Born to a working-class family, Ferry studied fine art and taught at a secondary school before pursuing a career in music. In 1970 he began to assemble the rock band Roxy Music with a group of friends and acquaintances in London, and took the role of lead singer and main songwriter. The band achieved immediate international success with the release of their eponymous debut album in 1972, containing a rich multitude of sounds, which reflected Ferry's interest in exploring different genres of music. Their second album, For Your Pleasure (1973), further cultivated the band's unique sound and visual image that would establish Ferry as a leading cultural icon over the next decade.
Ferry began a parallel solo career in 1973 by releasing These Foolish Things, which popularized for the first time the concept of a contemporary musician releasing an album covering standard songs and was a drastic departure from his ongoing work with Roxy Music. His second album, Another Time, Another Place (1974), featured as its cover image Ferry posing by a pool in a white dinner jacket and represented one of his most impactful fashion statements. Over the next two years, Roxy Music released a trilogy of albums, Stranded (1973), Country Life (1974) and Siren (1975), which broadened the band's appeal internationally and saw Ferry take greater interest in the role of a live performer, reinventing himself in stage costumes ranging from gaucho to military uniforms.
Ferry disbanded Roxy Music following the release of their best-selling album Avalon in 1982 to concentrate on his solo career, releasing further singles such as "Slave to Love" and "Don't Stop the Dance" and the UK no. 1 album Boys and Girls in 1985. Including his work with Roxy Music, Ferry has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
As well as being a prolific songwriter, Ferry has recorded many cover versions, including standards from the Great American Songbook, in albums such as These Foolish Things (1973), Another Time, Another Place (1974), Let's Stick Together (1976), Taxi (1993) and As Time Goes By (1999), as well as Dylanesque (2007), an album of Bob Dylan covers. In 2019, Ferry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Roxy Music.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Ferry
Studio albums
These Foolish Things (1973)
Another Time, Another Place (1974)
Let's Stick Together (1976)
In Your Mind (1977)
The Bride Stripped Bare (1978)
Boys and Girls (1985)
Bête Noire (1987)
Taxi (1993)
Mamouna (1994)
As Time Goes By (1999)
Frantic (2002)
Dylanesque (2007)
Olympia (2010)
The Jazz Age (2012)
Avonmore (2014)
Bitter-Sweet (2018)
Bob Dylan's Dream
Bryan Ferry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I fell asleep for to take my rest.
I dreamed a dream that made me sad,
Concerning myself and the first few friends I had.
With half-damp eyes I stared to the room
Where my friends and I spent many an afternoon,
Where we together weathered many a storm,
By the old wooden stove where our hats was hung,
Our words were told, our songs were sung,
Where we longed for nothin' and were quite satisfied
Talkin' and a-jokin' about the world outside.
With haunted hearts through the heat and cold,
We never thought we could ever get old.
We thought we could sit forever in fun
But our chances really was a million to one.
As easy it was to tell black from white,
It was all that easy to tell wrong from right.
And our choices were few and the thought never hit
That the one road we traveled would ever shatter and split.
How many a year has passed and gone,
And many a gamble has been lost and won,
And many a road taken by many a friend,
And each one I've never seen again.
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain,
That we could sit simply in that room again.
Ten thousand dollars at the drop of a hat,
I'd give it all gladly if our lives could be like that.
"Bryan Ferry's song 'Bob Dylan's Dream' is a reflective and nostalgic tribute to the past and the innocence of youth. The lyrics depict the singer's dream, where he reminisces about the good old days spent with his friends. The dream evokes a sense of sadness as the singer realizes that time has passed and things have changed.
The song starts with the singer falling asleep on a train and dreaming about his past. He recalls a room where he and his friends spent countless afternoons, weathering storms and enjoying each other's company. This room symbolizes a safe and carefree space, where they were content and didn't need anything else. They would talk, joke, and sing, oblivious to the troubles of the outside world.
However, as the dream progresses, the nostalgic tone takes a turn. The singer realizes that time has caught up with them and that they are no longer young. They had naively believed they could stay forever in that state of fun and friendship but now understand the reality that life brings. Choices were made, roads were taken, and friends were lost along the way. The realization hits hard that things will never be the same again.
Line by Line Meaning
While riding on a train goin' west
While journeying towards the unknown, heading towards new horizons
I fell asleep for to take my rest
I allowed myself to be free from worries and concerns
I dreamed a dream that made me sad
I had a vision that stirred melancholy emotions within me
Concerning myself and the first few friends I had
Reflecting on the past and the cherished friendships of my youth
With half-damp eyes I stared to the room
Gazing into a space where memories were created and shared
Where my friends and I spent many an afternoon
Where we enjoyed countless hours together
Where we together weathered many a storm
Where we supported each other through life's challenges
Laughin' and singin' till the early hours of the morn
Finding joy and harmony in each other's company, embracing the night
By the old wooden stove where our hats was hung
Next to the familiar hearth where we rested our belongings
Our words were told, our songs were sung
We expressed ourselves through heartfelt conversations and melodies
Where we longed for nothin' and were quite satisfied
Contentment filled our hearts, and our desires were few
Talkin' and a-jokin' about the world outside
Engaging in lively discussions and lighthearted jests about the world beyond
With haunted hearts through the heat and cold
Carrying heavy burdens in our souls, enduring both adversity and comfort
We never thought we could ever get old
We never considered the passage of time and the effects it would have on us
We thought we could sit forever in fun
We believed our joyous moments would never fade away
But our chances really was a million to one
In reality, the likelihood of sustaining that blissful existence was incredibly slim
As easy it was to tell black from white
Just as simple as distinguishing between opposing forces
It was all that easy to tell wrong from right
We effortlessly recognized the difference between what was morally correct and incorrect
And our choices were few and the thought never hit
We had limited options, and the concept of alternative paths scarcely crossed our minds
That the one road we traveled would ever shatter and split
We never anticipated that our chosen path would eventually fracture and divide
How many a year has passed and gone
Reflecting upon the multitude of years that have slipped away
And many a gamble has been lost and won
Acknowledging the risks taken and both the triumphs and failures experienced
And many a road taken by many a friend
Numerous journeys embarked upon by countless companions
And each one I've never seen again
However, I have never laid eyes upon any of them again
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
Expressing heartfelt desires, yet understanding their unattainability
That we could sit simply in that room again
Longing for the chance to gather once more in that humble space
Ten thousand dollars at the drop of a hat
A significant sum so readily given without hesitation
I'd give it all gladly if our lives could be like that
I would willingly sacrifice everything to relive those cherished and uncomplicated moments
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vic Aslet
Bob Dylan's Dream
While riding on a train goin’ west
I fell asleep for to take my rest
I dreamed a dream that made me sad
Concerning myself and the first few friends I had
With half-damp eyes I stared to the room
Where my friends and I spent many an afternoon
Where we together weathered many a storm
Laughin’ and singin’ till the early hours of the morn
By the old wooden stove where our hats was hung
Our words were told, our songs were sung
Where we longed for nothin’ and were quite satisfied
Talkin’ and a-jokin’ about the world outside
With haunted hearts through the heat and cold
We never thought we could ever get old
We thought we could sit forever in fun
But our chances really was a million to one
As easy it was to tell black from white
It was all that easy to tell wrong from right
And our choices were few and the thought never hit
That the one road we traveled would ever shatter and split
How many a year has passed and gone
And many a gamble has been lost and won
And many a road taken by many a friend
And each one I’ve never seen again
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
That we could sit simply in that room again
Ten thousand dollars at the drop of a hat
I’d give it all gladly if our lives could be like that
Mr. Gracian
I consider this as one of Dylan's greatest tracks and methinks that Ferry does an excellent job, perfectly catching the atmosphere.
TheTraveller1415
This is great, great song. Thanks for making this video!
Randall Hocking
Absolute dead on rendition . Great great nostalgic song about deeply we bond with our first close friends .
Vic Aslet
Bob Dylan's Dream
While riding on a train goin’ west
I fell asleep for to take my rest
I dreamed a dream that made me sad
Concerning myself and the first few friends I had
With half-damp eyes I stared to the room
Where my friends and I spent many an afternoon
Where we together weathered many a storm
Laughin’ and singin’ till the early hours of the morn
By the old wooden stove where our hats was hung
Our words were told, our songs were sung
Where we longed for nothin’ and were quite satisfied
Talkin’ and a-jokin’ about the world outside
With haunted hearts through the heat and cold
We never thought we could ever get old
We thought we could sit forever in fun
But our chances really was a million to one
As easy it was to tell black from white
It was all that easy to tell wrong from right
And our choices were few and the thought never hit
That the one road we traveled would ever shatter and split
How many a year has passed and gone
And many a gamble has been lost and won
And many a road taken by many a friend
And each one I’ve never seen again
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
That we could sit simply in that room again
Ten thousand dollars at the drop of a hat
I’d give it all gladly if our lives could be like that
rootindogg
One of the standout tracks from the tribute album
Gunnar Axelsson
Timeless, suits Brian ferry as a glowe!
Owen Scott
One of the highlights of the Amnesty International Chimes of Freedom collection.
Corrina Corrina
Another great Dylan cover from Bryan
nitropost
This hits home, someone that was in this situation 43 years ago just passed....last time I saw her was then 43 years ago but was always remembering the good times, sad thing...never had the chance to apolagise and try to right some things...please try to forgive me Lise.
Dunnet Theunissen
GREAT VERSION OF THE GREAT DYLAN SONG,,,