--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That young man that I was in 1988 - I was…" description: "\"That young man that I was in 1988 - I was insecure. Besides making good music, I wanted to be cool; I wanted to be accepted and stuff.\" — Rodney Crowell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/rodney-crowell-3715_cool_that-young-man-that-i-was-in-1988-i-was_963931.png" --- # That young man that I was in 1988 - I was insecure… ![“That young man that I was in 1988 - I was insecure. Besides making good music, I wanted to be cool; I wanted to be accepted and stuff.” quote by Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/rodney-crowell-3715_cool_that-young-man-that-i-was-in-1988-i-was_963931.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/rodney-crowell-3715_cool_that-young-man-that-i-was-in-1988-i-was_963931.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/rodney-crowell-3715_cool_that-young-man-that-i-was-in-1988-i-was_963931.png) > “That young man that I was in 1988 - I was insecure. Besides making good music, I wanted to be cool; I wanted to be accepted and stuff.” [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In 1988 the artist felt insecure, seeking acceptance through music and coolness. **In simple terms:** Youthful insecurity drives artistic ambition. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability in creativity. Themes identity insecurity art Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - music production - personal branding - social circles Key Concepts self‑esteem creative expression Questions to Reflect On - What does being “cool” mean to you? - How can you stay true while seeking acceptance? A Different Perspective Focusing on external validation can hinder authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1988 Insecure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1988-insecure-1802529/) [Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Insecure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecure/) [Insecure Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecure-making-1802530/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Wanted Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-cool-953635/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) ## Related quotes > [You'll see that positive efforts outweigh the things you are insecure about. Whatever is making you feel unworthy, ashamed, or inferior, identify it, &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/you-ll-see-that-positive-efforts-outweigh-the-things-you-are-insecure/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Wrestling definitely shaped the direction of my life because, before that, I wanted to fit in so much. I wanted to be one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/wrestling-definitely-shaped-the-direction-of-my-life-because-before/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [I was insecure and ashamed. Unless you're gay, being gay has never been looked at as being cool. And I wanted to be cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-was-insecure-and-ashamed-unless-you-re-gay-being-gay-has-never-been/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [I've always wanted to write pop music. I never wanted to be cool or make a hipster record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-ve-always-wanted-to-write-pop-music-i-never-wanted-to-be-cool-or/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [It was important to me to be cool as a comedian. I didn't want to be a crowd-pleaser who sent out the vibe of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/it-was-important-to-me-to-be-cool-as-a-comedian-i-didn-t-want-to-be-a/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [I wanted to be a cool mom. It was hectic. I felt very isolated for a long time, but in the end, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolandi-visser/i-wanted-to-be-a-cool-mom-it-was-hectic-i-felt-very-isolated-for-a/) [Yolandi Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolandi-visser/) > [“the room had grown smothery. He wanted to be out in some cool and bitter breeze, miles above the cities, and to live serene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald-2/the-room-had-grown-smothery-he-wanted-to-be-out-in-some-cool-and/) [F Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald-2/) > [The way I see it, if its EASY for someone to walk out of my life, they never wanted to be there anyway, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-way-i-see-it-if-its-easy-for-someone-to-walk-out-of-my-life-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wanted to be cool - and I wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mccausland/i-wanted-to-be-cool-and-i-wasn-t/) [Chris McCausland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mccausland/) > [I always wanted to be where the cool was because I didn't think I was cool. But music was cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-iovine/i-always-wanted-to-be-where-the-cool-was-because-i-didn-t-think-i-was/) [Jimmy Iovine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-iovine/) > [My father took me to see Hank Williams on December 14th, 1952. I was two years and four months of age. And I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/my-father-took-me-to-see-hank-williams-on-december-14th-1952-i-was/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [I love how the most insecure people on Facebook are the ones who post a new self portrait every 6 hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-how-the-most-insecure-people-on-facebook-are-the-ones-who-post/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I always look in the mirror to see somthing beautiful but all I see is me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/13-yearold/i-always-look-in-the-mirror-to-see-somthing-beautiful-but-all-i-see/) [13 Yearold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/13-yearold/) ## More by Rodney Crowell > [For me, my career has never been about what I've done. But it's been about becoming, achieving, and pushing myself further.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/for-me-my-career-has-never-been-about-what-i-ve-done-but-it-s-been/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [There are certain choices you make as a songwriter, based on vowel sounds and melody and chord changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/there-are-certain-choices-you-make-as-a-songwriter-based-on-vowel/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [I've had a nice career. I'm no David Bowie or Bruce Springsteen out there. I'm not an icon. I'm just a working artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/i-ve-had-a-nice-career-i-m-no-david-bowie-or-bruce-springsteen-out/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [My father took me to see Hank Williams on December 14th, 1952. I was two years and four months of age. And I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/my-father-took-me-to-see-hank-williams-on-december-14th-1952-i-was/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [Because of my methodology and my sensibilities to write songs, I'm not very comfortable with the notion to rush in any creative endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/because-of-my-methodology-and-my-sensibilities-to-write-songs-i-m-not/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [When I was 12 years old, or however old I was when Bringing It All Back Home came out, I'd just skip back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/when-i-was-12-years-old-or-however-old-i-was-when-bringing-it-all/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [Invariably, collaboration leads to new forms of self-expression and to the things that move you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/invariably-collaboration-leads-to-new-forms-of-self-expression-and-to/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [I think, back in the '80s when I was having hits all the time, I took it for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/i-think-back-in-the-80s-when-i-was-having-hits-all-the-time-i-took-it/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [Singing duets is instinctive, intuitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/singing-duets-is-instinctive-intuitive/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [I've often said to young songwriters when they want to write with me, 'Let's take a stab at ten songs, and we might get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/i-ve-often-said-to-young-songwriters-when-they-want-to-write-with-me/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [So much of inspiration comes from collaboration with other musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/so-much-of-inspiration-comes-from-collaboration-with-other-musicians/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [For the most part, this record is autobiographical. At some point, the story of 'The Houston Kid' takes my experiences from 6 to 15…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/for-the-most-part-this-record-is-autobiographical-at-some-point-the/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [I cannot say I'm a poet. That's for someone when they take in consideration where they can bestow 'poet' on. I can't do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/i-cannot-say-i-m-a-poet-that-s-for-someone-when-they-take-in/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [Pain comes like the weather, but joy is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/pain-comes-like-the-weather-but-joy-is-a-choice/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [When I go back to seek inspiration - whether it be from Chuck Berry, Howlin' Wolf, the Beatles, Hank Williams, Ray Charles or Bob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/when-i-go-back-to-seek-inspiration-whether-it-be-from-chuck-berry/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) [Explore all 123 Rodney Crowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) ## More Cool quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [Vo5C0y Muchos Gracias for your article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serivce/vo5c0y-muchos-gracias-for-your-article-really-looking-forward-to-read/) [Serivce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serivce/) > [What a cool job to be part of - whether it's doing lighting or acting or serving food on set. You're part of telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/what-a-cool-job-to-be-part-of-whether-it-s-doing-lighting-or-acting/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [Jail is definitely not cool. 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