Donny Osmond's biggest hit came from the 1998 Walt Disney Pictures movie "Mulan." Osmond sang the hugely inspirational song "I'll Make A Man Out Of You."
At the age of five, he stepped out onto the Andy Williams Show soundstage, and instantly won the hearts of viewers. He went on to teen superstardom as a solo act and as part of The Osmonds scoring a string of hits with "One Bad Apple", "Puppy Love", "Sweet and Innocent" and "Go Away Little Girl".
He's enjoyed success as a Smooth Jazz artist with the single "Breeze On By", from his 54th album "What I Meant To Say."
His latest release is a collection of love songs from the 1970s era entitled "Love Songs of the '70s". It includes covers of classic songs like "Will It Go 'Round In Circles" and "Oh Girl".
Don't Dream It's Over
Donny Osmond Lyrics
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Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're traveling with me
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof
In the paper today tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the T.V. page
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Only the shadows ahead barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and relief
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
Don't ever let them win
The lyrics to Donny Osmond's song Don't Dream It's Over are about the struggles we face in life, battles we lose but continue to persevere through. The opening line "there is freedom within, there is freedom without" speaks to the idea that there are always choices and possibilities even if they are not immediately visible. The line "try to catch the deluge in a paper cup" is a metaphor for attempting the impossible, which represents the idea of not giving up in the face of adversity. Despite the apparent impossibility of catching a deluge in a paper cup, we should still try.
The song speaks to the idea that we will face obstacles and difficult situations in our lives and sometimes we will lose those battles. However, the journey that we embark on with someone else is what is important. As long as we have someone with us, we will never see the end of the road. The chorus "hey now, hey now, don't dream it's over" is an encouragement to never give up hope and to keep pushing forward. The line "when the world comes in, they come to build a wall between us" suggests that external factors may try to divide us, but we must remain strong and not let them win.
The second verse touches on suspicion and the power of media. Donny Osmond speaks to the way in which our possessions can cause us to doubt ourselves, but that there is no proof. We are bombarded with tales of war and waste in the media, but we have the power to turn away from those stories and focus on positive things. There is always an opportunity to better ourselves and the world around us. The final verse speaks to the idea that we must continue to move forward, to "walk to the beat of a drum." We will face shadows and difficulties, but we must push through to achieve freedom and liberation.
Line by Line Meaning
There is freedom within, there is freedom without
There are times when you have the freedom to choose, and there are times when you do not
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
Attempting to capture or control something that is too large or powerful to be contained by such means
There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost
There will always be challenges to overcome, and it's possible that some will not be successful
But you'll never see the end of the road
The journey may be ongoing and difficult, but there will always be more to see and experience
While you're traveling with me
I will be with you on this journey, providing companionship and support
Hey now, hey now
Listen up, pay attention
Don't dream it's over
Do not give up hope, do not give up the fight
When the world comes in
When the world presents its challenges
They come, they come
They will try to keep us apart
To build a wall between us
To create a divide or separation that is difficult to overcome
We know they won't win
We are confident in our ability to overcome their efforts and come out on top
Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
I am persevering despite setbacks and difficulties
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof
I am questioning the value of my material belongings without tangible evidence to support my suspicion
In the paper today tales of war and of waste
The media is filled with negative news of conflict and destruction
But you turn right over to the T.V. page
You can choose to focus on the negative, but it's important not to get sucked into it completely
Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum
I am marching to the rhythm of my own tune, following my own path even if it's not the easiest
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
I'm taking deliberate steps towards creating a connection or building a relationship of some kind
Only the shadows ahead barely clearing the roof
It's hard to see what lies ahead or what obstacles may be in our way, but we will push through regardless
Get to know the feeling of liberation and relief
Experience the sense of liberation and freedom that comes with overcoming challenges and obstacles
Don't ever let them win
Do not let negative forces or people keep you down, always keep fighting
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Neil Finn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind