Christine Lavin (b. January 2, 1952) is a New York City-based singer, songw… Read Full Bio ↴Christine Lavin (b. January 2, 1952) is a New York City-based singer, songwriter, and promoter of contemporary folk music. She has recorded numerous solo albums, and has also recorded with other female folk artists under the name Four Bitchin' Babes. She has also put together several compilation albums of contemporary folk artists, including On a Winter's Night.

She is known for her sense of humor, which is expressed in both her music and her onstage performances. Many of her songs alternate between emotional reflections on romance and outright comedy. Two of her more famous songs include "Sensitive New Age Guys" and "Bald Headed Men".

Bad Girl Dreams
Christine Lavin Lyrics

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Everyone's afraid to have a little fling
the threat of scary diseases
ruined everything
so most of us stick with the tried and the true
so what if we're unhappy?
what else can we do?

I have discovered

completely by chance
the way to unlock the safest
deep romance
I've piqued your interest
you're thinking 'what does she mean?' . . .
I have bad girl dreams

When I'm awake I'm so boringly good
I do like I'm told
I do like I should
but when I lay down
drift off into space
each night I find myself face to face
with a different stranger
I've never seen before
sometimes we're in a restaurant
sometimes it's a store
we engage in the most interesting scene
you fill in the blanks
it's a bad girl dream

Sometimes the strangers in my dreams say "Stop! I don't even know you!"
but I tell them 'it's all right, it's a dream, we can do anything
here, I'll show you . . .

I used to think flying in my dreams was the best
'til my new lucid dreams surpassed all the rest
now I can't wait to turn out the lights
let the bad girl in my take flight
so tonight after you have been tucked into bed
close your eyes remember what I've said
no need to feel guilty
it's all in your head
you'll awake so calm and serene
when you've had yourself
a bad girl dream

Next time you see me
you'll say 'thank you, Christine'
I too am having
bad girl dreams . . .

bad boy dreams . . .
you are getting very very sleepy . . .

Overall Meaning

In this song, Christine Lavin talks about the fear of having a fling due to the possibility of contracting scary diseases. She acknowledges that most people stick with the tried and tested things in their relationships even though they might not be happy with them. However, she says that she has found a way to unlock the safest deep romance completely by chance. This way is through her bad girl dreams.

She explains that when she is awake, she is boringly good and always does what she's told. But when she goes to bed and drifts off into space, she finds herself face to face with a different stranger in each bad girl dream. Sometimes they are in a restaurant, and sometimes it's a store, but they always engage in the most interesting scene. She tells the strangers that it's a dream, and they can do anything, and they then proceed to fill in the blanks.

She says that she used to think flying in her dreams was the best, but her new lucid dreams have surpassed all the rest. She encourages everyone to close their eyes when they go to bed and remember what she said. She assures them that there's no need to feel guilty about having bad girl dreams, that it's all in your head, and you'll wake up feeling calm and serene. Lavin ends the song saying that the next time you see her, you'll say thank you because you too are having bad girl dreams, bad boy dreams.

Line by Line Meaning

Everyone's afraid to have a little fling
People are scared of having casual relationships

the threat of scary diseases ruined everything
The risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases has made people hesitant to have flings

so most of us stick with the tried and the true so what if we're unhappy? what else can we do?
People remain in unsatisfying relationships because they don't know what other options they have

I have discovered completely by chance the way to unlock the safest deep romance I've piqued your interest you're thinking 'what does she mean?' . . .
The singer has found a way to experience exciting romance without any risk, sparking the listener's curiosity

I have bad girl dreams
The singer has erotic dreams about strangers that she enjoys

When I'm awake I'm so boringly good I do like I'm told I do like I should
In reality, the singer follows rules and is very obedient

but when I lay down drift off into space each night I find myself face to face with a different stranger I've never seen before
In her dreams, the singer meets new people she's never seen before

I've never seen before sometimes we're in a restaurant sometimes it's a store we engage in the most interesting scene you fill in the blanks it's a bad girl dream
Her dreams involve sexual encounters with strangers, in various locations

Sometimes the strangers in my dreams say "Stop! I don't even know you!" but I tell them 'it's all right, it's a dream, we can do anything here, I'll show you . . .
Even though the people in her dreams object, she persists and convinces them to take part in her sexual fantasies

I used to think flying in my dreams was the best 'til my new lucid dreams surpassed all the rest now I can't wait to turn out the lights let the bad girl in my take flight
The singer used to enjoy flying dreams, but now her sexual dreams are her favorite and she can't wait to have them

so tonight after you have been tucked into bed close your eyes remember what I've said no need to feel guilty it's all in your head you'll awake so calm and serene when you've had yourself a bad girl dream
The singer encourages the listener to embrace their sexual dreams and not feel guilty, because it's natural and harmless

Next time you see me you'll say 'thank you, Christine' I too am having bad girl dreams . . . bad boy dreams . . . you are getting very very sleepy . . .
The singer believes others will thank her for introducing them to the world of sexual dreams and admits to having similar dreams herself. She then ends with a hypnotic suggestion for sleep

Contributed by Kylie V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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