Will you take part in my life, my love
That is my dream
Life is but a dream; it's what you make it
Always try to give; don't ever take it
Life has its music, life has its song of love, love
Life is but a dream, and I dream of you
Strange as it seems, all night I see you
I'm tryin' to tell you just what you mean to me
I love you with all my heart
I adore you and all your lovin' charms
I want you to do your part
Come here to my open arms
Life is but a dream, & we can live it
Oh we can make a love none to compare with
Oh will you take part in my life, my love
That is my dream

Overall Meaning

The Harptones's song "Life Is but a Dream" speaks to the transformative power of love and the beauty of living in a world where anything is possible. The opening lines, "Will you take part in my life, my love / That is my dream," set the tone for a romantic and idealistic interpretation of life. The song suggests that life is not just a series of moments but also an opportunity for growth and connection with others.

The lyrics emphasize the importance of kindness and generosity in relationships: "Always try to give; don't ever take it." By giving freely, the song suggests, we create a harmonious and joyful world. The lines "Life has its music, life has its song of love, love" further underscore the idea that life is an art form to be appreciated and celebrated. The song suggests that with love as the guiding force, life can be an extraordinary and fulfilling experience.

The chorus repeats the title phrase, "Life is but a dream," which serves as a reminder that life is fleeting and precious. The lyrics express a longing for a deeper connection with a loved one: "Strange as it seems, all night I see you / I'm tryin' to tell you just what you mean to me / I love you with all my heart / I adore you and all your lovin' charms." In the final verses, the song implores the listener to take part in a shared dream of love and happiness: "We can make a love none to compare with / Oh will you take part in my life, my love / That is my dream."

Overall, "Life Is but a Dream" is a hopeful and optimistic ode to love and the possibilities of the human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Will you take part in my life, my love
Will you be with me and share your life and love?

That is my dream
That is what I hope for and desire

Life is but a dream; it's what you make it
Life is fleeting and subjective, it depends on what you do and how you perceive it

Always try to give; don't ever take it
Give more than you take and you'll find greater fulfillment in life

Life has its music, life has its song of love, love
Life is full of beauty and love

Life is but a dream, and I dream of you
Life may be fleeting, but my desire for you is constant and strong

Strange as it seems, all night I see you
Even in my dreams, my thoughts are consumed by you

I'm tryin' to tell you just what you mean to me
I want to express how important you are to me

I love you with all my heart
My love for you is deep and genuine

I adore you and all your lovin' charms
I find everything about you to be beautiful and appealing

I want you to do your part
I want you to reciprocate my love and effort

Come here to my open arms
I want to embrace you and show you my affection

Life is but a dream, & we can live it
Life is fleeting, but we can make the most of it

Oh we can make a love none to compare with
Our love can be unique and unparalleled

Oh will you take part in my life, my love
Will you be with me and share your life and love? That is still my dream.

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HY WEISS, RAOUL CITA, RAOUL J CITA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@gerbenmoljr

9y↑188

Will you take part in
My life, my love
That is my dream
Life is but a dream
It's what you make it
Always try to give
Don't ever take it
Life has it's music
Life has it's songs of love
Life is but a dream
And I dream of you
Strange as it seems
All night I see you
I'm trying to tell you
Just what you mean to me
I love you
With all my heart
Adore you
And all your charms
I want you
To do your part
Come here to my open arms
Life is but a dream
And we can live in
We can make our love
None to compare with
Will you take part in
My life, my love
That is my dream
Life is but a dream

All comments from YouTube:

@Aceguy1998

10y↑568

Goodfellas has a soundtrack that will never leave your head, once you've heard it.

@mikehachey8728

3y↑4

Right you are my son

@corycipriani9057

YEP.

@jaboi3820

Fax

@TheProdigyAccordion

100% correct Sir!

@PrinceofPads

2y↑1

All Scorsese

5 More Replies...

@JohnIsAngryAgain

9y↑1.2K

Jimmy was the kind of guy that rooted for bad guys in the movies.

@davidpinedo2016

9y↑3

lol

@noise6327

8y↑44

lmfao...nobody goes 2 jail unless they want 2

@zealousjay1993

8y↑40

I swear on my fucking mother if ya touch her again ya dead

@jimipurple123

4y↑9

I have always rooted for the bad guys.

@skinlesscat8231

4y↑2

Ur my jesus

10 More Replies...

@jamespowell1442

10y↑791

Martin Scorsece has excellent taste in music,and he puts it in his movies.

@creolelady3519

6y↑8

James Powell
Yes he does.

@notsure3535

5y↑3

yes he does.

@RosarioRodriguez420

5y↑18

Can't wait until i watch the Irishman

@johhny1759

5y↑1

Rosario Rodriguez ive never heard of it but will look it up thanks

@johhny1759

5y↑1

James Powell I’ve found great directors have good taste in music but other things also

14 More Replies...

@vidallopez1800

2y↑131

''You're going to like this guy, he's alright he's a good fella'' Rip Ray Liotta

@meruhhthecat9200

5y↑1.1K

I’m gonna go get the papers, get the papers.

@wentworthstallworthellswor5579

5y↑68

Jimmie 2 Times

@Joker_1999

4y↑70

Funny How? Like a clown? Do I amuse you?

@marvindeleon4659

4y↑39

From that point on, no more letters from school. Hell, no more letters from anybody.

@adeleisright

3y↑34

"Fuck you Pay Me"

@jonahgriego6426

3y↑12

1955 when this song came out

22 More Replies...

@jacquelinev963

9y↑87

All I can say is, incredible. This is REAL music.

@jamespowell1442

9y↑45

The original and best version of this song.Without a doubt,a masterpiece.

@patrickryan1515

3y↑27

R.I.P., Willie Winfield -- Such a beautiful voice.

@kielleyshawn3597

10y↑60

this song makes me feel at peace

@creolelady3519

7y↑75

Doo Wop sings to the heart and soul so beautiful.

@FunBoysGaming

it's pretty commercial..

@jimworley9367

America's greatest musical sound!

@eviljesus6111

19w

@@FunBoysGamingstill good

@brittanyhyatt3407

9y↑46

His voice at the end gives me chills 💕

@coffeeicecream1

4y↑3

Me too, really the best of the best. Thanks friend.

@acrucker

6y↑5

Another Masterpiece for future generations to enjoy! Thank you, Harptones!

@ManagerGuy1

15y↑23

This song is like a soundtrack to my teenage years in the 1950's. The message of it's lyric's hold true to this day, after all these years. Love it! Thanks for posting it!

@crazybugger2145

2y↑2

Hows things going old timer

@frwystar

2y↑1

@Crazy Bugger gravestones can’t talk back

@yannick460

2y↑5

@Michael kinda dickish that will be us in a few decades

@frwystar

2y↑1

@Yannick yep, we all gotta go sometime

@jameswyer772

6y↑27

In my opinion-one of the best voices I’ve ever heard.
TIMELESS

@gregoryrufolo4742

9y↑8

Beautiful song by one of the pioneer R&B groups....Saw them in person numerous times...Great showmen too.

@vlessinger

14y↑5

My favorite group of all times. Willie Winfield and Lee Andrews both had the smoothest voice ever. Makes my day

@TexasJames

32w↑2

Shout out to my grandparent who listened to this while dancing, when I played with my legos by the x-mas tree in the 90s. Song takes me to that moment everytime!

@paprikash1877

5y↑5

This is and always will be a classic frozen in time !!!!!

@geefarano

12y↑6

This group has some of the tightest harmony, they also manage to manage to do this in all of their big hits they must have practiced and practiced and practiced in order to maintain this cohesiveness all through their recording sessions, how can they be this good. This group will live on through time because how could anyone who listens to this kind of music not like the Harptone's.

@willr8764

6y↑4

Such a beauty... Doo-wop has more hidden gems than any other genre.

@ThomasWilliams89

3y↑5

I would totally have this as my wedding song lol.

@doowopjim1

8y↑4

Willie Winfield is outstanding; the harmony incredible!!!!!!

@noise6327

8y↑261

this song hits my heart. he hit that note at the end like someone stepped on his balls. i felt dat shit. love this song.

@CarlThaOccultist

8y↑9

😂😂

@Darealkingrichard

8y↑1

+D Jordan (NOISE) ROTFL

@noise6327

8y↑1

huh?

@Darealkingrichard

8y↑4

D Jordan You said "he hit that note at the end like someone stepped on his balls" & i thought that shit was hilarious. Do you like Hip Hop?

@noise6327

8y↑3

yea I got u. I jus don't know what rotfl stand for. let me know. n no I don't like hip-hop. I LOVE IT! music in general. shit with beats that go hard af....

14 More Replies...

@kimansberry4917

3y↑3

One of my favorite songs. Great singing!

@JoseJimenez-ud5oj

3y↑53

23 and in love with this music. I feel so connected to it. I was born in the wrong era I swear

@Catceptionv2

2y↑6

Im 22 and i agree todays music just doesn't hit like the oldies do, it's quantity over quality these days.

@idipped2521

1y↑3

@The Baby I make music but I have to come back to the oldies. Even though I’m 23 and make new style stuff I still am inspired by the old

@claudespeed80

1y↑1

Same here I'm going to be 25 and feel that music in the 1900's and more meaning and love made into there music compared to modern music today

@RSVPKELS

44w

Same 💯

@nicolasmartinez795

44w↑1

22 here, hello fellow old soul

2 More Replies...

@anthonythedude9206

6y↑4

1:53 one of the best notes in music history

@dw8773

7y↑1

This music seems to get more precious every year that goes by.

@mariellclement8092

8y↑368

Henry and Karen's Wedding song from Goodfellas. Love that movie.

@nickfrangiamone

8y↑1

One of my favorite movies

@mariellclement8092

8y↑5

+Nick Frangiamone Yep, best mob movie ever. " I'm an average nobody, I get to live the rest of my life like a Schnook!" Lol

@noise6327

fuck yea

@Flagtrans

7y↑3

One of my favorite movies.

@Flagtrans

7y↑3

Mine too.

4 More Replies...

@kandr21400

8y↑9

It was like he had two families. The first time I was introduced to all of them at once, it was crazy. Paulie and his brothers had lots of sons and nephews. And almost all of them were named Peter or Paul. It was unbelievable. There must have been two dozen Peters and Pauls at the wedding. Plus, they were all married to girls named Marie. And they named all their daughters Marie. By the time I finished meeting everybody, I thought I was drunk

@robertlauritsen3511

Ah Ha Ha Ha love it!

@jennifernorman4087

7y↑2

I love this song, they don't make groups like this anymore!

@breevaldez1104

3y↑3

I want to dance this with my Grandparents on my wedding day ✨💗

@gerbenmoljr

9y↑188

@dianamcfarland1997

5y↑6

I CAN RELATE TO THIS, LIFE CAN BE A DREAM. BUT LIFE MUST GO ON.

@95jAlfinse

4y↑35

"We used to say you're gunna like this guy, he's one of us, he's a Good Fella"

@paulminharezsr7799

4y↑2

So many memories come back to me when im hearing the great songs that the harptones made!!! Man they just don't make music like that into days world! I know times have changed and yes we do need to keep up with the change into today's world!!! Thank you so much harptones for the great music!!!

@kandr21400

8y↑363

I’m not mad, I’m proud of you. You took your first pinch like a man and you learned the two greatest things in life.What?Look at me. Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut.

@jasmineramirez1545

dadzilla

@reedallaboutit590

4y↑1

Great Scene

@zackmatulis4094

4y↑6

Like my Grandfather told my mother, when the police come knocking "you dont say anything, they dont have anything"...

Keep your mouth shut!

@jorgenvonstrangle000

3y↑4

ayo there he is! there he is!

Paulie: Ohhhh ya broke ya cherry! 🤣🤣🤣

@tckaos8109

Best advice in the world

2 More Replies...

@njacapelladoowopenthusiast8449

9y↑6

Willie Winfield what a voice!!!!

@jmohan23

14y↑3

I've slow- danced to this song a million times growing up in the 50's and 60's. .. just last week I included it in my DooWop show. It was a big hit and the dance floor was packed! Thanks............Jan Thanks

@ronschuhs1721

10y↑32

I love this song. I have in my car a CD of the Moonglows. These groups run neck and neck of my all time favorites. I cannot stand the crap that they pass for music today. I was brought up in Phila. to the Philly sound. I was so very fortunate.

@platinumsafe

9y↑3

Hey Ron thanks for sharing I'm also born an raised Philly I'm only 35 but grew up listening to this wonderful music my parents played as a kid. Your Definatly right about the music today, at least we have the old stuff to make up for it.

@Italianoboy1gmail

9y↑1

You got that right!!! Ronny...be good!!

@tylercouture216

@platinumsafe your a year away from 40 now damn does tine fly

@josephkane3215

6y↑3

Another timeless Classic hit single from 1955 such a real Beautiful hit single during the early 1950's Rock & Roll Years

@nanetteochoa8156

3y↑2

I love these oldies. it's the best decade, I wish I could go backwards in time & c them for myself.

@ruthannbrafford4725

8y↑14

Alan Freed use to play great groups like this, this group didn't make one song I didn't love. I lived in New York and listen to the radio every night When I was a kid growing up this was my kind of music and it still is. Love it.

@jazzman1317

+Ruthann Brafford
I still love the doowop music from the 50s. I grew up with it but I couldn't hear Alan Freed's program except playbacks on the weekend from a Baltimore station. I think the lead singer of the Harptones is still living.Can't remember his name but he was 17 at the time they recorded Life Is But a Dream.

@CoreenGonzalez

46w↑2

So heavenly!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@ruthannbrafford9710

10y↑2

One of my favorite groups when I was growing up.

@ranabishuti9987

This song is definitely something to dance to! (Lyrical/contemporary)

@fioredecor222

8y↑5

MASTERPIECE

@katieeex

I have had this on repeat for days and don’t think il ever get bored.

@GodsMercenary94

14y↑4

This Is Definatley Going To Be Played At My Wedding!

@timothygraber3829

10y↑23

Beautiful!

@kingbee1500

10y↑11

I love to hear the studio chatter and ID slate on these compilations...makes you feel like you're right in the studio next to the producer and engineer.

@shirylkaplan

6y↑1

A song that the True Highest Guideness sings to us every day

@bribrisdivineintuition7024

5y↑2

I didn't want the song to end 🤗🤤😍👐

@wentworthstallworthellswor5579

I am on the clock here in melrose park illinois USA watching this video......Yes agree with your words..ps you take a lovely photo pretty face woman...

@Cocof0rcocopuffs

1y↑8

OK I’m not gonna lie. I only heard of this masterpiece from that one perfume ad.🙄

@MzMz19_

18w↑1

The asap Rocky gucci ad 😅

@TJCATLOVER

13y↑1

Fantastic song!!!!!!!!

@roach-housetv1439

4y↑2

Anybody els find these tracks bone chilling? I love it.. wish I was around back then...

@ruthbrafford3349

6y↑1

One of best songs and groups of the 50's!

@Timliu92

What I love from doo-wop - the genre has some of the best use of falsetto in popular music, and this song is one of them. What a splendid ending!

@coffeeicecream1

7y↑2

Sounds so beautiful. Thanks.

@walrusmcgee

6y↑1

18 years old. Gonna play this at my wedding some day

@TJSzabo-wh4fj

10y↑5

Life has its music, Life has its songs of Love!!

@gns423

3y↑1

Great song! Thanks for posting it.

@redvelbeyexox

17w

Can someone recommend me more songs that sounds like this? A lot of old Disney and Christmas songs in the 50s has this harmonic jazz feel to it and idk what genre to search for it.

Came back from the Gucci commercial and it put me in a hypnosis lol

@markl5562

1y↑4

He's settling down, he's getting married, and you're still bouncing around from girl to girl!

@AiCLol

13y↑4

I love this song, after hearing it on Goodfellas for a decade

@aleo1893

2y↑1

Linda música del año 1955.
Sonó en en la película “Buenos muchachos” (1990). 🎵✅

@lindaguarracino1020

4y↑2

There will never be music like this again. What a shame...

@josephkane3215

6y↑1

Just a Real Gem of a Hit single as it is by The Harptones as it is Called Life is But A Dream as it came out in 1955

@mr.oldiebutgoodies6544

One of The golden doowop era groups , of all time they had so many , but life is but a dream........❤

@tanyikwah5806

9y↑3

Never heard this group before,thanks for posting .

@titohinojosa7190

4y↑1

My favorite all time Doo Wop group from NY. lOVE IT!

@allaboutrecords

9y↑1

Just can't get any better than this!!!
And to think, they used to rehearse this song across the street from me under the Manhattan Bridge on Monroe Street.

@born2perform4u

14y↑2

beautiful song =-)

@midwestmelancholy97

3y↑7

Rest in Paradise Willie Winfield💔🕊

@jamespowell1442

10y↑10

The best and only version of this classic,bar none!!!

@jessymcdermitt1586

6y↑1

Juste trop parfait !!

@avaunamallett6176

2y↑1

I hope to dance to this song at my wedding one day, just like Henry and Karen.

@michaelcabada2933

Classic music everybody can relate to no matter where you're from...

@josephkane4753

6y↑1

Just Another Timeless Classic hit single from 1954 as it is By The HarpTones With Life Is But A Dream such a real classic

@raine8285

3y↑2

My boyfriend said he wants this to be our song we dance to when we get married😌

@vammekopinion6044

Good things Never Go Out of Style

@jeffchimenti22

10y↑7

Love this song

@RSVPKELS

44w

My favorite era of music man 💯👑

@metromustangs

11y↑5

best gangster movie ever, hands down!!! Goodfellas 4 life! Marty is a genius!

@supermarroman9120

The last note hits hard

@Catceptionv2

This song perfectly sets the tone for goodfellas

@ceoofworldpeace8901

9y↑15

This is going to be my wedding song.

@realUlfricStormcloak

9y↑2

MrR3WIND

thats the point...

@camilocardenas1567

8y↑2

+James Milton (Jay) Prepare yourself for an army of Pauls and Peters

@melvinpruitt3907

3y↑3

Good fellas, what a great sound track to a great film.

@AlejandroHernandez-zt7ut

4y↑1

Legendary.💛

@ashleynicole6103

6y↑1

i can never get tired of watching goodfellas.just watched it and wanted to play the sountrack.😍😍😍😍

@MROSEN62

12y↑4

I loved this record when Scorsese first loved it ... decades before Goodfellas.

@memom010605

8y↑21

This was sung at Karen & Henry Hill's wedding in "Goodfellas"

@ElderSwear07

13y

this classical oldies with is beautiful melodies and harmonies and that ending note.

@communismgaming6536

Why cant music be the same i wonder if someday this music will be forgotten it saddens me to think that someday it will but i wont forget this kind of music holds such a special place in my heart

@dandy166

13y

My number one group of all time singing my number one song.

@LILWITEBOY95

8y↑1

Great song even better movie! Top 10 favorite all time for sure

@TheMaxwedge1

12y↑1

I can still this song eminating out of my Pop's 57 Bonneville convertible as he would drive up the hill on his way to the house from work at 5:30 prompt every night and pull in the driveway with his straw hat on. RIP Dad!

@jerryj920

9y↑3

Classic doo-wop. Beautiful. Period

@retroguy42ike

The HARPTONES with Winnie Winfield singing lead came out with this in 1955 long before Goodfellas was filmed. It seems like a lot of later movies had to reach to the wonderful 1950's great Doo-Wop songs to add a special sound to enhance their movies!