [A few months into my research, General Petraeus, who was then leading Central Command, invited me to go for a run with him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/a-few-months-into-my-research-general-petraeus-who-was-then-leading/)

[Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/)

> [I work very closely with my publisher and just give them tons and tons of music, and then they link that with different songwriters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/i-work-very-closely-with-my-publisher-and-just-give-them-tons-and/)

[Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/)

> [Well, we promised our fans that we'd put out records faster, and that's what we're doing. We figured out a way to condense our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/well-we-promised-our-fans-that-we-d-put-out-records-faster-and-that-s/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

> [I grew up watching 'Star Trek.' I love 'Star Trek.' 'Star Trek' made me want to see alien creatures, creatures from a far-distant world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dickinson/i-grew-up-watching-star-trek-i-love-star-trek-star-trek-made-me-want/)

[Michael Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dickinson/)

> [We'd been noticing how much more important the internet had become - once information is out there in the world now, anyone can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/we-d-been-noticing-how-much-more-important-the-internet-had-become/)

[Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/)

> [I was a manual labourer. I figured out really early on that the value of my life could be determined by my hourly rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-was-a-manual-labourer-i-figured-out-really-early-on-that-the-value/)

[Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/)

> [Even as a kid, I was a businessman. I figured out that if you plucked all the berries off my neighbor's tree and smashed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/even-as-a-kid-i-was-a-businessman-i-figured-out-that-if-you-plucked/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [No one was like, 'Here's how you swing.' It was just like, 'Let's go hit and figure it out along the way.' I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-yelich/no-one-was-like-here-s-how-you-swing-it-was-just-like-let-s-go-hit/)

[Christian Yelich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-yelich/)

> [I figured my wife was about to start law school. If that whole baseball pitching thing didn't work out, I had something to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-figured-my-wife-was-about-to-start-law-school-if-that-whole/)

[Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/)

> [When I heard that the bees were in trouble, the fact that they're disappearing and not coming back to the hive, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-schwartzberg/when-i-heard-that-the-bees-were-in-trouble-the-fact-that-they-re/)

[Louie Schwartzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-schwartzberg/)

> [Think you figured it out, but you don't have a clue. Think you on top of the world, but the world on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-jeezy/think-you-figured-it-out-but-you-don-t-have-a-clue-think-you-on-top/)

[Young Jeezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-jeezy/)

## More by Hank Williams III

> [There's only one Hank Williams, man. Singing that high-voiced style, them bluegrassers, I don't see how they do it - Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/there-s-only-one-hank-williams-man-singing-that-high-voiced-style/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [George Jones, Johnny Paycheck all them dudes they're respected and they were twice as crazy as I'll ever be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/george-jones-johnny-paycheck-all-them-dudes-they-re-respected-and/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [I would have to go back to being a dog. I've called myself a dog for many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-would-have-to-go-back-to-being-a-dog-i-ve-called-myself-a-dog-for/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [I've always said I'm gonna work the road as hard as I can 'til I'm 50, then I might slow down a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-ve-always-said-i-m-gonna-work-the-road-as-hard-as-i-can-til-i-m-50/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [Each Hank Williams has always had an independent streak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/each-hank-williams-has-always-had-an-independent-streak/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [Energy wise, playing the drums was a lot of fun; I just felt like it was a natural fit for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/energy-wise-playing-the-drums-was-a-lot-of-fun-i-just-felt-like-it/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [I don't like being told what to do, and I don't need to be told what my record should sound like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-don-t-like-being-told-what-to-do-and-i-don-t-need-to-be-told-what/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [I'm here to be lovesick, broke and drifting, writing heartache songs and singing about pain and misery and depression, with a few good times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-m-here-to-be-lovesick-broke-and-drifting-writing-heartache-songs/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [To me, country music is emotions, certain harmonies. But it's all in the emotions - a lot of good times, a lot of hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/to-me-country-music-is-emotions-certain-harmonies-but-it-s-all-in-the/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [I'll tell you, Nashville ruined country music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-ll-tell-you-nashville-ruined-country-music/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [If I'm opening up for George Jones or playing a complete honky-tonk, I do true country music. But if it's a complete rock club,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/if-i-m-opening-up-for-george-jones-or-playing-a-complete-honky-tonk-i/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [Balance is always tough with the kind of shows and my work ethic and all of that, but that definitely helps me do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/balance-is-always-tough-with-the-kind-of-shows-and-my-work-ethic-and/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [This is just what I do, play music and create sounds and all that good stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/this-is-just-what-i-do-play-music-and-create-sounds-and-all-that-good/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [It's right there on my birth certificate, 'Shelton Hank Williams III.' It's not fake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/it-s-right-there-on-my-birth-certificate-shelton-hank-williams-iii-it/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

> [You can't say I don't work hard and give all I got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/you-can-t-say-i-don-t-work-hard-and-give-all-i-got/)

[Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

[Explore all 121 Hank Williams III quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/)

## More Always quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/)

[Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/)

> [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/)

[Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [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/)

> [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/)

[Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/)

[Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I always saw myself as a sideman. I figured I'd end up a drummer.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Hank Williams III"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figured-i-d-end-up-a-drummer/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figured-i-d-end-up-a-drummer/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hank-williams-iii-3812_always_i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figur_507122.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hank-williams-iii-3812_always_i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figur_507122.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hank-williams-iii-3812_always_i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figur_507122.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I always saw myself as a sideman. I figured I'd end up a drummer.” — Hank Williams III",
                "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": "Hank Williams III",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I always saw myself as a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figured-i-d-end-up-a-drummer/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-always-saw-myself-as-a-sideman-i-figured-i-d-end-up-a-drummer/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
