--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a child, I lived in Germany at the…" description: "\"As a child, I lived in Germany at the Ramstein air force base, where my dad sang at a nightclub in Kaiserslautern. My parents couldn't afford a babysit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/james-mercer-10889_afford_as-a-child-i-lived-in-germany-at-the-ram_3014902.png" --- # As a child, I lived in Germany at the Ramstein air force… ![“As a child, I lived in Germany at the Ramstein air force base, where my dad sang at a nightclub in Kaiserslautern. My parents couldn't afford a babysitter, so when I was, like, ten or 11, I would go with them to the bar until two in the morning.” quote by James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/james-mercer-10889_afford_as-a-child-i-lived-in-germany-at-the-ram_3014902.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/james-mercer-10889_afford_as-a-child-i-lived-in-germany-at-the-ram_3014902.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/james-mercer-10889_afford_as-a-child-i-lived-in-germany-at-the-ram_3014902.png) > “As a child, I lived in Germany at the Ramstein air force base, where my dad sang at a nightclub in Kaiserslautern. My parents couldn't afford a babysitter, so when I was, like, ten or 11, I would go with them to the bar until two in the morning.” [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Childhood experiences at a German base involved frequent bar visits due to lack of childcare, shaping unique memories. **In simple terms:** Child spent nights at bars. Key Takeaway Reflect on formative experiences. Themes family culture childhood Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type personal cultural When to use this quote - family dynamics - cross‑cultural upbringing - memory formation Key Concepts social environment economic constraints Questions to Reflect On - How did this shape identity? - What support could have helped? A Different Perspective Such experiences can be risky for children. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-force/) [Babysitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babysitter/) [Bar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bar/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Germany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/germany/) [Jamaica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jamaica/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) ## Related quotes > [My mom and dad sang in the church choir. They also had a local group. They loved music, especially my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-knight/my-mom-and-dad-sang-in-the-church-choir-they-also-had-a-local-group/) [Gladys Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-knight/) > [I grew up listening to so many different things, and having a dad that also sang, music was innately born into me. Going through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-rhett/i-grew-up-listening-to-so-many-different-things-and-having-a-dad-that/) [Thomas Rhett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-rhett/) > [I always knew that I would be some type of public figure, but I never knew that it would be rapping, 'cause my dad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-gibbs/i-always-knew-that-i-would-be-some-type-of-public-figure-but-i-never-2/) [Freddie Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-gibbs/) > [I'm not a drummer anymore, on my gravestone, if there is one, if anyone writes anything about me besides hopefully being a dad, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/i-m-not-a-drummer-anymore-on-my-gravestone-if-there-is-one-if-anyone/) [Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/) > [Being able to provide for your kids in a way that maybe your parents couldn't do for you is a great feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/being-able-to-provide-for-your-kids-in-a-way-that-maybe-your-parents/) [Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/) > [My parents couldn't handle my energy so they enrolled me in every sport the school was offering. I didn't resent it because I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/my-parents-couldn-t-handle-my-energy-so-they-enrolled-me-in-every/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [I had been accepted to film school, but my parents couldn't afford it, and yet they made too much money for me to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-had-been-accepted-to-film-school-but-my-parents-couldn-t-afford-it/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [There aren't as many roles for people who look like me, and it was always complicated when it came to casting my parents. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meaghan-rath/there-aren-t-as-many-roles-for-people-who-look-like-me-and-it-was/) [Meaghan Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meaghan-rath/) > [It's different today than it was then. In those days we were strictly amateurs. If I had wanted to stay in for the '80…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/it-s-different-today-than-it-was-then-in-those-days-we-were-strictly/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [My parents couldn't wait for me to get married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditya-narayan/my-parents-couldn-t-wait-for-me-to-get-married/) [Aditya Narayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditya-narayan/) > [I am the only son and my parents couldn't have been happier that their son is getting married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditya-narayan/i-am-the-only-son-and-my-parents-couldn-t-have-been-happier-that/) [Aditya Narayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditya-narayan/) > [Teachers don't tell us the truth about historical people. If we knew the truth, parents couldn't hold their lives up as examples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hulce/teachers-don-t-tell-us-the-truth-about-historical-people-if-we-knew/) Tom Hulce > [I remember learning new words, trying to figure out what common things like cider, finding myself upset that my parents couldn't help me understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/i-remember-learning-new-words-trying-to-figure-out-what-common-things/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [I posed nude to show my parents they couldn't dictate to me any more - that I control my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latoya-jackson/i-posed-nude-to-show-my-parents-they-couldn-t-dictate-to-me-any-more/) [LaToya Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latoya-jackson/) > [I never had holidays when I was a kid, because my parents couldn't afford them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-galetti/i-never-had-holidays-when-i-was-a-kid-because-my-parents-couldn-t/) [Monica Galetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-galetti/) ## More by James Mercer > [I do like talking with friends about big concepts, you know, the stuff that will ruin a party. To me, the party hasn't begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-do-like-talking-with-friends-about-big-concepts-you-know-the-stuff/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [Horrible dates are when you're with people who are immature and can't really be comfortable in their own skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/horrible-dates-are-when-you-re-with-people-who-are-immature-and-can-t/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [I'm real happy. I've been lucky in love, and I've got a wonderful kid now, and things have been going well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-m-real-happy-i-ve-been-lucky-in-love-and-i-ve-got-a-wonderful-kid/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [The fact that I'm often pushing my voice as hard as I can is from playing in nightclubs in Albuquerque where you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/the-fact-that-i-m-often-pushing-my-voice-as-hard-as-i-can-is-from/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [ I really \[enjoy\] working with new people and just sort of the freshness of it. ... I \[want\] to have those new conversations, musically… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-really-enjoy-working-with-new-people-and-just-sort-of-the-freshness/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [Meeting Perry Farrel was kind of cool. He's such an icon, and I was such a fan of Jane's Addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/meeting-perry-farrel-was-kind-of-cool-he-s-such-an-icon-and-i-was/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [My dad and I get into it all the time. He loves to discuss politics much more than I do and we have pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/my-dad-and-i-get-into-it-all-the-time-he-loves-to-discuss-politics/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [For the longest time, I didn't even want to admit I was serious about music. Before the Shins, I would tell myself, 'Oh, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/for-the-longest-time-i-didn-t-even-want-to-admit-i-was-serious-about/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [Humans are social creatures that really crave intimacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/humans-are-social-creatures-that-really-crave-intimacy/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [I tend to write a pretty half and half split of, like, slow, morose things and then sort of more upbeat stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-tend-to-write-a-pretty-half-and-half-split-of-like-slow-morose/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [If you're 14 and you're skinny, you can't be on the football team, basically. It's just not even really possible. But skating is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/if-you-re-14-and-you-re-skinny-you-can-t-be-on-the-football-team/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [I think that what's funny is that I seem to be taking up the roles that I remember my dad having - for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-think-that-what-s-funny-is-that-i-seem-to-be-taking-up-the-roles/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [One thing that I've struggled with has been a certain amount of animosity toward the whole human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/one-thing-that-i-ve-struggled-with-has-been-a-certain-amount-of/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [For some reason, it seems like pop writers, it's like they just get worse or something over time. And then you're really jealous of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/for-some-reason-it-seems-like-pop-writers-it-s-like-they-just-get/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [I think that was going on with bands like The Strokes was that the idea of the band, a real band, was making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-think-that-was-going-on-with-bands-like-the-strokes-was-that-the/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) [Explore all 63 James Mercer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) ## More Afford quotes > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/just-because-you-can-afford-it-doesn-t-mean-you-should-buy-it/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I am not a Ph.D. in economics or a doctorate in literature that I can afford to take my singing lightly. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/i-am-not-a-ph-d-in-economics-or-a-doctorate-in-literature-that-i-can/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) > [I was lucky because I got so successful so early, and when you get successful early, then you can afford to be a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-was-lucky-because-i-got-so-successful-so-early-and-when-you-get/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [I have crooked toes from wearing boots that didn't fit me because that's all I could afford as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-have-crooked-toes-from-wearing-boots-that-didn-t-fit-me-because/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [The most common reason new mothers return to work sooner than they'd like to is because they can't afford to go without their salaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/the-most-common-reason-new-mothers-return-to-work-sooner-than-they-d/) [Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/) > [This fatigue can not afford to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israa-ali/this-fatigue-can-not-afford-to-do/) [ISRAA ALI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israa-ali/) > [A good player is a good player, it's just that we cannot afford signings that do not work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/a-good-player-is-a-good-player-it-s-just-that-we-cannot-afford/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) > [I'm not the most talented writer in the world. 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