--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grew up in Brooklyn." description: "\"I grew up in Brooklyn.\" — Johnny Kelly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/johnny-kelly-43823_brooklyn_i-grew-up-in-brooklyn-2875591_2875591.jpg" --- # I grew up in Brooklyn. ![“I grew up in Brooklyn.” quote by Johnny Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/johnny-kelly-43823_brooklyn_i-grew-up-in-brooklyn-2875591_2875591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/johnny-kelly-43823_brooklyn_i-grew-up-in-brooklyn-2875591_2875591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/johnny-kelly-43823_brooklyn_i-grew-up-in-brooklyn-2875591_2875591.jpg) > “I grew up in Brooklyn.” [Johnny Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/) ## 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 identifies their upbringing location, indicating personal background. **In simple terms:** Speaks about being from Brooklyn. Key Takeaway Consider how your origins shape your identity. Themes identity background place Mood reflective personal Type biographical narrative When to use this quote - self‑reflection - storytelling - cultural context Key Concepts personal history geography Questions to Reflect On - How does your hometown influence your worldview? - What aspects of Brooklyn culture do you carry? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brooklyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brooklyn/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grew Brooklyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-brooklyn-2297059/) [York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york/) ## Related quotes > [Where I grew up in Brooklyn, nobody committed suicide. Everyone was too unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/where-i-grew-up-in-brooklyn-nobody-committed-suicide-everyone-was-too/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [As with all the other rappers I've worked with, Biggie and I shared common ground. Even though Biggie grew up in Brooklyn and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/as-with-all-the-other-rappers-i-ve-worked-with-biggie-and-i-shared/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [My mom grew up in Brooklyn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-barrett/my-mom-grew-up-in-brooklyn/) [RJ Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-barrett/) > [I grew up in Brooklyn, in what I now know was poverty. Sharing a tiny bedroom with my two brothers, eating government cheese and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-melfi/i-grew-up-in-brooklyn-in-what-i-now-know-was-poverty-sharing-a-tiny/) [Theodore Melfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-melfi/) > [Brooklyn, where I grew up, is a competitive burg - there's always a pretty boy around the corner there, and you gotta look better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/brooklyn-where-i-grew-up-is-a-competitive-burg-there-s-always-a/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [My father grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., with my grandparents. In Norwegian my name is pronounced 'Yoo' but my father used to call me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/my-father-grew-up-in-brooklyn-n-y-with-my-grandparents-in-norwegian/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [I'm a person who has, to a certain extent, redefined where I should be. I started off in Brooklyn and Queens and I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-a-person-who-has-to-a-certain-extent-redefined-where-i-should-be/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Brooklyn is a hub; people move to Brooklyn because of what's already in Brooklyn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/brooklyn-is-a-hub-people-move-to-brooklyn-because-of-what-s-already/) [Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/) > [I remember perfectly my first trip to New York, when I was on the bridge between Brooklyn and Manhattan, when I saw the skyscrapers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-della-valle/i-remember-perfectly-my-first-trip-to-new-york-when-i-was-on-the/) [Diego Della Valle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-della-valle/) > [I live in Brooklyn. By choice,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-live-in-brooklyn-by-choice/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [I had never really felt settled in Brooklyn. I think it had to do with growing up in New Jersey and being someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-had-never-really-felt-settled-in-brooklyn-i-think-it-had-to-do-with/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [Comparing the Brooklyn that I know with Manhattan is like comparing a comfortable and complacent duenna to her more brilliant and neurotic sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/comparing-the-brooklyn-that-i-know-with-manhattan-is-like-comparing-a/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [My childhood here... was very limited. So it was a long, long time before I actually went out to Brooklyn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/my-childhood-here-was-very-limited-so-it-was-a-long-long-time-before/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [Brooklyn is not the easiest place to grow up in, although I wouldn't change that experience for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/brooklyn-is-not-the-easiest-place-to-grow-up-in-although-i-wouldn-t/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/) > [Brooklyn is a very weird borough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeth-smart/brooklyn-is-a-very-weird-borough/) [Keeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeth-smart/) ## More by Johnny Kelly > [People think that it's their sovereign right to download music and not have to pay for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/people-think-that-it-s-their-sovereign-right-to-download-music-and/) [Johnny Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/) > [P.C. is just too Big Brother - telling me how I should act and feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/p-c-is-just-too-big-brother-telling-me-how-i-should-act-and-feel/) [Johnny Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/) > [Usually when attorneys are assembling a jury, they're just looking for sheep that are easily impressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/usually-when-attorneys-are-assembling-a-jury-they-re-just-looking-for/) [Johnny Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/) > [Autumn is my favorite season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/autumn-is-my-favorite-season/) [Johnny Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/) > [I've been dying to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/i-ve-been-dying-to-play/) [Johnny Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/) > [I'm 84 years old. Don't let the altar-boy face fool you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/i-m-84-years-old-don-t-let-the-altar-boy-face-fool-you/) [Johnny Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/) > [Wherever there's opportunity, the mafia will be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/wherever-there-s-opportunity-the-mafia-will-be-there/) [Johnny Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/) > [I don't like the idea that the government has so much of a say in things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/i-don-t-like-the-idea-that-the-government-has-so-much-of-a-say-in/) [Johnny Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/) [Explore all 9 Johnny Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/) ## More Brooklyn quotes > [Mike Tyson is the most complex person I've ever met in my life. I've known Mike since 1986. We're both from Brooklyn. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/mike-tyson-is-the-most-complex-person-i-ve-ever-met-in-my-life-i-ve/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [Brooklyn is a very weird borough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeth-smart/brooklyn-is-a-very-weird-borough/) [Keeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeth-smart/) > [Compton is this amazing place with a rich history. I see it as a new Brooklyn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/compton-is-this-amazing-place-with-a-rich-history-i-see-it-as-a-new/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [I love the little garden in the back of my family's brownstone in Brooklyn. Digging out there in the dirt is a joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-love-the-little-garden-in-the-back-of-my-family-s-brownstone-in/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [Brooklyn, where I grew up, is a competitive burg - there's always a pretty boy around the corner there, and you gotta look better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/brooklyn-where-i-grew-up-is-a-competitive-burg-there-s-always-a/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [Coming from Haiti and growing up in Brooklyn, there's a lot of European influence when I get dressed up. I wear a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/coming-from-haiti-and-growing-up-in-brooklyn-there-s-a-lot-of/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [No, I ain't a star - I'm just a kid from Brooklyn, living his dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astro/no-i-ain-t-a-star-i-m-just-a-kid-from-brooklyn-living-his-dream/) [Astro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astro/) > [Brooklyn is not the easiest place to grow up in, although I wouldn't change that experience for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/brooklyn-is-not-the-easiest-place-to-grow-up-in-although-i-wouldn-t/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/) > [My childhood here... was very limited. So it was a long, long time before I actually went out to Brooklyn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/my-childhood-here-was-very-limited-so-it-was-a-long-long-time-before/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [My father grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., with my grandparents. In Norwegian my name is pronounced 'Yoo' but my father used to call me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/my-father-grew-up-in-brooklyn-n-y-with-my-grandparents-in-norwegian/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [Comparing the Brooklyn that I know with Manhattan is like comparing a comfortable and complacent duenna to her more brilliant and neurotic sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/comparing-the-brooklyn-that-i-know-with-manhattan-is-like-comparing-a/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [We wept, Brooklyn was a lovely place to hit. If you got a ball in the air, you had a chance to get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-snider/we-wept-brooklyn-was-a-lovely-place-to-hit-if-you-got-a-ball-in-the/) [Duke Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-snider/) > [Bob Smith from Brooklyn is a guy who sometimes gets hung with problems and fears. Wolfman Jack is a happy-go-lucky guy who knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfman-jack/bob-smith-from-brooklyn-is-a-guy-who-sometimes-gets-hung-with/) [Wolfman Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfman-jack/) > [I don't think that you can say by any stretch of the imagination that all Wisconsin or Brooklyn-based poets write in a particular way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthea-harvey/i-don-t-think-that-you-can-say-by-any-stretch-of-the-imagination-that/) [Matthea Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthea-harvey/) > [I had never really felt settled in Brooklyn. I think it had to do with growing up in New Jersey and being someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-had-never-really-felt-settled-in-brooklyn-i-think-it-had-to-do-with/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) [Browse all 556 Brooklyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brooklyn/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I grew up in Brooklyn.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Kelly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/i-grew-up-in-brooklyn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brooklyn" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/i-grew-up-in-brooklyn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/johnny-kelly-43823_brooklyn_i-grew-up-in-brooklyn-2875591_2875591.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/johnny-kelly-43823_brooklyn_i-grew-up-in-brooklyn-2875591_2875591.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/johnny-kelly-43823_brooklyn_i-grew-up-in-brooklyn-2875591_2875591.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I grew up in Brooklyn.” — Johnny Kelly", "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": "Johnny Kelly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-kelly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I grew up in Brooklyn.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/i-grew-up-in-brooklyn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-kelly/i-grew-up-in-brooklyn/#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 } } ] } ```