Combining elements of both rock and folk music, along with disturbingly personal sentiments, dark humor, and a voice able to channel both the falsetto highs of Neil Young and the wavering raspy low tones of Leonard Cohen, Toronto's Hayden Desser has spent his career creating uniquely affecting music.
The critically-acclaimed musician first appeared in the early '90s armed with only his four-track tape recorder, his unexpectedly low vocal range, and an extremely detuned guitar. Going simply by the name Hayden, he recorded his self-released cassette, In September, in 1994, and much of the material included evolved into his first proper LP, 1995's Everything I Long For. Initially self-released on his own Hardwood Records, the debut disc toed the line between beautiful and horrifying, touching on simple details of human interaction as well as delving into macabre tales that still retained an oddly personal edge. After a year of touring Canada, E.T.I.L.F. was picked up by Outpost Recordings (Geffen) and was released worldwide in early 1996. Tours of the U.S., Europe and Japan took up most of 1996, as well as writing and recording the title track to the Steve Buscemi-directed Tree’s Lounge. Hayden’s second full-length record. The Closer I Get (1998) was recorded in Toronto, Bearsville, N.Y., Seattle and Los Angeles. After another year of touring, Hayden closed the book on chapter one of his musical endeavors.
The next couple of years went by without any performances, but during 2000, Hayden began writing and recording in his Toronto home. The self-produced collection of songs was titled Skyscraper National Park and was released in 2001 to world–wide critical acclaim.
The following year, a live concert double CD was released, Live at Convocation Hall, a glimpse, for the listener, into what makes Hayden’s appearances such a favourite among his ever devoted fan base. His natural rapport with the crowd, along with an honest demeanour, has continued Hayden’s reputation as a unique and charming performer.
In 2004, Hayden released his 4th studio album. Elk-Lake Serenade continued in the direction of Skyscraper with it’s collection of warm and memorable recordings. 2004 also heralded Hayden’s return to the road with several tours that took him as far as Australia and New Zealand.
After a long period of writing and recording, Hayden returned in early 2008 with his 5th full-length studio record. In Field & Town is his most musically diverse and textured record to date. It captures his penchant for self-referential fiction and emotionally heavy songs and laces them with sharp hooks and smart lyrics. After supporting The National in Europe in November of ‘07, Hayden completed a sold-out theatre tour of Canada as well as spring and fall North American tours supporting Feist. In Field & Town was released on Fat Possum in the U.S.A. and November saw the release in Europe via the Affairs of the Heart label, combined with Nov./Dec. dates in the UK, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and Germany.
www.hardwoodrecords.com
www.myspace.com/hayden
Old Dreams
Hayden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now my dreams are your dreams
All I want is you
To be happy
I don't want the bright lights
I don't need more invites
All I want is you
I don't need more reviews
Not unless they're from you
All I want is you
To be happy
What did I waste all my time
Worrying about
Before this moment in my life
Could use some of that time
Tonight, tonight
I don't need my old dreams
Now my dreams are your dreams
All I want is you
To be happy
The lyrics to Hayden's song Old Dreams reflect a profound shift in perspective, as the singer moves from a fixation on personal ambition to a deep sense of devotion to a loved one. The opening line, "I don't need my old dreams, now my dreams are your dreams," speaks to a change in priorities, as the singer realizes that their individual desires have been subsumed within their relationship. The following lines drive home this point even further, as the singer repeatedly emphasizes that all they want is for their partner to be happy. The second verse continues in this vein, rejecting the trappings of success and fame in favor of a simpler, more fulfilling life with their loved one.
Overall, the song is a testament to the power of human connection and the transformative nature of love. By renouncing their own aspirations in favor of supporting their partner, the singer achieves a level of contentment that had eluded them in the past. The line "what did I waste all my time worrying about before this moment in my life" suggests that the singer has undergone a significant shift in consciousness, one that has allowed them to see their own needs and desires in a new light.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't need my old dreams
The singer no longer desires the things they once wanted.
Now my dreams are your dreams
The singer's partner's happiness is now the focus of their aspirations.
All I want is you
The singer's sole desire is to have their partner in their life.
To be happy
The artist's hope is that their partner finds happiness.
I don't want the bright lights
The artist is no longer interested in fame or material possessions.
I don't need more invites
The singer does not crave attention or more invitations to events.
All I want is you
The singer values their partner above all else.
To be happy
The artist sincerely wants their partner to experience joy.
I don't need more reviews
The artist is not concerned with acquiring more critiques or evaluations.
Not unless they're from you
The artist only values their partner's opinion.
What did I waste all my time
The singer is reflecting on the previous years of their life.
Worrying about
The artist has been anxious and preoccupied for too long.
Before this moment in my life
The singer's current stage of life is different from the past.
Could use some of that time
The singer wishes they could recover some of their lost time.
Tonight, tonight
The singer is living in the present moment.
I don't need my old dreams
The artist affirms their previous statement that their desires have changed.
Now my dreams are your dreams
The artist emphasizes that their partner's happiness and well-being are their primary goals.
All I want is you
The singer reiterates that their partner is their only desire.
To be happy
The singer repeats their wish for their partner's happiness.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Paul Hayden Desser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matt
haydens the only dude who can make me cry. just keeps getting better and better. keep it up dude youve been the soundtrack to countless moments in my life that ill never forget.
Christian Stepien
I'm glad Hayden's still makin music after all these years. I can't believe how long it's been since, "Bad as they seem"
NZtrillion
Hayden truly is awesome!
J'lynn
I'm also a big fan and without hayden songs I might not sleep Great singer hope u never stop
phlangephace
hell yeah
~poddy~
anyone remember seeing hyden and erics trip at the moonroom 0shawa