Barlow is one of Britain's most successful songwriters, having written fourteen Number 1 singles and twenty four top 10 hits. He has had three Number 1 singles, six top 10 singles and two Number 1 albums as a solo artist, and has had seventeen top 5 hits, twelve Number 1 singles and seven Number 1 albums with Take That. He is also a six-time recipient of the Ivor Novello Award and has sold over 50 million records worldwide. He was appointed an OBE in 2012 for services to music and charity.
Barlow's solo career was predicted to be very successful, being described as 'the next George Michael'. His first two solo singles "Forever Love" (released July 1996) and "Love Won't Wait" (composed by Madonna and Shep Pettibone) both leapt to the number one spot in his home country. "Forever Love" was also used as the soundtrack to the film The Leading Man. His debut album "Open Road" reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart and went on to sell 2 million copies worldwide. Barlow's first single to be released in the United States as a solo artist was "So Help Me Girl", which reached number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 1 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. He then achieved another top ten hit in the UK with "Open Road" peaking at number 7 and number 8 in the Netherlands with "Are You Ready Now".
After the success of his first solo album he released his second LP "Twelve Months, Eleven Days" in 1999. Barlow released "Stronger" as the lead single preceding the album. However, due to an expected backlash against Barlow, it received minimal support and airplay and only peaked at number 16. The second single "For All That You Want" again was subjected to minimal radio play and peaked at number 24, however it peaked just outside the top 5 in Finland. "Twelve Months, Eleven Days" was released soon after the first single to little promotion and peaked at a disappointing number 35, which led to Sony recalling Barlow's 'greatest' song according to critics, the scheduled third single from his second album "Lie to Me". This resulted in both Barlow and BMG parting company. To date Barlow has sold 5 million records worldwide as a solo artist.
On September 2013, Barlow announced via his Twitter account that he would be releasing his first full-length solo album in 14 years, on 25 November 2013. Barlow encouraged his followers and fans to tweet #GBSOLO to reveal the album artwork and title, with their profile pictures being used to create a collage of the album cover. On 4 October 2013, Barlow revealed his new album would be called "Since I Saw You Last", and would be preceded by his first single from the LP, titled "Let Me Go", released worldwide on 17 November 2013. He also announced that he would be touring the album in April 2014, playing some of the biggest arenas in the UK.
The Dream of Christmas
Gary Barlow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the cold into your bed
Begins as the faintest sound
Then from heaven to the ground
In slow motion comes the wave
Children's eyes light up again
From the silence to a storm
Comes around but once a year
Brings your most beloved near
In just one day the heart will heal
As the dream of Christmas becomes real
A thousand lights, a billion stars
Led me here to where you are
In this great universe, I have found
My love, my home
Where I shelter, where it's safe
'Til December's back again
All that magic now you feel
As the dream of Christmas becomes real
The darkest sky Illuminates
Not too long now for us to wait
Through smoky clouds and drying tears
The Christmas sun appears
Golden hope here from the East
Bringing all good men and peace
So mysterious and surreal
Watch the dream of Christmas becomes real
Let the dream of Christmas become real
In the song "The Dream of Christmas" by Gary Barlow, the lyrics depict the anticipation and joy that comes with the arrival of Christmas. The first verse describes the feeling of warmth and comfort as one settles into bed on a cold winter night. It also alludes to the notion that something magical is about to unfold, as a faint light and sound emerge, seemingly descending from heaven to the earth. This sets the stage for a transformative experience.
The second verse highlights the excitement that children feel during the holiday season. Their eyes light up as they witness the transition from silence to a lively and powerful storm, symbolizing the dream of Christmas coming to life. The idea is that Christmas brings back a sense of wonder and joy that may have been lost or forgotten throughout the year.
The third verse emphasizes the significance of Christmas and its ability to bring loved ones closer. It portrays Christmas as a unique event that has the power to heal hearts in just one day. The dream of Christmas becoming real signifies the coming together of family and friends and the restoration of love and unity.
The final verse discusses the magical atmosphere that surrounds Christmas. The imagery of countless lights and stars leads the singer to their loved ones, whom they consider their true home. December, the time of Christmas, becomes a safe haven for them, sheltering them and providing a sense of peace and magic. The dream of Christmas transforming into reality represents the hope, love, and togetherness that the holiday season brings.
The closing lines express the anticipation for Christmas to arrive. The darkest sky represents the challenging times and obstacles one may face leading up to the holiday season. However, the lyrics convey that it won't be too long before the wait is over. As the Christmas sun appears, it brings golden hope, peace, and a sense of wonder. This reinforces the notion that the dream of Christmas, with all its magical elements, becomes real and transcendent, offering a glimpse of something mysterious and surreal. The lyrics invite listeners to embrace the dream of Christmas, allowing it to become a reality in their own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
There's the faintest light ahead
In the midst of darkness, there is hope and possibility
From the cold into your bed
Seeking warmth and comfort in the embrace of loved ones
Begins as the faintest sound
The start of something magical, barely audible
Then from heaven to the ground
A divine message descending upon us, touching our lives
In slow motion comes the wave
Hope and joy gradually building up
Children's eyes light up again
The innocence and excitement of children rekindled
From the silence to a storm
Transforming tranquility into a joyful uproar
Hear the dream of Christmas roar
The powerful expression of the Christmas spirit
Comes around but once a year
The specialness and rarity of the Christmas season
Brings your most beloved near
Uniting loved ones and strengthening bonds
In just one day the heart will heal
Christmas has the power to mend and uplift our hearts
As the dream of Christmas becomes real
When the magic and beauty of Christmas manifest
A thousand lights, a billion stars
The abundance and magnificence of the universe's wonders
Led me here to where you are
Guided towards a place of love and connection
In this great universe, I have found
Discovering a profound sense of belonging and purpose
My love, my home
Emphasizing the significance of love and home during Christmas
Where I shelter, where it's safe
Finding security and refuge in the warmth of Christmas
'Til December's back again
Holding onto the joy and peace of Christmas until it returns
All that magic now you feel
Experiencing the enchantment and wonder of the season
As the dream of Christmas becomes real
When the cherished aspirations of Christmas come alive
The darkest sky illuminates
Even in the darkest times, hope and light emerge
Not too long now for us to wait
The anticipation for Christmas is almost over
Through smoky clouds and drying tears
Overcoming obstacles and finding solace after hardships
The Christmas sun appears
The arrival of a brighter and joyful time
Golden hope here from the East
Symbolizing the arrival of a promising future
Bringing all good men and peace
Uniting humanity in goodness and harmony
So mysterious and surreal
Ethereal and enchanting in its nature
Watch the dream of Christmas becomes real
Witnessing the transformation of Christmas dreams into reality
Let the dream of Christmas become real
Embracing the desire for Christmas to become a tangible experience
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gary Barlow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mona Bm
A true happiness the one who is bringing a happiness with his song to everyone may god bless you happiness and good health ♥️🌹🎄
Julie Dawn Barlow / Gary's girl TT 30
Absolutely beautiful Christmas music video so different to ammunition is so incredible amazing to the people who created it absolutely love it such an beautiful Christmas song 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲 Gary Barlow's voice is amazing too 😍
Apley Foxx
A beautiful Christmas song Gary. Honestly, I found it quite emotional and brilliant at the same time. I'm proud to be a fan of yours. One of my Christmas wishes, is to meet you in person someday. I don't live far from you. Thanks for such a beautiful song. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Plus, all of your fans too. 😁🇬🇧🦊
Lola Gil
Se me acaban las palabras la voz me pone la piel erizada la música me emociona el vídeo me encanta maravilloso💓😘😎🎄
Barbra Jacobsen
That's beautiful. Got goosebumps (and a tear). Beautiful message and such a beautiful voice. Merry christmas⚘
Esther Escobar Diaz
@officialgarybarlow This song is a real marvel ... How beautiful! I love and especially the message it transmits! Thank you for this early Christmas gift!! Love u 💜💜
Maria josefa Guerrero fernandez
Es maravilloso Gary barlow love 💕 q preciosidad de voz más bella 😍 igual que tú 💕 💖
Marianne Geraud
It's this time of year again....the magic of Christmas and its heart warming songs...and this is one of them 🎄
Catarina Regina Dornbusch
@garybarlowoficial, linda canção de Natal, parabéns por poder assistir os lindos vídeos seus Gary!❤❤❤❤
Birute Grafinina
❄️🐇❄️Hi!! Thank you with all my heart for sensual,exciting song and very impressive,interesting video!! Perfectly done job,i get million beautiful emotions!!