--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was so keen to play when I left school…" description: "\"I was so keen to play when I left school, I'd have played for nothing. In fact, I did that for a long time, but my parents stuck by me.\" — John Bonham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-bonham-16678_long-time_i-was-so-keen-to-play-when-i-left-school_1343662.jpg" --- # I was so keen to play when I left school, I'd have played… ![“I was so keen to play when I left school, I'd have played for nothing. In fact, I did that for a long time, but my parents stuck by me.” quote by John Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-bonham-16678_long-time_i-was-so-keen-to-play-when-i-left-school_1343662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-bonham-16678_long-time_i-was-so-keen-to-play-when-i-left-school_1343662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-bonham-16678_long-time_i-was-so-keen-to-play-when-i-left-school_1343662.jpg) > “I was so keen to play when I left school, I'd have played for nothing. In fact, I did that for a long time, but my parents stuck by me.” [John Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bonham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He loved playing music so much that he would perform even without pay, driven by passion and parental support. **In simple terms:** He played for love, not money. Key Takeaway Follow your passion regardless of reward. Themes passion family support dedication Mood determined grateful Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - starting a band - solo gigs - creative projects - overcoming financial pressure Key Concepts intrinsic motivation artist identity Questions to Reflect On - What drives you more than money? - How does family support affect perseverance? A Different Perspective Sustaining a career without income can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [My parents were stuck in the idea of what a marriage should be, and they divorced. 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I played with the same guys for 10 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rourke/i-used-to-love-playing-football-in-high-school-i-played-with-the-same/) [Mickey Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rourke/) > [I went to an all-girls private school, where we played field hockey and lacrosse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/i-went-to-an-all-girls-private-school-where-we-played-field-hockey/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [Most of it was nuts, but I was determined to be a drummer as soon as I left school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bonham/most-of-it-was-nuts-but-i-was-determined-to-be-a-drummer-as-soon-as-i/) [John Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bonham/) > [When I left school I went into the trade with my Dad. He had a building business, and I used to like it. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bonham/when-i-left-school-i-went-into-the-trade-with-my-dad-he-had-a/) [John Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bonham/) > [I played the drums, and I was in a band called Funkasaurus Rex in Toronto. When I left for school, it became hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-epstein/i-played-the-drums-and-i-was-in-a-band-called-funkasaurus-rex-in/) [Jake Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-epstein/) > [I've played rugby at school a bit. I didn't play football at school; I played football after school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gilmour/i-ve-played-rugby-at-school-a-bit-i-didn-t-play-football-at-school-i/) [David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gilmour/) > [Prior to high school, I played a lot of neighborhood football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/prior-to-high-school-i-played-a-lot-of-neighborhood-football/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [I always acted in high school. Actually, I started in preschool. I was in a play about Jesus. I went to a Catholic school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-tierney/i-always-acted-in-high-school-actually-i-started-in-preschool-i-was/) [Maura Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-tierney/) > [She stared at Peter, and she realized that in that one moment, when she hadn't been thinking, she knew exactly what he'd felt as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/she-stared-at-peter-and-she-realized-that-in-that-one-moment-when-she/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I did one or two plays at school. Once I played a tree, so I never thought I would be a good actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suraj-sharma/i-did-one-or-two-plays-at-school-once-i-played-a-tree-so-i-never/) [Suraj Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suraj-sharma/) > [My father actually moved out from Chicago just so he could play tennis 365 days a year, so it was - it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/my-father-actually-moved-out-from-chicago-just-so-he-could-play/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [Then to have your baby playing at the school you played at and having him play well is a special treat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-kramer/then-to-have-your-baby-playing-at-the-school-you-played-at-and-having/) [Jerry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-kramer/) > [My first school play was 'Perkin and the Pastry Cook' that my primary school put on, and I played a boy, and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-taylor-joy/my-first-school-play-was-perkin-and-the-pastry-cook-that-my-primary/) [Anya Taylor-Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-taylor-joy/) ## More by John Bonham > [If we'd have said we were not upset, they would have thought we were so rich it meant nothing to us, and if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bonham/if-we-d-have-said-we-were-not-upset-they-would-have-thought-we-were/) [John Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bonham/) > [Not everybody likes or understands a drum solo, so I like to bring in effects and sounds to keep their interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bonham/not-everybody-likes-or-understands-a-drum-solo-so-i-like-to-bring-in/) [John Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bonham/) > [I think the marketing needs work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bonham/i-think-the-marketing-needs-work/) [John Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bonham/) > [With Zeppelin, I tried to play something different every night in my solos. 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