Channel originally performed on the Louisiana Hayride radio show, and then joined up with harmonica-player Delbert McClinton singing country music. Bruce wrote "Hey! Baby" in 1959, together with Margaret Cobb, and had been performing it for two years before recording it for Fort Worth record producer Bill Smith. It was originally released on Bill Smith's label, but as it started to sell well, it was distributed by Smash. Besides topping the U.S. pop charts, it became No. 2 in the UK in 1962 as well.
Channel toured Europe and was supported at one gig by The Beatles, who were then still unknown. John Lennon, who had "Hey! Baby" on his jukebox, was fascinated by McClinton's harmonica and asked McClinton to teach him to play. The harmonica break in "Hey! Baby" not only inspired Lennon's harmonica playing on The Beatles' 1962 first single "Love Me Do" and later records, but the harmonica break on Frank Ifield's "I Remember You" in 1962.
The key to the appeal of "Hey! Baby" is the sustained first note, with a rhythmic shuffle in the background. This had previously occurred on a recent hit "Sherry" (1962) by The Four Seasons, and was later to recur on a Beatles song, "I Should Have Known Better" (on A Hard Day's Night - 1964).
Delbert McClinton went on to write songs that were recorded by Waylon Jennings and Emmylou Harris.
Bruce Channel's only other Top 40 recording in the UK singles chart was 1968's "Keep On".
"Hey! Baby" was channelled (no pun intended) at the end of Bruce Springsteen's biggest hit single, 1984's "Dancing in the Dark".
"Hey! Baby" appeared on the soundtrack to "Dirty Dancing."
"Hey! Baby" is a staple of several college pep bands, including the Penn State Blue Band, Marching Mizzou and the Georgetown University Pep Band. The bands generally play the song at home football and basketball games, while the student section sings along. They know the chorus well, but rarely the verses.
A 2001 cover version by DJ Otzi reached both number 1 in the UK singles chart, as well as topping the equivalent listing in the USA.
Dream Baby
Bruce Channel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet dream baby
Sweet dream baby
How long must I dream
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams the whole day through
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams
Night time too I love you and I'm dreamin' of you
Dream baby, make me stop my dreamin'
You can make my dreams come true
Sweet dream baby
Sweet dream baby
Sweet dream baby
How long must I dream
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams the whole day through
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams
Night time too I love you and I'm dreamin' of you
That won't do
Dream baby, make me stop my dreamin'
You can make my dreams come true
Sweet dream baby
Sweet dream baby
Sweet dream baby
How long must I dream
The song "Dream Baby" by Bruce Channel is a classic love song that speaks about the power of love, the impact it has on our dreams and the longing for that love to become a reality. The repetition of the phrase "sweet dream baby" in the chorus heightens the emotional appeal of the song, making it a heartwarming expression of love. The song communicates the singer's feelings of being in love with a certain person, and how that love has infiltrated and taken over every corner of his life, including his dreams. The singer loves the person he is singing about and he wants his dreams to come true.
The singer repeatedly says that his dream baby is "got me dreamin' sweet dreams", which suggests that he thinks about her most of the time. However, he also acknowledges that he needs her to make his dreams a reality. He says "Dream baby, make me stop my dreamin'/You can make my dreams come true." This implies that the love he feels is not complete without the reciprocated love of his dream baby. The sense of longing in the song is heightened by the repetition of the phrase "How long must I dream?" This suggests that he is tired of the waiting and wants his dream baby to return his love so that they can be together.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet dream baby
Addressing the person he loves and wishes sweet dreams upon them
Sweet dream baby
Repeating his desire for his loved one to have sweet dreams
Sweet dream baby
Once again, wishing his loved one sweet dreams before allowing himself to fall asleep
How long must I dream
Wondering how long he must dream of his loved one before they can truly be together
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams the whole day through
Explaining how his love for his significant other makes him dream of them continuously
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams
Reiterating how his loved one is constantly on his mind and in his dreams
Night time too I love you and I'm dreamin' of you
Expressing that his love for his significant other does not diminish during night time and he continues to dream of them
That won't do
Acknowledging that simply dreaming of his loved one is not enough and he wants more
Dream baby, make me stop my dreamin'
Requesting for his loved one to help him stop just dreaming of them and make their relationship a reality
You can make my dreams come true
Believing that his loved one has the power to make his dreams of being with them come true
Sweet dream baby
Repeating once more his desire for his loved one to have sweet dreams
Sweet dream baby
Reiterating his love and thoughtful wishes for his loved one
Sweet dream baby
Concluding the song with one final wish for his loved one to have sweet dreams
How long must I dream
Returning to his original question, wondering when he can finally be with his loved one without just dreaming of them
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Cindy Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind