She grew up in Arcadia, Louisiana, one of 14 children, and moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1963. Although some sources state that she was in a vocal group known as The Fawns who recorded for Money Records in 1964, she has refuted this, saying that she sang with a trio in Arcadia by that name.
In 1964 she started a solo singing career, as Bettye Swann, at the prompting of local DJ Al Scott, who became her manager. After a minor hit with the self-penned "Don’t Wait Too Long". her big breakthrough came with "Make Me Yours", which topped the Billboard R&B charts in July 1967, and also made #21 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1968 she split with Scott, moved to Georgia, won a new contract with Capitol Records and had another hit in 1969 with "Don't Touch Me" (#14 R&B, #38 Hot 100).
In 1972 she transferred to Atlantic Records and had a couple of minor hits with "Victim of a Foolish Heart" (later revived by Joss Stone), and Merle Haggard’s "Today I Started Loving You Again". She continued to record until the mid-1970s, but with little commercial success. Her last public performance as Bettye Swann was in 2013, live in Cleethorpes.
As Betty Barton, she then worked in the education sector in the Las Vegas, Nevada area, and became a Jehovah's Witness. She is now retired and, according to a 2005 interview, suffers from a degenerative spinal condition. After leaving Money Records she lived for a short time in Athens, Georgia.
Sweet Dreams
Bettye Swann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every night, night after night I have to go through
Why can't I forget about you and start my life over you
Instead of having, always having sweet dreams about you
You don't love me, you don't love me, it's plain
I should have known that I could never, never wear your name
I know, I should hate you, hate you the whole night, the whole night through
I know, I know, I should hate you, I should hate you the whole night through
Instead I keep having, always having sweet dreams about you
Oh baby, baby
The lyrics of Bettye Swann's "Sweet Dreams" are a poignant and heartfelt exploration of the pain and longing that can come with heartbreak. The singer is haunted by thoughts of someone who clearly doesn't love her, but she can't seem to shake them. Every night she dreams of this person and is unable to move on with her life as a result. She realizes that she should hate this person and move on, but she can't seem to stop these constant dreams that keep her tethered to them.
The song speaks to the common human experience of being unable to let go of someone, even when we know they are not good for us. The singer's dreams are a metaphor for her inability to escape the grip of her feelings for this person. Each night, they are a reminder of what could have been, and what she must now let go of.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet, sweet dreams I have of you
I dream about you every night, and it's always sweet.
Every night, night after night I have to go through
Every night I have to go through the same dream of you.
Why can't I forget about you and start my life over you
I wish I could forget about you and move on.
Instead of having, always having sweet dreams about you
Instead of just dreaming sweetly of you.
You don't love me, you don't love me, it's plain
You don't love me, and it's clear as day.
I should have known that I could never, never wear your name
I should have known that we weren't meant to be together.
I know, I should hate you, hate you the whole night, the whole night through
I know I should hate you and not just during my dreams.
Instead of just having, always having sweet dreams about you
Instead of just dreaming about you every night.
I know, I know, I should hate you, I should hate you the whole night through
I know I should hate you throughout the whole night.
Instead I keep having, always having sweet dreams about you
But instead, my dreams of you continue to be sweet.
Oh baby, baby
Oh, sweetie.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Don Gibson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind