In the movie "American Pop," Zalmie tells his son Benny this line as a piece of fatherly advice. When Zalmie says, "If you won't live my dreams, then live my life, all right?" he is referring to his unfulfilled aspirations as a musician and entertainer due to personal setbacks and difficult circumstances. Zalmie wants Benny to either achieve the dreams he couldn't or, alternatively, follow in his footsteps and learn from his experiences. This line represents a father's hope for his son to have a better life or achieve the goals that he failed to reach.