--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had an upright - it took me years and…" description: "\"I had an upright - it took me years and years to get enough bread to get it. I'm from Florida, so one morning I woke up, go in the corner, and the bass..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/jaco-pastorius-24965_bad_i-had-an-upright-it-took-me-years-and-ye_157813.png" --- # I had an upright - it took me years and years to get… ![“I had an upright - it took me years and years to get enough bread to get it. I'm from Florida, so one morning I woke up, go in the corner, and the bass is in a hundred pieces 'cause the humidity is so bad. I mean, the upright just blew up. I said, 'Forget it, man. I can't afford this anymore.'” quote by Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/jaco-pastorius-24965_bad_i-had-an-upright-it-took-me-years-and-ye_157813.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/jaco-pastorius-24965_bad_i-had-an-upright-it-took-me-years-and-ye_157813.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/jaco-pastorius-24965_bad_i-had-an-upright-it-took-me-years-and-ye_157813.png) > “I had an upright - it took me years and years to get enough bread to get it. I'm from Florida, so one morning I woke up, go in the corner, and the bass is in a hundred pieces 'cause the humidity is so bad. I mean, the upright just blew up. I said, 'Forget it, man. I can't afford this anymore.'” [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) ## 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 describes a costly, frustrating experience with a musical instrument ruined by humidity, leading to financial strain and resignation. **In simple terms:** A broken instrument caused financial loss and frustration. Key Takeaway Accept limits and seek alternatives when costs outweigh benefits. Themes music financial strain environmental impact frustration resilience Mood frustrated resigned Type personal narrative cautionary When to use this quote - musician - budgeting - equipment failure - emotional stress Key Concepts instrument maintenance budgeting humidity effects career decisions Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance passion with practicality? - What preventive steps could protect valuable gear? A Different Perspective Financial constraints can limit artistic pursuits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) ## Related quotes > [Dorsey played the upright bass and steel guitar, as well as acoustic guitar. Johnny played acoustic guitar and together they were fabulous songwriters and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-griffin/dorsey-played-the-upright-bass-and-steel-guitar-as-well-as-acoustic/) Jimmy Griffin > [I'm not a star. I'll never be a Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley or a Ray Charles. I'm just an imitator, man. I'm doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-m-not-a-star-i-ll-never-be-a-frank-sinatra-or-elvis-presley-or-a/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I'm the greatest bass player in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-m-the-greatest-bass-player-in-the-world/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [It's really easy to play harmonics, anyone can do it. It's another thing to be able to swing, to make to make a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/it-s-really-easy-to-play-harmonics-anyone-can-do-it-it-s-another/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [The secret to the sound is to drop the bass on the floor!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/the-secret-to-the-sound-is-to-drop-the-bass-on-the-floor/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I took the frets out of my bass after I was getting into jazz a lot and I wanted to have that upright sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-took-the-frets-out-of-my-bass-after-i-was-getting-into-jazz-a-lot/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [“the upright will experience his favor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-upright-will-experience-his-favor/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Bicyclist's Philosophy of Life..."It's a matter of faith. You can keep upright only by moving forward. You have to have your eyes on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-vreeland/bicyclist-s-philosophy-of-life-it-s-a-matter-of-faith-you-can-keep/) [Susan Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-vreeland/) > [Both my grandmothers had upright pianos, and I just knew how to play since I was a child. Nobody taught me. I sounded like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-simpson/both-my-grandmothers-had-upright-pianos-and-i-just-knew-how-to-play/) [Valerie Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-simpson/) > [I'd started doing fanzines from the age of nine. I'd been doing as many copies as you can get carbon paper into an upright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moorcock/i-d-started-doing-fanzines-from-the-age-of-nine-i-d-been-doing-as/) [Michael Moorcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moorcock/) > [If you desire the path of sincerity, develop a love for obscurity. Flee from the clatter and clinks of fame. Be like the roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-desire-the-path-of-sincerity-develop-a-love-for-obscurity-flee/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was first starting out, you'd have to bang an old upright piano and stick a mike in it and it would always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-winter/when-i-was-first-starting-out-you-d-have-to-bang-an-old-upright-piano/) [Edgar Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-winter/) > [“To seek out the upright. No fall but preceded by a declination. He took great marching steps into the nothingness, counting them against his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/to-seek-out-the-upright-no-fall-but-preceded-by-a-declination-he-took/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [There is only one position for an artist anywhere; and that is upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/there-is-only-one-position-for-an-artist-anywhere-and-that-is-upright/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More by Jaco Pastorius > [I took the frets out of my bass after I was getting into jazz a lot and I wanted to have that upright sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-took-the-frets-out-of-my-bass-after-i-was-getting-into-jazz-a-lot/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [My concept is not bigger than Weather Report. I am Weather Report. It comes through me; I do not create nothing. It comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/my-concept-is-not-bigger-than-weather-report-i-am-weather-report-it/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [The secret to the sound is to drop the bass on the floor!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/the-secret-to-the-sound-is-to-drop-the-bass-on-the-floor/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [It's really easy to play harmonics, anyone can do it. It's another thing to be able to swing, to make to make a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/it-s-really-easy-to-play-harmonics-anyone-can-do-it-it-s-another/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [Joseph Zawinul and Toots Thielmans, in my opinion, are the only Europeans who can play rhythm-and-blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/joseph-zawinul-and-toots-thielmans-in-my-opinion-are-the-only/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I play in tune like a cello player and use legitimate vibrato. There are no tricks; it's just all in the hands!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-play-in-tune-like-a-cello-player-and-use-legitimate-vibrato-there/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [A chimpanzee could learn what I do physically, but it goes way beyond that. When you play, you play life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/a-chimpanzee-could-learn-what-i-do-physically-but-it-goes-way-beyond/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I'm not a star. I'm just backing up the cats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-m-not-a-star-i-m-just-backing-up-the-cats/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I'm the greatest bass player in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-m-the-greatest-bass-player-in-the-world/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [Trumpets! Can you bring your... uh... extracurricular tubing necessities next rehearsal?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/trumpets-can-you-bring-your-uh-extracurricular-tubing-necessities/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I'm not a star. I'll never be a Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley or a Ray Charles. I'm just an imitator, man. I'm doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-m-not-a-star-i-ll-never-be-a-frank-sinatra-or-elvis-presley-or-a/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [Joseph Zawinul does overkill, and his technological overkill sucks, but there's no friction between us; I just say, 'Look,' and that's it. Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/joseph-zawinul-does-overkill-and-his-technological-overkill-sucks-but/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [All you've got to do is keep your ears open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/all-you-ve-got-to-do-is-keep-your-ears-open/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I've been playing the bass guitar for almost twelve years and fretless for about nine, so I've got quite a bit of mileage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-almost-twelve-years-and/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [So what, I'm living in a park. Parks are beautiful. I'm a musician. And I'm tired of dumb people who don't know where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/so-what-i-m-living-in-a-park-parks-are-beautiful-i-m-a-musician-and-i/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) [Explore all 23 Jaco Pastorius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. 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So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had an upright - it took me years and years to get enough bread to get it. I'm from Florida, so one morning I woke up, go in the corner, and the bass is in a hundred pieces 'cause the humidity is so bad. I mean, the upright just blew up. I said, 'Forget it, man. 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