The BoDeans worked with T-Bone Burnett on their debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, which appeared in 1986 to warm reviews. They recruited another big-name producer, Talking Head Jerry Harrison, to helm 1987's Outside Looking In, which found the band reduced to a trio after the departure of Hoffman. Outside Looking In broke into the Billboard Top 100, and the BoDeans grew their audience by touring alongside U2, appearing on Robbie Robertson's self-titled solo album, and receiving the honor of Best New Band by Rolling Stone magazine. By the time they released their third album, Home, in 1989, keyboardist Michael Ramos and drummer Danny Gayol had joined. This lineup stayed intact for the release of 1991's Black and White, but the BoDeans went without a drummer once again on their next recording, Go Slow Down.
Following the release of a double-disc live album, Joe Dirt Car, the band returned in 1996 with Blend. Around the time of Blend's release, "Closer to Free" -- a song that had originally appeared on 1993's Go Slow Down -- became a hit, due in large part to its exposure as the theme song for the TV show Party of Five. "Closer to Free" eventually cracked the Top 20, becoming the most successful single of the band's career. The BoDeans were arguably more popular than ever, but the band took a break during the late '90s, with both frontmen devoting time to their solo careers.
By 2004, the band had reconvened and signed with a new label, Zoe. Resolution was released that year, followed in 2005 by Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst. Griffin left the group in 2006 and was replaced by Eric Holden, who appeared on 2008's Still. By this point, the bandmates had found a new home on 429 Records, and they remained with that label for the release of Mr. Sad Clown in 2010 and Indigo Dreams in 2011. That same year saw the departure of Llanas, citing "differences of opinion." The band's 11th studio album, American Made, arrived the following year on the band's own Free & Alive label, and was the first with Neumann as sole leader. The BoDeans toured extensively in support of the release, and in 2014 began work on their next studio project. Released in 2015, I Cant Stop featured a new BoDeans lineup anchored by Neumann, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Sam Hawksley, bassist Eric Holden, and drummer Kenny Aronoff, the latter a well-respected journeyman musician who had played on several BoDeans recording sessions in the '90s. In June 2016, the BoDeans brought out a single, "My Hometown," with the release benefiting the Milwaukee County Historical Society. The single was a preview of the group's next album; titled Thirteen, the 11-song set was released in April 2017.
Dreams
BoDeans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's ridden on the restless and young
With a want and desire we'll move
You know there ain't nothing else that you can do, oh yeah yeah
Ain't this what dreams are made of, um um in the night
Ain't this what dreams are made of, oh yeah yeah
Ain't this what dreams are made of, um um in the night
Sometimes we move with no choice
To the call of wild crazy voices
And you start to feel like a restless gone free
Well as years go by now you finally see, oh yea yea
Ain't this what dreams are made of, um um in the night
Ain't this what dreams are made of, oh yeah yeah
Ain't this what dreams are made of, um um in the night
Ain't this what dreams are made of
Hay!
Um um, the young leave their problems behind
It seems many got nothing but time, time
Yeah not many pray, and don't do what's right
They just run for the love in the night, oh yea yea
Ain't this what dreams are made of, um um in the night
Ain't this what dreams are made of, oh yeah yeah
Ain't this what dreams are made of, um um in the night
Ain't this what dreams are made of
Oh, yeah yeah, oh yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah
The lyrics of "Dreams" by BoDeans depict a journey, both physical and emotional, of a group of young restless souls. It portrays the idea of chasing one's dreams, without knowing the destination but with the sheer willingness to experience the journey. The "road up ahead" symbolizes the path to unknown destinations, full of obstacles, but with a burning desire and hunger for adventure, they continue to march forward with no hesitation. The lines "Sometimes we move with no choice to the call of wild crazy voices" signify that sometimes there's no other option than to follow the call of the heart, no matter how crazy it may seem. The sense of liberation and freedom gained by moving forward towards the unknown is emphasized in the line "And you start to feel like a restless gone free."
The lyrics also symbolize the pursuit of happiness through a young and reckless lifestyle. The lines "The young leave their problems behind, it seems many got nothing but time" represent the carefree nature of the characters who wander from place to place, living for the moment and not worrying about the future. It highlights the idea that they may not have a clear path, but they are making the most of their present. The whole song is an ode to the adventure of life, to the idea of following one's dreams, and the thrill of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a road up ahead and it's a long one
The path forward is uncertain and will be full of challenges.
It's ridden on the restless and young
Those who are young and full of passion are the most likely to take on this journey.
With a want and desire we'll move
Motivated by a deep yearning, we will continue to go forward.
You know there ain't nothing else that you can do, oh yeah yeah
We must pursue our dreams because it is what drives us and is meaningful to us.
Ain't this what dreams are made of, um um in the night
Our aspirations and longings are what give us purpose and shape our hopes, especially during moments of quiet reflection in the darkness.
Sometimes we move with no choice
At times we must progress down our path regardless of whether or not we are ready, or if we even want to.
To the call of wild crazy voices
We can be pulled off course by the seductive lure of temptation, unexpected sources of inspiration or the sensation of chaos.
And you start to feel like a restless gone free
You will begin to feel untethered, unbound by anything but your own intuition and inner voice.
Well as years go by now you finally see, oh yea yea
Over time we become wise and see more clearly; we realize the value of our experiences in shaping our lives.
Um um, the young leave their problems behind
Young people often leave behind the worries and issues that plague the older and wiser among us.
It seems many got nothing but time, time
With life outstretched before them, young people have a sense of eternal possibility and endless opportunities ahead.
Yeah not many pray, and don't do what's right
With their eyes on the prize, some folks forget to pay attention to the 'right' way to do things.
They just run for the love in the night, oh yea yea
A passionate desire to find that special someone or reach that special destination can propel us forward through the darkness, and on toward our dreams.
Oh, yeah yeah, oh yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah
These repeated phrases are a chorus, expressing the sentiment that this is what dreams are made of, and we should always keep pushing forward towards the light.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KURT R. NEUMANN, SAMUEL J. LLANAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind