--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's funny, I remember doing the Johnny…" description: "\"It's funny, I remember doing the Johnny Carson show, and, uh, I couldn't afford my rent.\" — Natalie Merchant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/natalie-merchant-15980_afford_it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-c_276027.jpg" --- # It's funny, I remember doing the Johnny Carson show, and… ![“It's funny, I remember doing the Johnny Carson show, and, uh, I couldn't afford my rent.” quote by Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/natalie-merchant-15980_afford_it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-c_276027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/natalie-merchant-15980_afford_it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-c_276027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/natalie-merchant-15980_afford_it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-c_276027.jpg) > “It's funny, I remember doing the Johnny Carson show, and, uh, I couldn't afford my rent.” [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) ## 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 recalls a past TV appearance while facing financial hardship, highlighting the contrast between public success and private struggle. **In simple terms:** Fame can hide personal struggles. Key Takeaway Seek support beyond public image. Themes celebrity financial hardship contrast Mood reflective empathetic Type personal observational When to use this quote - entertainment industry - personal finance - mental health Key Concepts public vs private life economic insecurity Questions to Reflect On - How do public figures cope with private challenges? - What resources help during financial stress? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex personal circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford/) [Afford Rent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford-rent-2687527/) [Couldn Afford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-afford-269160/) [Johnny carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/johnny-carson/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Rent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rent/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) ## Related quotes > [When I moved to London I couldn't afford to rent anywhere. So I housesat for a friend of my mum and dad's - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-levine/when-i-moved-to-london-i-couldn-t-afford-to-rent-anywhere-so-i/) [Alice Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-levine/) > [I knew I wouldn't be able to afford to rent a studio as well as get a home that I was excited about. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-buckman/i-knew-i-wouldn-t-be-able-to-afford-to-rent-a-studio-as-well-as-get-a/) [Zoe Buckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-buckman/) > [I've been an actor since I was 18. So that's my proper job. But I was not a very successful actor, if you consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-pascoe/i-ve-been-an-actor-since-i-was-18-so-that-s-my-proper-job-but-i-was/) [Sara Pascoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-pascoe/) > [I moved in with a roommate who told me, 'Stay with me until you can afford rent. Don't give up.' People who supported me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-metz/i-moved-in-with-a-roommate-who-told-me-stay-with-me-until-you-can/) [Chrissy Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-metz/) > [I had to find a way to get off the streets because it was too windy. So I started organizing variety shows of street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-noddy/i-had-to-find-a-way-to-get-off-the-streets-because-it-was-too-windy/) [Tom Noddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-noddy/) > [Well we both said hello, there was no where else to go, 'cuz his rent I couldn't afford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-lee/well-we-both-said-hello-there-was-no-where-else-to-go-cuz-his-rent-i/) [Amos Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-lee/) > [You see politicians talking about negative gearing or tax on your second home - most people I knew growing up couldn't afford the rent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/you-see-politicians-talking-about-negative-gearing-or-tax-on-your/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [The decision to write full-time meant I couldn't afford to buy a house. A friend kindly offered me the use of his apartment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-hirata/the-decision-to-write-full-time-meant-i-couldn-t-afford-to-buy-a/) [Andrea Hirata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-hirata/) > [Time was a luxury I couldn't afford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paritoshik-sharma/time-was-a-luxury-i-couldn-t-afford/) [Paritoshik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paritoshik-sharma/) > [And I thought if I don't pre-interview - first of all, we couldn't afford it - but the second thing was it would force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lipton/and-i-thought-if-i-don-t-pre-interview-first-of-all-we-couldn-t/) [James Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lipton/) > [People called me sharktooth, Dracula. I got made fun of so much cause I couldn't afford braces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle/people-called-me-sharktooth-dracula-i-got-made-fun-of-so-much-cause-i/) [Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle/) > [We couldn't afford anything. Suitcase, clothes, everything, Barellan people bought for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/we-couldn-t-afford-anything-suitcase-clothes-everything-barellan/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [“I saw it, he wanted to buy something he was near to the store I went to see little far from him what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/i-saw-it-he-wanted-to-buy-something-he-was-near-to-the-store-i-went/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [I knew that I couldn't afford to go wrong with the music of 'Karzzz.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himesh-reshammiya/i-knew-that-i-couldn-t-afford-to-go-wrong-with-the-music-of-karzzz/) [Himesh Reshammiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himesh-reshammiya/) > [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 Natalie Merchant > [By calling it a memoir, I meant is as a collection of memories. I thought it was (a more) artful (title) than documentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/by-calling-it-a-memoir-i-meant-is-as-a-collection-of-memories-i/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I don't have a lot of thrilling anecdotes about my career or personal life. All the stuff that is interesting is private and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-don-t-have-a-lot-of-thrilling-anecdotes-about-my-career-or-personal/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I feel we all have the obligation, myself. I want to live in a more humane, civilized society, and I feel like the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-feel-we-all-have-the-obligation-myself-i-want-to-live-in-a-more/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I've found out how overwhelming the media is and the way it drills things into your head, it's almost like a mind control. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-ve-found-out-how-overwhelming-the-media-is-and-the-way-it-drills/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I wish I had appreciated my youth - I should have worn tighter clothing when I could have!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-wish-i-had-appreciated-my-youth-i-should-have-worn-tighter-clothing/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [My mother was a single working mother; she started having children very young. There was a tension inside her about who she wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/my-mother-was-a-single-working-mother-she-started-having-children/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I don't think women's prisons are environments for dance routines, and I don't think mass murder is humorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-don-t-think-women-s-prisons-are-environments-for-dance-routines-and/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [Be true to yourself, and, um, don't worry about some large companies' quarterly profit index.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/be-true-to-yourself-and-um-don-t-worry-about-some-large-companies/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I've never sold my publishing. I have 100% control of all of my publishing and that includes everything, every use of my songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-ve-never-sold-my-publishing-i-have-100-control-of-all-of-my/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [For your kindness, I'm in debt to you. For your selflessness, my admiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/for-your-kindness-i-m-in-debt-to-you-for-your-selflessness-my/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [For they told you life is hard Misery from the start, It's dull, it's slow, it's painful But I tell you life is sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/for-they-told-you-life-is-hard-misery-from-the-start-it-s-dull-it-s/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [When it came time to sequence the album, the new arrangements really demanded a different order. They were so different than they were before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/when-it-came-time-to-sequence-the-album-the-new-arrangements-really/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I don't want to live in a culture of despair. I'd like to live in a culture of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-don-t-want-to-live-in-a-culture-of-despair-i-d-like-to-live-in-a/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I've raised my daughter with no television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-ve-raised-my-daughter-with-no-television/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I think of myself as a musician and not a celebrity. Celebrity status is something you have to deliberately pursue - I couldn't imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/i-think-of-myself-as-a-musician-and-not-a-celebrity-celebrity-status/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) [Explore all 41 Natalie Merchant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) ## 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. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the-world-i-know-that-but-i-also/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [Unfortunately, some people go to a restaurant, and they aren't really there to enjoy themselves. They're there because they think they deserve to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dinicol/unfortunately-some-people-go-to-a-restaurant-and-they-aren-t-really/) [Joe Dinicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dinicol/) > [Nobody has so many friends that he can afford to lose one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/nobody-has-so-many-friends-that-he-can-afford-to-lose-one/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [My earliest memories were when my mom would put me in the plays that she was in because she couldn't afford a babysitter... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/my-earliest-memories-were-when-my-mom-would-put-me-in-the-plays-that/) [Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/) > [In Washington journalists can afford to live almost as well as people who work for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-washington-journalists-can-afford-to-live-almost-as-well-as-people/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'm a little bit tough because I can't afford to get my heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-glanville/i-m-a-little-bit-tough-because-i-can-t-afford-to-get-my-heart-broken/) [Brandi Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-glanville/) [Browse all 784 Afford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's funny, I remember doing the Johnny Carson show, and, uh, I couldn't afford my rent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Merchant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-carson-show-and-uh-i-couldn-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afford" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-carson-show-and-uh-i-couldn-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/natalie-merchant-15980_afford_it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-c_276027.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/natalie-merchant-15980_afford_it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-c_276027.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/natalie-merchant-15980_afford_it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-c_276027.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's funny, I remember doing the Johnny Carson show, and, uh, I couldn't afford my rent.” — Natalie Merchant", "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": "Natalie Merchant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's funny, I remember doing the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-carson-show-and-uh-i-couldn-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-carson-show-and-uh-i-couldn-t/#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 } } ] } ```