His mother played songs by Frank Sinatra to him as a child, and he later became a fan of Motown and other R&B/soul music. He took piano lessons as a child, but he did not like them. He would skip the lessons and ride his bicycle across the bridge from his grandfather's farm over to the heart of the black "Chicken Hill" ghetto, where he could just listen and absorb the music.
In the 1960s, Hall attended Temple University, but did not graduate, preferring instead to spend his time singing on the street corners and play with various musicians and groups. At that time, Daryl Hohl (as he was called then) sang backup for different bands. He eventually changed his last name to Hall. Daryl Hall idolized the Temptations and began to perform session work as a singer. He first met John Oates at a band competition.
After John transferred to a different school, Daryl joined the band Gulliver, which released one eponymous album in 1969 before being dropped from their label.
Daryl is the host of the wildly popular online show entitled "Live From Daryl's House", where Daryl and the band collaborate with artists from various musical genres on the 15th of each month. The first episode aired in 2007, and it's still going strong. Best of all, it's free to watch.
Can't Stop Dreaming
Daryl Hall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got to know, the fire inside that you created. Started out slow burnin' for you baby...
I didn't notice all the change you made in me...
The turn around what I felt before and more...
How about you baby? There is not a night gone by, without your picture playing in my mind.
Give up the lovin, Make the dream come alive...
Chorus:
Cause when I feel you so near I can't let go
And I can't stop Dreamin' about you
And I can't stop Dreamin' Oh no
And I can't stop Dreamin' about you
You've got the power that I could not appreciate
How my desire could play with my emotions
Down in my heart, how much longer can I wait?
Cause when I feel you so near I can't let go.
Chorus:
Cause when I feel you so near I can't let go
And I can't stop Dreamin' Ohhh baby
And I can't stop Dreamin' about you
And I can't stop Dreamin' Every night
And I can't stop Dreamin' about you
And the more and more I try to fight how much I'm wanting you...
The greatest thing your love can bring is showing me that dreams can come true
Yes they do...yes they do
Dream.. you got me dreamin' dreamin' never never want to stop
And I can't stop Dreamin' Ohhh baby
I can't stop Dreamin' about you
I can't stop Dreamin' you're always on my mind
Now listen...no matter what I do
no matter how I try ..
I'm swearin' baby I
Can't stop dreamin' about you
Everyday... always
Well I can't stop at all...
never never never never gonna stop dreamin'
You're always on my mind...no matter how hard I try
And I can't stop dreamin' about you girl
I want to touch you babe, I want to feel you babe,
I want to love you babe, I want to hear you screamin' "Always always and forever...
In Daryl Hall's song "Can't Stop Dreaming," the lyrics paint a picture of a person who is madly in love with someone, unable to shake the infatuation no matter how hard they try. The opening lines "Dreamin on... Oh everything about you.. You've got to know, the fire inside that you created. Started out slow burnin' for you baby..." establishes that this person is deeply in love with the object of their affection, and every aspect of that person contributes to this passion. The "fire" that has been "slow burning" within them reveals a growing passion that was only sparked with the presence of this special someone.
As the song progresses, the lyrics convey that this person has been significantly changed by the object of their affection. They "didn't notice all the change" that occurred within them, including the "turn around" in their emotions. Despite the internal turmoil, this person cannot stop dreaming about their significant other. In fact, the "picture" of their lover "plays in [their] mind" every night.
The chorus repetition of "And I can't stop Dreamin' Ohhh baby, And I can't stop Dreamin' about you" and so on echo the central theme of the song - that this person's love is so strong that they cannot help but dream about their significant other.
Line by Line Meaning
Dreamin on... Oh everything about you..
I can't stop dreaming about you and everything related to you.
You've got to know, the fire inside that you created. Started out slow burnin' for you baby...
You have to understand that the fire you ignited in me started slowly, but it's strong now.
I didn't notice all the change you made in me...
I didn't realize how much you've changed me.
The turn around what I felt before and more...
It's a complete turnaround from how I felt before, and now it's even more intense.
How about you baby? There is not a night gone by, without your picture playing in my mind.
What about you, baby? Your image is always in my mind every night.
Give up the lovin, Make the dream come alive...
Let's make our love a reality and turn this dream into something tangible.
Cause when I feel you so near I can't let go
I cannot let go when I feel you so close to me.
And I can't stop Dreamin' Ohhh
I cannot stop dreaming about you.
And I can't stop Dreamin' about you
My dreams are all about you, and I cannot stop them.
You've got the power that I could not appreciate
I didn't realize the power you had before, but I do now.
How my desire could play with my emotions
My desire for you can sometimes affect my emotions.
Down in my heart, how much longer can I wait?
I wonder how much longer I can wait for you to be mine.
Cause when I feel you so near I can't let go.
I cannot let go when you're so near me.
And the more and more I try to fight how much I'm wanting you...
I try to fight my urge to have you more and more, but it's not easy.
The greatest thing your love can bring is showing me that dreams can come true
Your love is the best thing that ever happened to me, and it showed me that dreams can come true.
Dream.. you got me dreamin' dreamin' never never want to stop
You got me dreaming, and I don't ever want to stop.
Now listen...no matter what I do
No matter what I do,
no matter how I try ..
And no matter how hard I try,
I'm swearin' baby I
I swear, baby,
Can't stop dreamin' about you
I cannot stop dreaming about you.
Everyday... always
Everyday, and always,
Well I can't stop at all... never never never never gonna stop dreamin'
I cannot stop dreaming, and I will never be able to.
You're always on my mind...no matter how hard I try
You're always on my mind, no matter how hard I try to forget you.
And I can't stop dreamin' about you girl
I cannot stop dreaming about you, girl.
I want to touch you babe, I want to feel you babe, I want to love you babe, I want to hear you screamin' "Always always and forever...
I want to touch you, feel you, love you, and hear you screaming 'always always and forever.'
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WALTER AFANASIEFF, ALAN GORRIE, DARYL HALL, DAN SHEA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patricia Jenkins
His voice...Daryl Hall is so awesome
David Smith
Glad you enjoyed it.
Gerri Cunningham
How could you NOT love this guy!!!!!!
DAVELYN Braxton
I love to hear Daryl sings. I’ve been a fan of his since I was a child in the 70’s.
David Smith
So have I. Thanks for commenting.
Marie Snyder
I really like the song!! Great upbeat song!! You still got it Daryl!❤️🔥
David Smith
@Marie Snyder Aw, shucks. It weren't nothin'.
Marie Snyder
@David Smith Thank you too
David Smith
Glad you liked it. I'm sure Daryl would thank you.
Stephen Birks
Love this song ! - This whole album is a gem ! - Daryl is one of the greatest singer songwriters of our times ! - His songs come from his heart ! - In a way that all us love lorn listners can relate ! - And for all us tongue tied suiters - His recordings help us convey our feelings to our better halfs !
Thankyou for sharing this wonderful track !
Do think its about time we had a new album though !