"I've been here for nine years, and over that time, these people have become like my family"
About this Quote
The intent is straightforward loyalty-building. By calling coworkers "family", Lawler collapses the distance between employer, colleague, and audience-facing brand. It’s a phrase that softens the transactional nature of show business - travel, contracts, backstage politics - into something warmer and harder to criticize. If you’re "family", then disagreements become misunderstandings, not power struggles; departures read like heartbreak, not negotiation.
The subtext is about legitimacy and belonging. Lawler isn’t claiming instant intimacy; he’s banking on time served. "These people" is telling, too: slightly formal, a step back from naming names. It keeps the statement inclusive and diplomatic, a safe umbrella over a rotating cast. In an industry where alliances shift and public narratives matter, specificity can be a liability.
Contextually, this kind of line often surfaces at inflection points - anniversaries, tributes, contract renewals, or moments when a performer needs to reassure fans that the machine still has a human core. It’s emotional, but it’s also a public relations gesture: an entertainer translating workplace endurance into shared identity, so the audience can feel they’re watching not just a product, but a home.
Quote Details
| Topic | Family |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Lawler, Jerry. (2026, January 18). I've been here for nine years, and over that time, these people have become like my family. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-been-here-for-nine-years-and-over-that-time-19157/
Chicago Style
Lawler, Jerry. "I've been here for nine years, and over that time, these people have become like my family." FixQuotes. January 18, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-been-here-for-nine-years-and-over-that-time-19157/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I've been here for nine years, and over that time, these people have become like my family." FixQuotes, 18 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-been-here-for-nine-years-and-over-that-time-19157/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.









