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In Dreams
Roy Orbison Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

A candy-colored clown they call the sandman
Tiptoes to my room every night
Just to sprinkle star dust and to whisper
"Go to sleep, everything is alright"

I close my eyes then I drift away
Into the magic night, I softly say
A silent prayer like dreamers do
Then I fall asleep to dream my dreams of you

In dreams I walk with you
In dreams I talk to you
In dreams you're mine all of the time
We're together in dreams, in dreams

But just before the dawn
I awake and find you gone
I can't help it, I can't help it if I try
I remember that you said goodbye

Too bad it only seems
It only happens in my dreams
Only in dreams
In beautiful dreams

Overall Meaning

Roy Orbison's song In Dreams captures the essence of dreaming and longing for a loved one. In the song, he describes a candy-colored clown, also known as the sandman, who visits him every night to sprinkle stardust and whisper soothing words that help him fall asleep. Once he falls asleep, he feels like he is in a magical world where he can walk and talk with his loved one. The lyrics convey a feeling of joy, love, and harmony that he can only feel in his dreams.


As the night progresses, and just before dawn, he wakes up to find that his loved one is gone. His heart sinks as he realizes that he has to face another day without her. He remembers that she said goodbye, and he finds himself helplessly clinging to the hope that they will meet again in his dreams. The song poignantly captures the pain that comes with longing and the refuge that one finds in dreams.


Overall, the song In Dreams is a beautiful and timeless masterpiece that touches upon the universal human experience of love, loss, and dreaming. It takes us on a journey to the magical world of dreams where we can escape the harsh reality of life and connect with our deepest emotions and desires, even if it's only for a fleeting moment.


Line by Line Meaning

A candy-colored clown they call the sandman
Every night, a colorful clown known as the sandman visits me


Tiptoes to my room every night
The sandman sneaks into my room quietly each night


Just to sprinkle star dust and to whisper
The sandman sprinkles star dust and whispers in my ear


"Go to sleep, everything is alright"
The sandman reassures me that everything is fine and that I should sleep


I close my eyes then I drift away
I close my eyes and begin to drift off to sleep


Into the magic night, I softly say
I enter into a mystical world and whisper softly


A silent prayer like dreamers do
I say a silent prayer like other dreamers


Then I fall asleep to dream my dreams of you
I finally fall asleep and dream about you


In dreams I walk with you
When I dream, I walk with you by my side


In dreams I talk to you
In my dreams, I have conversations with you


In dreams you're mine all of the time
In my dreams, you belong to me always


We're together in dreams, in dreams
In my dreams, we are together


But just before the dawn
Right before sunrise


I awake and find you gone
I wake up and realize that you are not with me


I can't help it, I can't help it if I try
I cannot control my emotions or thoughts even if I try


I remember that you said goodbye
I recall that you left me


Too bad it only seems
It is unfortunate that it only appears or feels that way


It only happens in my dreams
This situation only occurs when I am dreaming


Only in dreams
This state of being is only possible when I am sleeping


In beautiful dreams
Even though it is not a reality, my dreams are exquisite




Lyrics © Orbi-Lee Music, Barbara Orbison Music Company, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, R-Key Darkus
Written by: Roy Orbison

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@suhelhussain.961

If you are listening to this in 2024, you have a great music taste. 🫡

@pattiturner9091

I am! I’m 76 and I feel more in love with my husband than ever. He passed away in 2016 from multiple hemorrhagic stroke symptoms. I wake up and think he’s still beside me. I will love him to the end of my days. 😢

@mike2008alberta

he IS beside you whether you believe it or not ...

@user-pm5zy1ml4n

God bless you that's nice and roy makes great music ❤

@hwalter5432

Almost same age, never had anyone miss me like that, he was a very lucky man to have you,

@user-pm5zy1ml4n

@@hwalter5432I suppose we have to stay strong and move on.enjoy the ride as they say

@davidhansen7609

I also lost my wife every nite I reach over to touch her wake up crying

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@phzoza521

Who's still listening to this beautiful voice in 2024 😭😭😭🙏🏼

@JanetOlson-cf3xx

I am still listening to Roy Orbison on Feb. 16/ 2024 ! His voice is Heavenly as Usual! RIP 💕🎼🎵🎶💕 Janet

@mullerb.i.a8545

Nice that's my birthday just turned 40 yesterday. And yes Roy was absolutely beautiful. R.I.P ROY ORBISON ❤

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