--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Elvis may have been my first hero, but…" description: "\"Elvis may have been my first hero, but you couldn't relate to him.\" — Robert Hilburn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/robert-hilburn-9299_elvis_elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-yo_2466518.jpg" --- # Elvis may have been my first hero, but you couldn't relate… ![“Elvis may have been my first hero, but you couldn't relate to him.” quote by Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/robert-hilburn-9299_elvis_elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-yo_2466518.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/robert-hilburn-9299_elvis_elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-yo_2466518.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/robert-hilburn-9299_elvis_elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-yo_2466518.jpg) > “Elvis may have been my first hero, but you couldn't relate to him.” [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Elvis was an early hero, but personal connection is lacking, showing hero worship can be distant. **In simple terms:** Elvis inspired but felt unrelated. Key Takeaway Find role models you can personally relate to. Themes culture heroism personal relevance Mood nostalgic critical Type cultural personal When to use this quote - music fandom - personal growth - mentor selection - cultural critique Key Concepts celebrity influence identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a hero relatable? - How can you seek deeper connections? A Different Perspective Hero admiration may be superficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) ## Related quotes > [I saw some war heroes... John Kerry is not a war hero. He couldn't tie the shoes of some of the people in Coastal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-neill/i-saw-some-war-heroes-john-kerry-is-not-a-war-hero-he-couldn-t-tie/) [John O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-neill/) > [I loved music from a young age. At school I played the violin but I didn't sing much; there was an expectation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-loved-music-from-a-young-age-at-school-i-played-the-violin-but-i/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [In fact, my role in 'Jinda' was tough because I couldn't relate to it in any way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghana-raj/in-fact-my-role-in-jinda-was-tough-because-i-couldn-t-relate-to-it-in/) [Meghana Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghana-raj/) > [I was an incredibly misanthrope. I couldn't relate to people my age, and I'm not sure why, as I wasn't particularly smart or interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marling/i-was-an-incredibly-misanthrope-i-couldn-t-relate-to-people-my-age/) [Laura Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marling/) > [My nephews all look at me differently now. Before, they couldn't relate to me, and now I'm like a god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-buzzi/my-nephews-all-look-at-me-differently-now-before-they-couldn-t-relate/) [Ruth Buzzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-buzzi/) > [I couldn't relate to kid stuff. 'Jimmy doesn't like me!' Who cares? I was worried we didn't have gas money or food. Those were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-couldn-t-relate-to-kid-stuff-jimmy-doesn-t-like-me-who-cares-i-was/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I couldn't relate to the mindset of people in my hometown. Since I had no educational qualification, I only got menial jobs in Delhi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-rane/i-couldn-t-relate-to-the-mindset-of-people-in-my-hometown-since-i-had/) [Harshvardhan Rane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-rane/) > [I moved to Des Moines when I was 15. I asked my mother to give up costody and sign parental rights over to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-moved-to-des-moines-when-i-was-15-i-asked-my-mother-to-give-up/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [People used to call me for donations, and I couldn't relate to that because I have spent most of my life trying to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-rane/people-used-to-call-me-for-donations-and-i-couldn-t-relate-to-that/) [Harshvardhan Rane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-rane/) > [I had a hard time actually. It was an emotion that I couldn't relate to. I've never experienced grief and sadness but to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/january-jones/i-had-a-hard-time-actually-it-was-an-emotion-that-i-couldn-t-relate/) [January Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/january-jones/) > [I don't think I could play a character that I couldn't relate to somehow. I'm not unfamiliar with frustration, anger, shame, helplessness and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-don-t-think-i-could-play-a-character-that-i-couldn-t-relate-to/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [When I was younger I would always listen to female artists that are my age now and I felt like I couldn't always connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrice-miller/when-i-was-younger-i-would-always-listen-to-female-artists-that-are/) Beatrice Miller > [In 1998, I received treatment for my knee by an Israeli therapist. We spoke about Israel and I mentioned 'Scooterman' and he just froze.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-david-goldberg/in-1998-i-received-treatment-for-my-knee-by-an-israeli-therapist-we/) [Gary David Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-david-goldberg/) > [The last time I saw Elvis was when I played my second New Year's Eve show for him in 1970.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/the-last-time-i-saw-elvis-was-when-i-played-my-second-new-year-s-eve/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [The first record I bought was a Carl Perkins record, because I saw him at The Festival at Sandpoint, Idaho. I loved Elvis and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/the-first-record-i-bought-was-a-carl-perkins-record-because-i-saw-him/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) ## More by Robert Hilburn > [To many, Courtney Love smells like rock hype. Reviewers may be excited about her, but the rock audience may be skeptical of the credentials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/to-many-courtney-love-smells-like-rock-hype-reviewers-may-be-excited/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [When I began to interview people from the '60s, my first question was always, 'What was your favorite record?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/when-i-began-to-interview-people-from-the-60s-my-first-question-was/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [I didn't have any idea that Gwen Stefani would evolve into this symbol of womanhood in America, but to me, that's not a musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-that-gwen-stefani-would-evolve-into-this/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [When I was in high school in the '50s, all pop music - Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard - was aimed at teenagers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/when-i-was-in-high-school-in-the-50s-all-pop-music-elvis-chuck-berry/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Because record companies do not routinely release sales figures the way film studios do, the weekly charts in trade publications like 'Billboard' provide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/because-record-companies-do-not-routinely-release-sales-figures-the/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Even though The Cure helped pioneer the jangly, dance-oriented guitar and keyboard style it continues to embrace, there are other bands that now employ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/even-though-the-cure-helped-pioneer-the-jangly-dance-oriented-guitar/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [The first time I saw Pearl Jam, I thought Eddie Vedder had seen too many Jim Morrison videos, and I didn't like the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/the-first-time-i-saw-pearl-jam-i-thought-eddie-vedder-had-seen-too/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [His belief in the power of music to convey ideas - not just entertain - has filtered down to musicians in every field, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/his-belief-in-the-power-of-music-to-convey-ideas-not-just-entertain/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Some writers sit down every day for two or three hours, at least, to write, whether they are in the mood or not. Others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/some-writers-sit-down-every-day-for-two-or-three-hours-at-least-to/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [At times, Singer Johnny Cash rubbed dirt from the earth under his fingernails in order to avoid any arrogance which might stem from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/at-times-singer-johnny-cash-rubbed-dirt-from-the-earth-under-his/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Some people will never take Madonna seriously - just as many never took Marilyn Monroe seriously. Novelty images - especially that of a sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/some-people-will-never-take-madonna-seriously-just-as-many-never-took/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [By 27, Bob Dylan had already written 'Highway 61 Revisited,' the Beatles had released 'Rubber Soul,' Bruce Springsteen had recorded 'Born to Run' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/by-27-bob-dylan-had-already-written-highway-61-revisited-the-beatles/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Without people like Dylan and the Beatles and people like Paul Simon, I think rock n' roll would have died out like Dixieland jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/without-people-like-dylan-and-the-beatles-and-people-like-paul-simon/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [In the role of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie seemed in 1972 like a strange alien creature, not so much coming from another planet as from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/in-the-role-of-ziggy-stardust-bowie-seemed-in-1972-like-a-strange/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [I'm guilty of being perceived as having narrow taste. I went after the artists that I thought were important - Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bruce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/i-m-guilty-of-being-perceived-as-having-narrow-taste-i-went-after-the/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) [Explore all 74 Robert Hilburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) ## More Elvis quotes > [Elvis was sincere, and he was - he was so loyal. And he was so homespun. He loved his mother, he loved America. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thompson/elvis-was-sincere-and-he-was-he-was-so-loyal-and-he-was-so-homespun/) [Linda Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thompson/) > [I can guarantee you one thing, we will never agree on anything as we agreed on Elvis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-can-guarantee-you-one-thing-we-will-never-agree-on-anything-as-we/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Elvis deserves a lot of credit for bringing the blues to middle America, not the Vegas stuff. The early stuff, The Sun records, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tork/elvis-deserves-a-lot-of-credit-for-bringing-the-blues-to-middle/) [Peter Tork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tork/) > [“If you threw Elvis and a scarecrow in a blender, topped the whole thing off with Seagram's 7 and pressed dice, you would make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/if-you-threw-elvis-and-a-scarecrow-in-a-blender-topped-the-whole/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [Oh, I think country has changed tremendously. I think country has totally changed. Country music when I was a kid was Hank Williams. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/oh-i-think-country-has-changed-tremendously-i-think-country-has/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Elvis Presley wore a Star of David and a cross around his neck and, when someone asked him about it, he said, "It makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/elvis-presley-wore-a-star-of-david-and-a-cross-around-his-neck-and/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Elvis a fight the dying light, Johnny Ray he's always crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-idol/elvis-a-fight-the-dying-light-johnny-ray-he-s-always-crying/) [Billy Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-idol/) > [Elvis was the firstest with the mostest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/elvis-was-the-firstest-with-the-mostest/) [Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/) > [Elvis' early music has drama because as he sang he was escaping limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greil-marcus/elvis-early-music-has-drama-because-as-he-sang-he-was-escaping-limits/) [Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greil-marcus/) > [I was very keen on people like Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-trower/i-was-very-keen-on-people-like-elvis-carl-perkins-jerry-lee-lewis-and/) [Robin Trower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-trower/) > [When I was a little kid, I was very impressed with Elvis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-trower/when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-was-very-impressed-with-elvis/) [Robin Trower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-trower/) > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Elvis helps Santa Clause make toys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honey-boo-boo-child/elvis-helps-santa-clause-make-toys/) [Honey Boo Boo Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honey-boo-boo-child/) > [It was very nerve-wracking for me. I had to be drunk and have a threesome. I'm not that guy. Bobby Cannavale is that guy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/it-was-very-nerve-wracking-for-me-i-had-to-be-drunk-and-have-a/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [“His body walks out onto the darkened stage , and a roar goes up from the crowd. He stands in front of the mic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-garraty/his-body-walks-out-onto-the-darkened-stage-and-a-roar-goes-up-from/) Joseph Garraty Browse all 508 Elvis quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Elvis may have been my first hero, but you couldn't relate to him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Hilburn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-you-couldn-t-relate-to-him/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Elvis" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-you-couldn-t-relate-to-him/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/robert-hilburn-9299_elvis_elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-yo_2466518.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/robert-hilburn-9299_elvis_elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-yo_2466518.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/robert-hilburn-9299_elvis_elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-yo_2466518.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Elvis may have been my first hero, but you couldn't relate to him.” — Robert Hilburn", "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": "Robert Hilburn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Elvis may have been my first...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-you-couldn-t-relate-to-him/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/elvis-may-have-been-my-first-hero-but-you-couldn-t-relate-to-him/#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 } } ] } ```