"Dad and mom would have preferred that I be a doctor, a lawyer, a scientist, or a great humanitarian"

This quote by Levon Helm speaks to the expectations that parents frequently have for their kids. It recommends that Helm's parents desired him to pursue a career in a field that was typically viewed as prestigious and effective, such as medicine, law, science, or humanitarian work. It suggests that Helm selected a different course, most likely one that was less standard and more imaginative, such as a career in music. The quote speaks with the tension in between parents and children when it comes to making choices about their future, and the difficulty of balancing adult expectations with personal desires. It likewise speaks to the significance of pursuing one's own passions and dreams, even if they don't align with what one's parents want. Ultimately, the quote is a suggestion that it is essential to follow one's own course, even if it is not the one that one's moms and dads imagined.