Dreams
Brandi Carlile Lyrics


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Dreams, I have dreams when I'm awake when I'm asleep
And you, you are in my Dreams
You're underneath my skin, how am I so weak

And now in my dreams,

I can feel the weight, I can just come clean
I keep it to myself, I know what it means
I can't have you, but I have dreams

How long, can you hold your breath?
Can you count to ten, can you let it pass?
Keep, can you keep it in?
Keep it behind lashes, can you make it last?

And now in my dreams, I can feel the weight
I can just come clean

I keep it to myself, I know what it means
I can't have you, but I have dreams
Oh, I have dreams, I have dreams

(And then an amazing guitar solo)

Mind, can you read my mind?
Has it come undone, am I showin' signs?

And now, in my dreams
I can feel the weight, I can just come clean
I keep it to myself, I know what it means




I can't have you, but I have dreams
I have dreams, I have, I have, I have Dreams

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Brandi Carlile’s song Dreams delve into the subject of unrequited love and the role that dreams play in coping with this type of love. The singer acknowledges having feelings for someone she cannot have in her waking life. However, in her dreams, this person is with her, and she is left feeling vulnerable and weak. The lines, “You're underneath my skin, how am I so weak” express the depth of emotion she feels for this person.


The chorus line, “How long, can you hold your breath? Can you count to ten, can you let it pass? Keep, can you keep it in?” seems to question the listener on how they deal with unrequited love. It’s asking if they can keep it together and hide their feelings, or if they let their emotions get the best of them. In any case, there’s a price to pay for holding onto these feelings, demonstrated through the line, “I can feel the weight, I can just come clean.”


The song’s lyrics also mention the power of dreams and the escape they offer from the harsh reality of rejection. Dreams allow the singer to have the emotional connection she cannot have in her waking life, the lines, “I can't have you, but I have dreams” express this. In the end, the song suggests that unrequited love is not something you can easily shake off, and that dreams offer a way to cope with it.


Line by Line Meaning

Dreams, I have dreams when I'm awake when I'm asleep
The singer has constant thoughts about someone, both while awake and asleep


And you, you are in my Dreams
The singer's dreams are about a specific person


You're underneath my skin, how am I so weak
The singer feels extremely attached to this person


And now in my dreams, I can feel the weight, I can just come clean I keep it to myself, I know what it means I can't have you, but I have dreams
The singer is able to express their true feelings in their dreams, but is unable to do so in real life


How long, can you hold your breath? Can you count to ten, can you let it pass? Keep, can you keep it in? Keep it behind lashes, can you make it last?
The singer wonders if the person they are dreaming about is also keeping their feelings hidden


Mind, can you read my mind? Has it come undone, am I showin' signs?
The singer questions if the person they dream about can sense their feelings in real life


I have dreams, I have dreams
The constant dreams about this person signify a strong emotional attachment




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@co_libri

Lyrics for singers :

Dreams, I have dreams
When I'm awake, when I'm asleep
And you, you are in my dreams
You're underneath my skin, how am I so weak?
And now, in my dreams
I can feel the wait, I could just come clean
I keep it to myself, I know what it means
I can't have you but I have dreams
How long can you hold your breath?
Can you count to ten, can you let it pass?
And keep, can you keep it in?
And keep it behind lashes, can you make it last?
And now, in my dreams
I can feel the way, I could just come clean
I keep it to myself, I know what it means
I can't have you but I have dreams
And I have dreams, I have dreams, woo
Mind, can you read my mind?
Has it come undone, am I showin' signs?
And now in my dreams
I can feel the wait, I could just come clean
I keep it to myself, I know what it means
I can't have you but I have dreams
And I have dreams, I have, I have, I have dreams



All comments from YouTube:

@frealaddes6856

This always makes me so nostalgic. The 50th movie thing is probably the best video Disney has made and this song MADE it

@freddieedsel3990

Go see her in person if you have the chance! She is simply amazing and sounds beautiful live. I have listened to this song dozens of times and I still get chills every time.

@shaunarcher2956

I get chills too. She’s very creative with her word choice and emphasis. In the second verse to this song when she says “can you make it last?” The word last is sang in a long note and sounds beautiful. I get chills

@hollywoodmp82

I remember this from 50th anniversary video. always gives me serotonin :)

@Ewonder78

anniversary of what?

@veronika607

​@@Ewonder78disney's 50th animated motion picture.

@karencarpenterfan32

i seriously love her. these are the songs that they can NEVER over play. i never get tired of her music!<3

@0ddddduck

Over 10 yrs and still one of my fav songs

@co_libri

Lyrics for singers :

Dreams, I have dreams
When I'm awake, when I'm asleep
And you, you are in my dreams
You're underneath my skin, how am I so weak?
And now, in my dreams
I can feel the wait, I could just come clean
I keep it to myself, I know what it means
I can't have you but I have dreams
How long can you hold your breath?
Can you count to ten, can you let it pass?
And keep, can you keep it in?
And keep it behind lashes, can you make it last?
And now, in my dreams
I can feel the way, I could just come clean
I keep it to myself, I know what it means
I can't have you but I have dreams
And I have dreams, I have dreams, woo
Mind, can you read my mind?
Has it come undone, am I showin' signs?
And now in my dreams
I can feel the wait, I could just come clean
I keep it to myself, I know what it means
I can't have you but I have dreams
And I have dreams, I have, I have, I have dreams

@M..W.

This was the first Brandi song I heard 5-10 years ago and now I listen to her every day.

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