--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was little, 4 or 5 years old, the…" description: "\"When I was little, 4 or 5 years old, the first guitar I had was given to me by a blacklisted violinist - a lefty, commie guy, pinko man.\" — Ry Cooder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/ry-cooder-3690_first_when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-f_2624737.jpg" --- # When I was little, 4 or 5 years old, the first guitar I… ![“When I was little, 4 or 5 years old, the first guitar I had was given to me by a blacklisted violinist - a lefty, commie guy, pinko man.” quote by Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/ry-cooder-3690_first_when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-f_2624737.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/ry-cooder-3690_first_when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-f_2624737.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/ry-cooder-3690_first_when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-f_2624737.jpg) > “When I was little, 4 or 5 years old, the first guitar I had was given to me by a blacklisted violinist - a lefty, commie guy, pinko man.” [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A childhood guitar was gifted by a politically controversial musician, highlighting unexpected influences on artistic growth. **In simple terms:** Unlikely mentors shape creative paths. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse influences. Themes music heritage politics influence Mood reflective inspirational Type narrative cultural When to use this quote - learning an instrument - storytelling - cultural exchange Key Concepts cultural studies artistic development identity Questions to Reflect On - How do origins shape your art? - Can you separate creator from creation? A Different Perspective Political bias may affect perception of art. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [... Michael Bloomfield was the antithesis of a collector ... he didn't care how old a guitar was; all he wanted was something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gravenites/michael-bloomfield-was-the-antithesis-of-a-collector-he-didn-t-care/) Nick Gravenites > [On my fourth or fifth birthday, a guitar was given to me, and I made a new friend. A very loud friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/on-my-fourth-or-fifth-birthday-a-guitar-was-given-to-me-and-i-made-a/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [When I sit down and play guitar, I melt into the instrument. I can play for hours by myself. Playing guitar has given me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/when-i-sit-down-and-play-guitar-i-melt-into-the-instrument-i-can-play/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [I'm very lazy when it comes to making the original sound. I don't go through amplifiers and different compressors and signal parts. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-heap/i-m-very-lazy-when-it-comes-to-making-the-original-sound-i-don-t-go/) [Imogen Heap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-heap/) > [A friend of mine, that I had known for some time, came up one day with an old guitar. I don't know where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-daniels/a-friend-of-mine-that-i-had-known-for-some-time-came-up-one-day-with/) [Charlie Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-daniels/) > [My daddy left home when I was three and he didn't leave much to Ma and me, just this old guitar and an empty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/my-daddy-left-home-when-i-was-three-and-he-didn-t-leave-much-to-ma/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I'm an old guitar player who has fallen into television and is so happy he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-lorre/i-m-an-old-guitar-player-who-has-fallen-into-television-and-is-so/) [Chuck Lorre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-lorre/) > [I pawned my grandpa's old guitar in collage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/i-pawned-my-grandpa-s-old-guitar-in-collage/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [On any given day, if I play the guitar, I can put myself somewhere. I always thought, 'This is the way you go.' It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/on-any-given-day-if-i-play-the-guitar-i-can-put-myself-somewhere-i/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a note on a guitar. To make it matter is something else altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Growing up in Dallas, my first influences on the guitar were T-Bone Walker and Les Paul. T-Bone taught me how to play lead guitar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/growing-up-in-dallas-my-first-influences-on-the-guitar-were-t-bone/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I remember people would talk about Country Music like it was this sexist, lame thing. Well, no, because Dolly Parton is writing songs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/i-remember-people-would-talk-about-country-music-like-it-was-this/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) > [I'll tell you one thing: I will always play the sh\*\* out of my guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-ll-tell-you-one-thing-i-will-always-play-the-sh-out-of-my-guitar/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) ## More by Ry Cooder > [I got a reputation for being 'eclectic' or some damn thing like that, but to me, the different kinds of music I play are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/i-got-a-reputation-for-being-eclectic-or-some-damn-thing-like-that/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [The '50s was the golden age of music all over the world for some crazy, 'X-File'-like reason I can't quite understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/the-50s-was-the-golden-age-of-music-all-over-the-world-for-some-crazy/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [I had a lot of luck in meeting great musicians who were kind enough to show me things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/i-had-a-lot-of-luck-in-meeting-great-musicians-who-were-kind-enough/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [You can play as good as you want, but you have to sing from a place of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/you-can-play-as-good-as-you-want-but-you-have-to-sing-from-a-place-of/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [I give up on pop music. As far as a commercial entity, as far as pop music goes, I quit; I absolutely throw in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/i-give-up-on-pop-music-as-far-as-a-commercial-entity-as-far-as-pop/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [Musicians are not so concerned with language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/musicians-are-not-so-concerned-with-language/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [The story of American pop music is the story of failure. The blues, country music, it's not the story of success. People don't win;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/the-story-of-american-pop-music-is-the-story-of-failure-the-blues/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [If you're white working with non-white people, you will be branded as a colonialist by some people, regardless of your efforts or intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/if-you-re-white-working-with-non-white-people-you-will-be-branded-as/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [On any given day, if I play the guitar, I can put myself somewhere. I always thought, 'This is the way you go.' It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/on-any-given-day-if-i-play-the-guitar-i-can-put-myself-somewhere-i/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [Music is a treasure hunt. You dig and dig, and sometimes you find something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/music-is-a-treasure-hunt-you-dig-and-dig-and-sometimes-you-find/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [I always have felt that most people don't have the first idea about what musicians, in the traditional sense - I don't mean in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/i-always-have-felt-that-most-people-don-t-have-the-first-idea-about/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [Music is all starting to sound alike in the modern era. Afro-pop sounds exactly like L.A. pop - there's no difference, no ambience, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/music-is-all-starting-to-sound-alike-in-the-modern-era-afro-pop/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [I'm sort of an osmotic fellow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/i-m-sort-of-an-osmotic-fellow/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [The Delmore Brothers is hit music - very, very popular - and it still retains that rural flavor and simplicity. I always think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/the-delmore-brothers-is-hit-music-very-very-popular-and-it-still/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [Needless to say, you've got to have someone who can speak for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/needless-to-say-you-ve-got-to-have-someone-who-can-speak-for-you/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) [Explore all 124 Ry Cooder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) ## More First quotes > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [I watched the movie 'What We Do in the Shadows' in a packed theater when it first came out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-dacosta/i-watched-the-movie-what-we-do-in-the-shadows-in-a-packed-theater/) [Nia DaCosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-dacosta/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Our fashion for us, it's an expression; first of all of life, I put all of myself in my fashion. Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/) [Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/) > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I have to say, I grew up with fashion because my mother was a seamstress, and she had an atelier. She would cut the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-have-to-say-i-grew-up-with-fashion-because-my-mother-was-a/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) > [We do need different types of propulsion to get to Mars. I wrote one of the first Ph.D. theses on that in the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-do-need-different-types-of-propulsion-to-get-to-mars-i-wrote-one/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I try to have something in common with my protagonists, especially when I'm writing in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-have-something-in-common-with-my-protagonists-especially/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have-to-work-on-it-seven-to-eight/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [When I first started, all the reviews of Cold Chisel would say, 'This singer won't have a voice in six months.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-i-first-started-all-the-reviews-of-cold-chisel-would-say-this/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [I first got into boxing when I was quite young. I was about 12 when I won my first boxing match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-parker/i-first-got-into-boxing-when-i-was-quite-young-i-was-about-12-when-i/) [Joseph Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-parker/) Browse all 9,159 First quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was little, 4 or 5 years old, the first guitar I had was given to me by a blacklisted violinist - a lefty, commie guy, pinko man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ry Cooder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-first-guitar-i-had-was-given/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-first-guitar-i-had-was-given/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/ry-cooder-3690_first_when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-f_2624737.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/ry-cooder-3690_first_when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-f_2624737.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/ry-cooder-3690_first_when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-f_2624737.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was little, 4 or 5 years old, the first guitar I had was given to me by a blacklisted violinist - a…” — Ry Cooder", "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": "Ry Cooder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was little, 4 or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-first-guitar-i-had-was-given/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/when-i-was-little-4-or-5-years-old-the-first-guitar-i-had-was-given/#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 } } ] } ```