---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess the first time I played around…"
description: "\"I guess the first time I played around Washington, D.C. was at a place called The Famous. That was the first place I played, I believe.\" — Ralph Stanley"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/ralph-stanley-21787_believe_i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-w_1764681.png"
---

#  I guess the first time I played around Washington, D.C…

![“I guess the first time I played around Washington, D.C. was at a place called The Famous. That was the first place I played, I believe.” quote by Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/ralph-stanley-21787_believe_i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-w_1764681.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/ralph-stanley-21787_believe_i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-w_1764681.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/ralph-stanley-21787_believe_i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-w_1764681.png)

> “I guess the first time I played around Washington, D.C. was at a place called The Famous. That was the first place I played, I believe.”

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He recalls his first performance in Washington, D.C., at a venue named The Famous, marking the start of his musical career.

**In simple terms:** His first D.C. gig was at The Famous.

Key Takeaway

Cherish early milestones.

Themes

music career beginnings memory

Mood

nostalgic proud

Type

historical personal

When to use this quote

- concert planning
- musician biographies
- historical research
- cultural preservation

Key Concepts

folk tradition personal history

Questions to Reflect On

- What does that first gig mean to you?
- How did it shape your path?

A Different Perspective

Details of the venue are unclear.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Everyone wants a girlfriend in college, and I was no exception. I did have one for one or two weeks. But it fizzled out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/everyone-wants-a-girlfriend-in-college-and-i-was-no-exception-i-did/)

[Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/)

> [When I was a kid, I went from ground zero to Pluto. The first place I played was the Houston Astrodome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leif-garrett/when-i-was-a-kid-i-went-from-ground-zero-to-pluto-the-first-place-i/)

[Leif Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leif-garrett/)

> [You know in a Sarina camp that you have got to work extremely hard to keep your place in the side. Even if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-greenwood/you-know-in-a-sarina-camp-that-you-have-got-to-work-extremely-hard-to/)

[Alex Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-greenwood/)

> [Retailers don't think about why they have music. There are a number of issues. It can be very powerful in the right place, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/retailers-don-t-think-about-why-they-have-music-there-are-a-number-of/)

[Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/)

> [“You know how there is famously no place less played in than a hospital playground?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-how-there-is-famously-no-place-less-played-in-than-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Did you ever hear of a place called Sphoe?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-parker/did-you-ever-hear-of-a-place-called-sphoe/)

[K.J. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-parker/)

> [I can't talk about Hollywood. It was a horror to me when I was there and it's a horror to look back on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/i-can-t-talk-about-hollywood-it-was-a-horror-to-me-when-i-was-there/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [Forgive me for not being there, my mind has found a place called else where.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forgive-me-for-not-being-there-my-mind-has-found-a-place-called-else/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [For some strange reason, no matter where I go, the place is always called "here".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/for-some-strange-reason-no-matter-where-i-go-the-place-is-always/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [“Any time, any place, any where. He's not called Doctor Martini, is he?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gatiss/any-time-any-place-any-where-he-s-not-called-doctor-martini-is-he/)

[Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gatiss/)

> [Never eat in a place called 'Mom's'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/never-eat-in-a-place-called-mom-s/)

[Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/)

> [“I found myself in a place that was thorny, but because I was so used to being there, it bore out certain twisted sensations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-plum-ucci/i-found-myself-in-a-place-that-was-thorny-but-because-i-was-so-used/)

[Carol Plum-Ucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-plum-ucci/)

> [“Go to the place called barren, Stand in the place called empty. And you will find God there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-sauro/go-to-the-place-called-barren-stand-in-the-place-called-empty-and-you/)

Joan Sauro

> [“There is a place where Contrarieties are equally true. This place is called Beulah. it is a pleasant lovely Shadow, where no dispute can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/there-is-a-place-where-contrarieties-are-equally-true-this-place-is/)

[William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/)

> [I know Juffure was a British trading post and my portrait of the village bears no resemblance to the way it was. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/i-know-juffure-was-a-british-trading-post-and-my-portrait-of-the/)

[Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/)

## More by Ralph Stanley

> [I don't listen to the radio too much, but usually I listen to Stanley Brothers and Ralph Stanley more than I do anybody!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-don-t-listen-to-the-radio-too-much-but-usually-i-listen-to-stanley/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [I live about six miles from where I was born and raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-live-about-six-miles-from-where-i-was-born-and-raised/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [I think - I really think my voice has gotten better in the last two or three years. I don't know why. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-think-i-really-think-my-voice-has-gotten-better-in-the-last-two-or/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [My father was a logger. He cut timber and hauled it out of the woods and had a sawmill. They sawed it into lumber.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/my-father-was-a-logger-he-cut-timber-and-hauled-it-out-of-the-woods/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [Well, I don't let anyone record with me that is not a fan of mine or believe in my music. Everybody that records for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/well-i-don-t-let-anyone-record-with-me-that-is-not-a-fan-of-mine-or/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [You know, if you use instrument, why, you have to stay on perfect time - timing. And if you do a cappella - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/you-know-if-you-use-instrument-why-you-have-to-stay-on-perfect-time/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [ I think Bob \[Dylan\] told me that he turned down twenty interviews that year, and I was the only one that he sat down… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-think-bob-dylan-told-me-that-he-turned-down-twenty-interviews-that/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [I always enjoyed playing around Washington, because we always have a good crowd. I've never had a bad crowd in this vicinity from here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-always-enjoyed-playing-around-washington-because-we-always-have-a/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [My first banjo? My mother's sister, my aunt, lived about a mile from where we did, and she raised some hogs. And she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/my-first-banjo-my-mother-s-sister-my-aunt-lived-about-a-mile-from/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [No pleasure here on earth I find For in this world I'm bound to ramble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/no-pleasure-here-on-earth-i-find-for-in-this-world-i-m-bound-to-ramble/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [I believe in my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-believe-in-my-music/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [You give out the words and then sing them. You give out the words, you know, and the people can hear what you're giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/you-give-out-the-words-and-then-sing-them-you-give-out-the-words-you/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [I like for it to be mountain music or old-time country music or traditional bluegrass. Either one will fit me. It's traditional, basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-like-for-it-to-be-mountain-music-or-old-time-country-music-or/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [ I have plenty of good friends that I think the world of - and Bob \[Dylan\] is one of them, and I like his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-have-plenty-of-good-friends-that-i-think-the-world-of-and-bob-dylan/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

> [I am a man of constant sorrow. I've seen trouble all my days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-am-a-man-of-constant-sorrow-i-ve-seen-trouble-all-my-days/)

[Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

[Explore all 28 Ralph Stanley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I guess the first time I played around Washington, D.C. was at a place called The Famous. That was the first place I played, I believe.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ralph Stanley"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-washington-d-c-was-at-a-place/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-washington-d-c-was-at-a-place/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/ralph-stanley-21787_believe_i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-w_1764681.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/ralph-stanley-21787_believe_i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-w_1764681.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/ralph-stanley-21787_believe_i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-w_1764681.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I guess the first time I played around Washington, D.C. was at a place called The Famous. That was the first…” — Ralph Stanley",
                "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": "Ralph Stanley",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I guess the first time I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-washington-d-c-was-at-a-place/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/i-guess-the-first-time-i-played-around-washington-d-c-was-at-a-place/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
