After an unsuccessful first single, the group were signed to Laurie Records. Their breakthrough came when "I Wonder Why" made # 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the group appeared for the first time on the Dick Clark TV show. They followed it with the ballads "No One Knows" (#19) and "Don't Pity Me" (#40).
This success won Dion and the Belmonts their first major tour in late 1958, with The Coasters, Buddy Holly and Bobby Darin, and this was followed up by the "Winter Dance Party" tour with Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. On 2 February 1959, after playing at Clear Lake, Iowa, Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue. The plane crashed, and Holly and the other stars were killed. However, the tour continued, with Jimmy Clanton and Bobby Vee being added to the bill.
In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts’ next single, "A Teenager in Love", was released, making #5 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #28 in the UK Singles Chart, and this was followed by an album, Presenting Dion and the Belmonts. Their biggest hit, "Where or When", was released in November 1959, and reached #3 on the U.S. chart.
However, in early 1960, Dion checked in to hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens. Further single releases for the group that year were less successful, there were musical and financial disputes between Dion and members of the Belmonts, and in October 1960 Dion decided to quit for a solo career. The Belmonts also continued to release records, but with less success.
Dion and the Belmonts reunited in 1966 for the unsuccessful album Together Again on ABC Records, and again in 1972 for a one-off show at Madison Square Garden, recorded and released as a live album.
Life Is but a Dream
Dion & The Belmonts Lyrics
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That is my dream
Life is but a dream; it's what you make it
Always try to give; don't ever take it
Life has its music, life has its song of love, love
Life is but a dream, and I dream of you
Strange as it seems, all night I see you
I'm tryin' to tell you just what you mean to me
I adore you and all your lovin' charms
I want you to do your part
Come here to my open arms
Life is but a dream, & we can live it
Oh we can make a love none to compare with
Oh will you take part in my life, my love
That is my dream
The lyrics of Dion & The Belmonts' song "Life Is but a Dream" express the profound sentiment of a dreamer seeking the reciprocation of love. The song opens with a request to the beloved to take part in the singer's life and be a part of their dream. The singer paints the picture of life being a dream, a metaphor that implies that life is fleeting and it's what we make of it that counts. The central message of the song is to always try to give and not take from life. The singer also highlights the importance of music and love in life. The main theme of the song is love, and the singer expresses his deep love for the beloved and tells her that she means everything to him.
Line by Line Meaning
Will you take part in my life, my love
I am asking if you will become an important part of my life and share your love with me
That is my dream
This is the desire that occupies my thoughts and inspires my actions
Life is but a dream; it's what you make it
Life is a fleeting experience that can be shaped and influenced by one's attitudes, choices, and actions
Always try to give; don't ever take it
It is better to focus on giving to others than on taking from them, in order to cultivate positive relationships and contribute to society
Life has its music, life has its song of love, love
Life is full of beautiful and inspiring experiences, especially those related to love and romance
Life is but a dream, and I dream of you
My thoughts and feelings are consumed by thoughts of you, even though they may not always be achievable or realistic
Strange as it seems, all night I see you
Despite the oddness of this phenomenon, I continue to think about and envision you, even in my dreams
I'm tryin' to tell you just what you mean to me
I am attempting to express the depth of my feelings and emotions towards you, so that you may understand and reciprocate them
I love you with all my heart
My affection for you is all-encompassing, intense, and sincere
I adore you and all your lovin' charms
I find everything about you endearing, captivating, and attractive, especially your loving nature
I want you to do your part
I am requesting that you also contribute to our relationship in a positive and meaningful way
Come here to my open arms
I am inviting you to approach me and embrace me, both literally and metaphorically, as a sign of our affection and unity
Life is but a dream, & we can live it
We have the power and opportunity to create a fulfilling and happy life for ourselves, despite the fleetingness and uncertainty of existence
Oh we can make a love none to compare with
Our love has the potential to be incomparably profound, meaningful, and powerful, if we invest in it and nurture it
Oh will you take part in my life, my love
I am reiterating my request for you to become an integral part of my life, sharing your love and experiences with me
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HY WEISS, RAOUL CITA, RAOUL J CITA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind