In Dreams
Howard Ben Lyrics


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Always a riddle in the world she said
Always a riddle inside my head
Always a thing to wonder the way we come to be
Oh, it's a big old place for me, yeah, it's a big old world indeed
Everyone is killing me and everything conspires

Oh, in dreams I have watched it spin
Seen a violent crack of atoms where all light comes in
Oh, in dreams I have lain in sin
Just to be the cracked and the cared for

How can I ask, ask for more?

Always a riddle in the world she said
Always a riddle inside my head
Always a thing to wonder in the way we come to be
Oh, it's a big old place for me, yeah
It's a big old world indeed
Kicking my heels and wondering how I've been here so long

Oh, in dreams I have watched it spin
Seen a violent crack of atoms where all light comes in
Oh, in dreams I saw Aesop's kin
Just a carcass of a man, I belong inside his skin

Mmm

Where to, where to begin?

I live alone, I live a lonely life without you





And I may be troubled but I'm gracious in defeat
Oh, I may be troubled but I'm gracious in defeat

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "In Dreams" by Howard Ben leave a lot open to interpretation. The opening lines about there always being a riddle in the world and inside his head suggest a general sense of confusion and questioning. The lyric "everyone is killing me and everything conspires" could point to a feeling of being oppressed or targeted by the outside world. The following lines delve deep into Ben's dreams, which seem to be a mix of the violent and the sublime. The violent image of the "crack of atoms" could suggest destruction or chaos, while the idea of being "cracked and cared for" in sin could imply a desire to be saved or protected. The reference to Aesop's kin, with the idea of belonging inside his skin, again blurs the line between violence and connection, suggesting a possible fascination with darkness or the macabre.


The chorus repeats the idea of the world as a riddle, rooted in the mystery of how we come to be. The image of kicking his heels and wondering how he's been here so long suggests a restlessness or unease with the passage of time. The second verse returns to the dreams, with more vivid and disturbing images of violence, while the final lines of the song touch on loneliness and the ability to move forward even in the face of defeat.


Overall, the lyrics of "In Dreams" paint a picture of someone who is grappling with a sense of confusion, violence, and darkness, both in the waking world and in dreams. The repeated references to riddles and wonder suggest an ongoing sense of searching and questioning. The final lines, with their sense of gracious defeat, suggest a resilience and acceptance of circumstances.


Line by Line Meaning

Always a riddle in the world she said
Life is always a mystery, as someone told me once.


Always a riddle inside my head
I can't solve the enigma of my own mind.


Always a thing to wonder the way we come to be
It's amazing to think how we all got here.


Oh, it's a big old place for me, yeah, it's a big old world indeed
The world is vast and never-ending for me.


Everyone is killing me and everything conspires
I feel like the world is against me and trying to harm me.


Oh, in dreams I have watched it spin
Sometimes I see the world spinning in my dreams.


Seen a violent crack of atoms where all light comes in
I've dreamt of witnessing the creation of the universe.


Oh, in dreams I have lain in sin
I've had dreams where I willingly committed immoral acts.


Just to be the cracked and the cared for
I long for someone to care for me even though I'm flawed.


How can I ask, ask for more?
I feel guilty for wanting more in life when I've already been given so much.


Kicking my heels and wondering how I've been here so long
I feel like I've been stuck in the same place for a long time.


Oh, in dreams I saw Aesop's kin
I dreamt of Aesop's fables and how they relate to my life.


Just a carcass of a man, I belong inside his skin
Sometimes I feel like I'm just an empty shell and want to be someone else.


Where to, where to begin?
I don't know where or how to start making changes in my life.


I live alone, I live a lonely life without you
My life feels empty and lonely without someone special in it.


And I may be troubled but I'm gracious in defeat
Even though I face challenges, I try to take them with grace and humility.


Oh, I may be troubled but I'm gracious in defeat
I face difficulties in life, but I try to remain composed and respectful.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin John Howard

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Anil lamichhane

"In Dreams"
Always a riddle in the world she said
Always a riddle inside my head
Always a thing of wonder
The way we come to be
Oh it's a big old place for me
Yeah it's a big old world indeed
Everyone is killing me and everything conspires
In dreams I have watched it spin
Seen the violent crack of atoms where all light comes in
In dreams I have lain in sin
Just to be the cracked and the cared for
How can I ask, ask for more?
Always a riddle in the world she said
Always a riddle inside my head
Always a thing of wonder
The way we come to be
Oh it's a big old place for me
Well it's a big old world indeed
Been kicking my heels and wondering how I've been here so long
In dreams I have watched it spin
Seen the violent crack of atoms where all light comes In
In dreams I have seen aesops kin
Just the carcass of a man now alone inside his skin
Mmmm mmmmm mmmm
Where to, where to begin?
I live alone
I live a lonely life without you
[x2:]
And I may be troubled
But I'm gracious in defeat



P Rosado

Oh in dreams I have lain in sin
Just to be the cracked and the cared for

How can I ask, ask for more?




This has to be, for me, the most relatable lyrics from Ben. He puts in words what I can't even begin to explain.



All comments from YouTube:

Dylan Weber

2SICH and her cover brought me here, can't believe I lived 32 years not knowing such an amazing artist as Ben Howard exists

Gustav F.

Same here.

Ugo Paleni

Same :)

AntonVN

Same this dude is a beast

YunaQQQ

same

Doğa Yarman

Same here, only 47 years :)

23 More Replies...

netdaniels

It's not only the guitar, his pauses, his voice, the combination of the three are just impossibly impressive. I ask myself if he has any idea of how unique is his ability.

Jonathan Vos

One of the best musicians of this time!

Olivia Cal

netdaniels And the lyrics - don't forget the lyrics.

Nick Prost and children🇺🇦

netdaniels does his commercial success at times distract people of his raw ability? I went to one of his gigs and it was full of the radio 1 crowd, talking over it , repeatedly shouting out for his singles . The gig was ruined for me
his second album which was amazing seemed at times over shadowed by his poppier first

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