The song was written by guitarist Chris Stein, who came up with the line "Dreaming is free", and vocalist Debbie Harry, who wrote the rest of the lyrics. According to Stein, the track took inspiration from “Dancing Queen” by ABBA.
The song features backing vocals from the American pop singer and songwriter Ellie Greenwich, who also sang backing vocals on "Atomic" as well as "In The Flesh" and "Man Overboard" from their 1976 debut album Blondie.
"Dreaming" charted in many countries, including Canada, New Zealand, the US, the UK, Norway, Austria, Australia, West Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Ireland. The song was certified Silver in the UK by BPI with over 250,000 sales charting at number 2 on the UK Singles chart.
The Rolling Stone Magazine listed "Dreaming" at number 414 on their Top 500 Best Songs of All Time list in 2021.
The song has been covered by many bands, including Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins and Yo La Tengo among others.
"Dreaming" was used as the opening credits theme for the third season of the tv show The Deuce in 2019.
Dreaming
Blondie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You could tell I was no debutante
You asked me what's my pleasure
"A movie or a measure?"
I'll have a cup of tea
And tell you of my
Dreamin', dreamin' is free
I don't want to live on charity
Pleasure's real or is it fantasy?
Reel to reel is living rarity
People stop and stare at me
We just walk on by
We just keep on dreamin'
Beat feet, walking a two-mile
Meet me, meet me at the turnstile
I never met him, I'll never forget him
Dream, dream, even for a little while
Dream, dream, filling up an idle hour
Fade away (woo), radiate
I sit by and watch the river flow
I sit by and watch the traffic go
Imagine something of your very own
Something you can have and hold
I'd build a road in gold just to have some
Dreamin', dreamin' is free
Dreamin', dreamin' is free
Dreamin', (dream) dreamin' is free
(Dream) dreamin' is free
Blondie's song "Dreaming" is an upbeat track with an underlying message about the importance of fantasy and imagination. The opening lines describe how the singer meets someone for the first time and they ask about her pleasure. Instead of opting for a more traditional activity like going to the movies, the singer chooses to have a cup of tea and share her dreams with this person. The chorus repeats the phrase "Dreaming is free" multiple times, highlighting how imagination doesn't cost a thing.
Throughout the song, the lyrics touch on themes of class and societal expectations. The singer acknowledges that she's not a debutante and rejects the idea of living on charity. She questions the difference between reality and fantasy and hints at her desire to break away from societal expectations. The line "Reel to reel is living rarity" references movies being played on a reel-to-reel projector, which was a more expensive and rare way to watch films.
The second verse introduces a new character, a man who the singer has never met but still holds significance in her life. The line "I'll never meet him, I'll never forget him" suggests that this man might be a celebrity or someone who represents a fantasy for the singer. The chorus repeats, emphasizing how dreaming is a way to escape reality and fill up idle hours.
At the end of the song, the singer reflects on sitting by the river and watching the traffic go by. She encourages listeners to imagine something of their own and to hold onto it tightly. The final lines repeat the chorus, reinforcing the idea that dreaming is free and accessible to everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
When I met you in the restaurant
From the moment we met, we were in a casual dining environment
You could tell I was no debutante
You realized that I was not a fashionable and sophisticated person
You asked me what's my pleasure
You questioned me about what I'd like to do for entertainment
"A movie or a measure?"
You offered me the choice of going to see a film or getting a drink
I'll have a cup of tea
I'd prefer a cup of tea instead
And tell you of my
Dreamin', dreamin' is free
Dreamin', dreamin' is free
I'm going to talk to you about my desires and aspirations, which cost nothing to imagine and dream about
I don't want to live on charity
I do not want to rely on the generosity of others or be a recipient of aid
Pleasure's real or is it fantasy?
Is the enjoyment one experiences genuine or just a product of one's imagination?
Reel to reel is living rarity
Listening to music on tape is becoming rare, but it is a way of experiencing life
People stop and stare at me
I attract attention from strangers, and their gazes make me feel conspicuous
We just walk on by
We just keep on dreamin'
Despite any unwanted attention, we ignore it and continue dreaming of what we want
Beat feet, walking a two-mile
Meet me, meet me at the turnstile
We will meet each other at the entrance after walking a distance of two miles
I never met him, I'll never forget him
Dream, dream, even for a little while
Even though I've never met him, I still dream about him
Dream, dream, filling up an idle hour
Fade away (woo), radiate
Dreams occupy and fill up unused time, but eventually fade away and disappear
I sit by and watch the river flow
I sit by and watch the traffic go
I see the flow of water in the river and cars moving in traffic from a distance without getting involved
Imagine something of your very own
Something you can have and hold
Create something you could possess and take ownership of
I'd build a road in gold just to have some
Dreamin', dreamin' is free
Dreamin', dreamin' is free
I would go to great lengths to achieve my dreams, which cost nothing to create in my imagination
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Chris Stein, Deborah Harry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@StevenParrisWard
Clem's drumming on that song is astonishing. Timeless.
@akatripclaymore.9679
Fast....
@brianezell5790
By technical standards, he over drummed on this song. I don’t mind at all. I love it.
@GN-jn1ty
@@brianezell5790 It was their job to keep up with him ;P - Just thinking about the amount of cocaine that snorted in that building that night is terrifying.
@TheMusicalElitist
@@brianezell5790 Yeah, he admitted that though and they kept it.
Stop trolling, cretin.
@blueXRPdynamite.
Incredible, such talent.
@richardmccluskey4588
I almost forgot how beautiful and talented she was. What a rock n roll /punk rock treasure!
@robertferguson533
Timeless
@harrylime8412
Truly great bone structure.
@chekz3520
I'd smash