As Early Internet, Dean Stafford writes quiet pop gems tinged with nostalgi… Read Full Bio ↴As Early Internet, Dean Stafford writes quiet pop gems tinged with nostalgia and heartbreaking lyrics; taking cues from indie staples like Death Cab for Cutie as well as contemporaries like Hatchie.   After spending the bulk of his life in Texas fronting the Austin band, Pompeii, Stafford picked up and moved to Los Angeles in 2017.   Crafting introspective melodies through the lens of various guitar pedals, the debut Early Internet single, “Blankets,” is loosely inspired by Craig Thompson’s beloved graphic novel of the same name.   “I originally wrote the song in 2010 after coming back from a European tour to a fresh breakup, broken car, and no job. I was fortunate enough to be taken in by a good friend who let me stay in their studio apartment on an air mattress. It was there I discovered a collection of graphic novels on the shelf. One was “Blankets”. I immediately absorbed the material, found inspiration in the snowy landscapes, and wrote the song on my friend’s acoustic guitar. At the time, I was working on my old band’s record and it didn’t quite fit the album, but I always loved the song, so I’m happy to finally see it come to fruition nearly a decade later.”   Coated in ambience, but driving enough to avoid being washy - the winter-themed track serves as the perfect soundtrack to a coming-of-age story about love and anyone who’s ever second-guessed themselves in a “now or never” moment.   Look for the first Early Internet LP in 2021.

Clinging To a Dream You Don't Want To Leave
Early Internet Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Holding nothing back
Your whole world under attack
You were destined to react, it shows
And now I miss what no one knows
Clinging to a dream
All you've known since 17
You are far too interesting, too close
To kiss the hand, you can't let go

Stop, chase
I need a miracle
Stop, chase
I need a miracle
Stop, chase
I need a miracle
Stop
Cut away, away, away
Days become collaged
Scraps of self you sabotaged
Cut and pasted to a cause that reads
The end will justify the means
The end will justify the means
The end will justify the means
You'll see
Stop, chase
I need a miracle
Stop, chase
I need a miracle
Stop, chase
I need a miracle
Stop
Cut away, away, away
Stop
Cut away, away, away
Stop
Cut away, away, away
Stop

Stop
Stop

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Clinging To A Dream You Don't Want To Leave" by Early Internet paint a picture of someone holding onto a dream despite facing adversity. The opening lines suggest that this person is not holding anything back and that their entire world is under attack. They were destined to react, showing their resilience and determination. However, there is a sense of longing and missing something that no one else knows about. This can imply that the dream they cling to is deeply personal and perhaps isolating.

The chorus emphasizes the desperation of the situation, as the singer pleads for a miracle. The repetition of "Stop, chase" captures a sense of urgency and the need to break free from whatever is holding them back. The second verse introduces the concept of self-sabotage, with days becoming collaged and scraps of the person's identity being cut and pasted to fit a cause. This suggests that in their pursuit of their dream, they have compromised their sense of self and maybe even their values.

The repetition of the line "The end will justify the means" underscores the person's belief that their actions, no matter how extreme, will be validated in the end. It can also suggest a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve their dream. The song ends with a final plea for a miracle and the repeated exhortation to "Stop" cutting away, suggesting that the person may be trapped in a cycle of self-destruction.

Overall, "Clinging To A Dream You Don't Want To Leave" explores the complexities of pursuing a dream and the sacrifices and challenges one may face in the process. It touches on themes of resilience, self-identity, and the cost of holding onto something that may be pulling you away from reality.

Line by Line Meaning

Holding nothing back
Being completely open and vulnerable

Your whole world under attack
Feeling like everything you know is being threatened

You were destined to react, it shows
Your response was inevitable and evident

And now I miss what no one knows
Regretting the loss of something unknown to others

Clinging to a dream
Holding onto a desired future or goal

All you've known since 17
The only life you've known since your teenage years

You are far too interesting, too close
You're a fascinating individual, yet still within reach

To kiss the hand, you can't let go
Unable to release the hand you hold onto

Stop, chase
Halt the pursuit

I need a miracle
Desperately seeking a miraculous solution

Cut away, away, away
Removing yourself from the current situation