Dreaming
Green Day Lyrics

When I met you in the restaurant
The singer is describing their first encounter with someone in a restaurant.

You could tell I was no debutante
The singer suspects that they appeared out of place or inexperienced to the person they met.

You asked me what's my pleasure
The other person asked the singer what they would like to do or enjoy.

A movie or a measure?
The other person inquired if the artist wants to watch a movie or have a drink.

I'll have a cup of tea and tell you of my dreaming
The artist decided to have some tea and discuss their dreams with the other person.

Dreaming, dreaming is free
The singer believes that dreaming is something that can be done for free.

I don't want to live on charity
The singer does not want to rely on other people's generosity to survive.

Pleasure's real or is it fantasy?
The artist wonders if the pleasurable things they experience are real or just imaginary.

Reel to reel is living rarity
Experiencing life firsthand is a rare occurrence.

People stop and stare at me
The artist attracts attention from other people when they are out and about.

We just walk on by, we just keep on dreaming
Despite other people's reactions, the singer and the other person continue to live in their own worlds of dreams.

Feet feet, walking on two of my
The artist is describing walking on their own two feet.

Meet meet, meet me at the turnstile
The singer is inviting the other person to meet them at the turnstile (entrance/exit) to something.

I never met him, I'll never forget him
The singer is saying that there is someone they never met but will always remember, perhaps due to the impact they had on them.

Dream, dream, even for a little while
The singer encourages the other person (and themselves) to keep dreaming, even if it's just for a little bit.

Dream, dream, filling up an idle hour
The artist suggests that dreaming can fill up empty or idle time.

Fade away, radiate
The artist uses these two contradictory phrases to describe a dream-like state, where things may disappear while at the same time shining brightly.

I sit by and watch the river flow
The singer describes sitting by and observing a flowing river.

I sit by and watch the traffic go
The singer describes sitting by and observing the flow of traffic.

Imagine something of your very own
The artist encourages the other person to imagine something unique and personal to them.

Something you can have and hold
The artist emphasizes that the imagined thing can be something physical or tangible.

I'd build a road in gold just to have some dreaming
The artist is saying that they would do anything, regardless of how impossible, in order to be able to continue dreaming.

Dreaming, dreaming is free
The singer repeats their belief that dreaming is a cost-free activity.

Dreaming, dreaming is free
The artist repeats their belief that dreaming is a cost-free activity.

Dreaming, dreaming is free
The singer repeats their belief that dreaming is a cost-free activity.

Dreaming, dreaming is free
The singer repeats their belief that dreaming is a cost-free activity.

Dreaming, dreaming is free
The singer repeats their belief that dreaming is a cost-free activity.