--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He's been dead for so many years, but I'm…" description: "\"He's been dead for so many years, but I'm still trying to impress him. That's what gave me my drive. 'Look at me, Dad, I've succeeded.'\" — Elton John" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/elton-john-849_dad_he-s-been-dead-for-so-many-years-but-i-m_3046576.png" --- # He's been dead for so many years, but I'm still trying to… ![“He's been dead for so many years, but I'm still trying to impress him. That's what gave me my drive. 'Look at me, Dad, I've succeeded.'” quote by Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/elton-john-849_dad_he-s-been-dead-for-so-many-years-but-i-m_3046576.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/elton-john-849_dad_he-s-been-dead-for-so-many-years-but-i-m_3046576.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/elton-john-849_dad_he-s-been-dead-for-so-many-years-but-i-m_3046576.png) > “He's been dead for so many years, but I'm still trying to impress him. That's what gave me my drive. 'Look at me, Dad, I've succeeded.'” [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) ## 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 draws motivation from a deceased parent, seeking to honor them through personal success. **In simple terms:** I try to impress my late dad to stay driven. Key Takeaway Channel grief into purpose. Themes grief motivation legacy Mood reflective determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - career ambition - personal projects - daily routines - creative pursuits Key Concepts psychology family dynamics self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - How does honoring a loved one shape your goals? - What other sources can sustain drive? A Different Perspective None; without support, motivation may wane. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Impress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impress/) [Look at me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-at-me/) [Look Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-dad-772511/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Succeeded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeeded/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Impress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-impress/) [Ve Succeeded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-succeeded-529175/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-trying/) ## Related quotes > [I've succeeded at everything except my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-gainsbourg/i-ve-succeeded-at-everything-except-my-life/) [Serge Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-gainsbourg/) > [Success is always something completely different to people. I feel like I've succeeded, if I'm doing something that makes me happy and I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/success-is-always-something-completely-different-to-people-i-feel-2/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [How can I be sure I've succeeded, if I can't remember what I was trying to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/how-can-i-be-sure-i-ve-succeeded-if-i-can-t-remember-what-i-was/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [I've succeeded as far as I'm concerned - I don't feel that I have any cliffs I could fall over anytime soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/i-ve-succeeded-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-i-don-t-feel-that-i-have-any/) [Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/) > [I've succeeded beyond what I ever thought I could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-ve-succeeded-beyond-what-i-ever-thought-i-could/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [When I play a song for someone the first time, if I make 'em laugh, I think, 'Yes, I've succeeded.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-lo/when-i-play-a-song-for-someone-the-first-time-if-i-make-em-laugh-i/) [Tove Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-lo/) > [I lost money, coaching jobs, a shot at the Hall of Fame. But when you weigh that against all the things that are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-flood/i-lost-money-coaching-jobs-a-shot-at-the-hall-of-fame-but-when-you/) [Curt Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-flood/) > [“When you've succeeded, you'd say: 'Indeed I'd to go through those hell before fit into all of this happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-ve-succeeded-you-d-say-indeed-i-d-to-go-through-those-hell/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [I've succeeded a lot but there's still so much to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-mena/i-ve-succeeded-a-lot-but-there-s-still-so-much-to-do/) [Erica Mena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-mena/) > [When people tell me I've kept them up all night, I feel like I've succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-sheldon/when-people-tell-me-i-ve-kept-them-up-all-night-i-feel-like-i-ve/) [Sidney Sheldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-sheldon/) > [But in one respect, I've succeeded as gloriously as anyone who ever lived. I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notebook/but-in-one-respect-i-ve-succeeded-as-gloriously-as-anyone-who-ever/) [The Notebook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notebook/) > [I've failed way more than I've succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daymond-john/i-ve-failed-way-more-than-i-ve-succeeded/) [Daymond John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daymond-john/) > [I really look up to my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-deol/i-really-look-up-to-my-dad/) [Bobby Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-deol/) > [As a youngster, my mother and father always drilled into my head having something to fall back on. My father was kind of funny.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/as-a-youngster-my-mother-and-father-always-drilled-into-my-head/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I mean, I look at my dad. He was twenty when he started having a family, and he was always the coolest dad. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/i-mean-i-look-at-my-dad-he-was-twenty-when-he-started-having-a-family/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) ## More by Elton John > [For me music is so passionate. I have to give it my all every time I go onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/for-me-music-is-so-passionate-i-have-to-give-it-my-all-every-time-i/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [No tears to damn you when jealousy burns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/no-tears-to-damn-you-when-jealousy-burns/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [And we have come so far like that. I mean, the advances on the medication side have been enormous, and the advances on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/and-we-have-come-so-far-like-that-i-mean-the-advances-on-the/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids, in fact it's cold as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/mars-ain-t-the-kind-of-place-to-raise-your-kids-in-fact-it-s-cold-as/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-the-idea-of-the-teachings-of-jesus-christ-and-the-beautiful/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm not bored with my life. I'm not just making the records and touring, I would find that boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-m-not-bored-with-my-life-i-m-not-just-making-the-records-and/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I love places that have an incredible history. I love the Italian way of life. I love the food. I love the people. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-places-that-have-an-incredible-history-i-love-the-italian-way/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I used to get my money at the end of the week, buy my mum something, or buy a record, and that was it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-used-to-get-my-money-at-the-end-of-the-week-buy-my-mum-something-or/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [We have a society where every hit maker and TV presenter is gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/we-have-a-society-where-every-hit-maker-and-tv-presenter-is-gay/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm very relaxed. I'm very happy with my personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-m-very-relaxed-i-m-very-happy-with-my-personal-life/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [You can beat her, but don't mistreat her. Oh, don't believe that woman please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/you-can-beat-her-but-don-t-mistreat-her-oh-don-t-believe-that-woman/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [The Backstreet Boys can sing their asses off. I'm not so sure about those other boy bands. But Backstreet Boys have my ultimate respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/the-backstreet-boys-can-sing-their-asses-off-i-m-not-so-sure-about/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I grew up at my grandmother's house, and she had a beautiful garden. I used to hate mowing the lawn and weeding, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-grew-up-at-my-grandmother-s-house-and-she-had-a-beautiful-garden-i/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [ He \[Ryan White\] had a kind of angelic aura about him. And his family, too, it's like, they are going through all this suffering,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/he-ryan-white-had-a-kind-of-angelic-aura-about-him-and-his-family-too/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Welcome to the world of bullshit, my dear. You have arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/welcome-to-the-world-of-bullshit-my-dear-you-have-arrived/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) [Explore all 352 Elton John quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. 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