Lang was born Salvatore Massaro, the son of an Italian-American instrument maker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At first, he took violin lessons for 11 years. In school he became friends with Joe Venuti, with whom he would work for much of his career. He was playing professionally by about 1918, playing violin, banjo, and guitar. He worked with various bands in the USA's north-east, worked in London (late 1924 to early 1925), then settled in New York City.
He played with the bands of Venuti, Adrian Rollini, Roger Wolfe Kahn and Jean Goldkette in addition to doing a large amount of freelance radio and recording work.
In 1929 he joined Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, and can be seen and heard in the movie The King of Jazz.
When Bing Crosby left Whiteman, Lang went with Bing as his accompanist and can be seen with him in the 1932 movie Big Broadcast.
Lang also played under the pseudonym Blind Willie Dunn on a number of blues records with Lonnie Johnson.
Eddie Lang died from a sudden hemorrhage following a tonsillectomy in New York City.
Street of Dreams
Eddie Lang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on and trade in your old dreams for new
Your new dreams for old
I know where they're bought
I know where they're sold
Midnight, you've got to get there at midnight
And you'll be met there by others like you
Brothers as blue
Love laughs at a king
Kings don't mean a thing
On the street of dreams
Dreams broken in two can be made like new
On the street of dreams
Gold, sliver and gold
All you can hold is in the moonbeams
Poor, no one is poor
Long as love is sure
On the street of dreams
Midnight, look at the steeple, it's midnight
Unhappy people, it's ringing with joy
It's ringing with cheer
'Cause yesterday's gone
Tomorrow is near
Midnight, the heart is lighter at midnight
Things will be brighter the moment you find
More of your kind
Smiling on the street of dreams
Love laughs at a king
Kings don't mean a thing
On the street of dreams
Dreams broken in two can be made like new
On the street of dreams
Gold, sliver and gold
All you can hold is in the moonbeams
Poor, no one is poor
Long as love is sure
On the street of dreams
Eddie Lang's "Street of Dreams" opens with "Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight / Come on and trade in your old dreams for new / Your new dreams for old / I know where they're bought / I know where they're sold." He sings about a street where people who have lost hope can come and find others like them. He urges them to come at midnight to this street, and they will meet others who are "brothers as blue" – people who are feeling down and out. On this street, everyone is equal, and love is the only currency that matters. The song emphasizes the importance of community and finding solace with like-minded individuals.
The chorus of the song professes, "Love laughs at a king / Kings don't mean a thing / On the street of dreams." In this line, Lang suggests that love is the great equalizer and that everyone has access to it, no matter one's social status. Additionally, he states that broken dreams can be made like new, and all one needs to do is come to this street of dreams. The song ends on a hopeful note, "Midnight, the heart is lighter at midnight / Things will be brighter the moment you find / More of your kind / Smiling on the street of dreams."
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight
It's midnight and you're burdened with old dreams and regrets.
Come on and trade in your old dreams for new
Leave behind your outdated dreams and embrace new ones.
Your new dreams for old
Be willing to exchange your fearless new dreams with old fears.
I know where they're bought
I know where people acquire their dreams and desires.
I know where they're sold
I am aware of the places where people trade in their dreams and desires.
Midnight, you've got to get there at midnight
You must reach the destination where people trade in their dreams by midnight.
And you'll be met there by others like you
There will be others with similar fears and desires waiting for you at the destination.
Brothers as blue
Other people who are also saddened by their fears and failures will be present at the destination.
Smiling on the street of dreams
Despite their sorrow, people at the destination will be smiling because they have hope.
Love laughs at a king
Love is more powerful than wealth and success.
Kings don't mean a thing
Success and wealth are meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
Dreams broken in two can be made like new
Even if your dreams have been shattered, you can renew them and make them whole again.
Gold, silver and gold
Material wealth and possessions aren't as valuable as hope.
All you can hold is in the moonbeams
The true treasures of life can't be held, only felt like the beauty of moonbeams.
Poor, no one is poor
As long as one has love, they cannot be considered poor.
Long as love is sure
Love ensures that one is never truly poor, even if they lack material possessions.
Midnight, look at the steeple, it's midnight
At midnight, you should look to the church to find the hope to carry on.
Unhappy people, it's ringing with joy
Even if you're unhappy, there is still hope of joy and happiness.
It's ringing with cheer
The church is expressing joy for the potential happiness that is to come.
'Cause yesterday's gone
The past is over, and it's time to look to the future with renewed hope.
Tomorrow is near
The future is coming soon, so be ready for it.
Midnight, the heart is lighter at midnight
At midnight, the heart can become unburdened by the stresses of life.
Things will be brighter the moment you find
The future will be brighter once you find the hope that resides in your heart.
More of your kind
You will find others who share your fears and desires and who will give you hope.
Smiling on the street of dreams
People on the street of dreams will be smiling because they know that their dreams can still be achieved.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICHARD LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christopherwilson3442
Eddie Lang, my first real guitar hero. Simply wonderful. I had a double lp called 'Stringing the Blues' issued early '60s. That started it.
@Dante-sx3pc
I have that copy, but i bought the record after I was already a huge fan.
@albertgerace9737
THERE IS REAL PASSION IN HIS PLAYING WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE ..
@musket-hc1fc
Hearing this makes me yearn for the good old days in music and in just about everything else.
@musket-hc1fc
@John Davies No. Did you?
@albertgerace9737
WISH I HAD LYRICS TO HIS SONGS .
@bibi1944
at his times the meaning was different
@gabchaim8232
Golden Classic
@andrea14830
Conobbi eddie lang grazie hai fleetwood mac, che fecero una sua cover jigsaw puzzle blues,dopo una ricerca venni a sapere che aveva origini italiane, e mi ha sorpreso, Lang e Lonnie Johnson dei veri maestri
Alla fine questo jazz pur vecchio che sia e molto bello ed erano molto tecnici
Un saluto dall italia
Andre
@JoeAhmadGuitar
plenty of soul here!