Ed McCurdy was born in 1919 in Willow Hill, Pennsylvania. His professional … Read Full Bio ↴Ed McCurdy was born in 1919 in Willow Hill, Pennsylvania. His professional career started in 1937 as a Gospel singer over station SVKY in Oklahoma City, and he has since of worked as a niteclub and theatre performer (including a short stint in burlesque) and as a radio announcer.

In 1946, McCurdy began singing folksongs over the Canadian Broad casting Corporation radio system. In 1952, he began writing and performing for children's program's in radio and television, continuing to utilize folkmusic at every opportunity. Since late 1954, he has been living in New York City, and has appeared frequently in Televisions broadcasts for both adults and children originating from that city.

McCurdy is accompanied on second guitar, and banjo, by ERIK DARLING, an Upstate New Yorker who has been working out of New York City in recent years. Mr. Darling has made numerous recordings as a banjoist and singer, both as a solo performer and as an accompanist. He has performed extensively in concerts, and on television and radio, including several years on Oscar Brand's "Folksong Festival" over station WNYC. His most recent musical adventure has been performing as all integral part of an exciting new folksong trio, "The Tarriers", in whose success his instrumental and vocal talents have played an important role.

McCurdy died March 23, 2000

Last night I had the strangest dream
Ed McCurdy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Last night I had the strangest dream
I ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war
I dreamed I saw a mighty room
The room was filled with men
And the paper they were signing said
They'd never fight again

And when the papers all were signed
And a million copies made
They all joined hands and bowed their heads
And grateful prayers were prayed
And the people in the streets below
Were dancing round and round
And guns and swords and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground

Last night I had the strangest dream
I ever dreamed before

I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war

Overall Meaning

Ed McCurdy's "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" is a timeless protest song that was written during the height of the Cold War in the 1950s. The song is a powerful representation of the hope for world peace and the desire to end wars. The lyrics describe an imaginary dream where people were finally able to put an end to war, and the world's leaders came together to sign a piece of paper stating that they would never fight again.

The opening verses of the song paint a picture of an ideal world where war is no longer an issue. The singer describes a room filled with dignitaries who have signed a document to end all wars. The second and third verses explain how a million copies of the document were made, and the people below the room danced to celebrate this monumental occasion. The guns and swords that were once used in battles now lay scattered on the ground, a powerful symbol of the end of war.

Ed McCurdy's song is a compelling representation of the human desire for peace and unity. The lyrics of "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" have resonated with generations as an anthem for peace. It's a song that promotes love and nonviolence over hate and war, and it has become a staple of the anti-war movement.

Line by Line Meaning

Last night I had the strangest dream
I had a dream that was very unusual and strange

I ever dreamed before
This was a dream like nothing before

I dreamed the world had all agreed
In the dream, all the nations had come to an agreement

To put an end to war
They had all decided to end war completely

I dreamed I saw a mighty room
In the dream, I witnessed a grand and powerful assembly

The room was filled with men
Many important men were present in the room

And the paper they were signing said
The document they were all signing declared

They'd never fight again
That from that day on, war would never happen again

And when the papers all were signed
After all the documents were signed

And a million copies made
When a million copies of the document were created

They all joined hands and bowed their heads
Everyone present joined hands and showed humility and respect