When I Was A Boy
Jeff Lynne's ELO Lyrics
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All about the things I'd like to be
Soon as I was in my bed
Music played inside my head
When I was a boy, I had a dream
When I was a boy, I learned to play
Far into the night and drift away
Just want to play my guitar instead
When I was a boy, I had a dream
And radio waves kept me company
In those beautiful days when there was no money
When I was a boy, I had a dream
When I was a boy, I had a dream
Finding out what life could really mean
Don't want a job 'cause it drives me crazy
Just wanna sing, do you love me, baby?
When I was a boy, I had a dream
And radio waves kept me company
In those beautiful days when there was no money
When I was a boy, I had a dream
When I was a boy
, I had a dream. The chorus of the song is a nostalgic and wistful reflection of childhood. The singer is remembering a time when his imagination was uninhibited by the constraints of adulthood. The dream in question could be interpreted as a desire to pursue creative expression, specifically music. The lyrics suggest that as a child, the singer had a sense of himself as a musician that he lost as he grew older.
The verses of the song focus on the practicalities of pursuing a musical career. The second verse is about the dedication required to master an instrument. The line "Far into the night and drift away" implies that playing the guitar provided an escape from reality. The following stanza is about the desire to prioritize music over steady employment. The juxtaposition of "work on the milk or the bread" with "play my guitar instead" suggests that there is a divide between responsibility and passion.
The final verse returns to the idea of living a creative life. "Finding out what life could really mean" hints at a sense of purpose that music could bring. The line "Don't want a job 'cause it drives me crazy" is a direct rejection of the notion that steady employment is the only way to achieve stability. The singer's desire to "sing" and question if his listeners love him is a plea for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a boy, I had a dream
As a child, I had aspirations and imaginations of what my life would be like in the future.
All about the things I'd like to be
I had inspirational ideas of what I wanted to become when I grow up.
Soon as I was in my bed
As soon as I went to bed, music filled my head and inspired my dreams.
Music played inside my head
I imagined the sounds of music in my head, before I fell asleep.
When I was a boy, I learned to play
Growing up, I taught myself how to play music and would play throughout the night.
Far into the night and drift away
My love for music would keep me up at night, playing and practicing for hours.
Don't want to work on the milk or the bread
I didn't have a desire to do the typical, mundane jobs of the time period.
Just want to play my guitar instead
All I wanted was to play my guitar and create music.
And radio waves kept me company
In the simpler times of the past, the radio kept me entertained and inspired through music, when money was scarce.
In those beautiful days when there was no money
The past was a simpler time, where I was content with what I had, even if it wasn't much.
Finding out what life could really mean
As a child, I was curious about what the purpose of life was and how to find my own way.
Don't want a job 'cause it drives me crazy
I couldn't imagine having to do a job I didn't love every day, as it would make me miserable.
Just wanna sing, do you love me, baby?
All I wanted was to sing and be loved for what I created through music.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF LYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cristroke
When I was a boy, I had a dream
All about the things I'd like to be
Soon as I was in my bed
Music played inside my head
When I was a boy, I had a dream
When I was a boy, I learned to play
Far into the night and drift away
Don't wanna work on the milk or the bread
Just wanna play my guitar instead
When I was a boy, I had a dream
And radio waves kept me company
In those beautiful days
When there was no money
When I was a boy, I had a dream
When I was a boy, I had a dream
Finding out what life could really mean
Don't want a job 'cause it drives me crazy
Just wanna sing, "Do you love me, baby?"
When I was a boy, I had a dream
And radio waves kept me company
In those beautiful days
When there was no money
When I was a boy, I had a dream
When I was a boy
@davidbradley2294
What a beautiful and heartbreaking song. It hits me right between the eyes. It hurts, but it's also wonderful to know somebody else out there feels the same thing. Thank you, Jeff Lynne.
@kaywaters7478
He hits the spot every time. A true genius.
@nightowl4206
Well, his dream came true, 100 percent.. So it's not really heartbreaking song for him. All his life he was writing and playing music, and he did it beautifully. 🎸
@123xconnieb
And we are so glad that Jeff had that dream. His music is a gift to the world.
@davelee8961
Yes. I could not say it better.
@greenleif
Amen 🤗💗🙏🕊️🛸🎸🎻🎶
@peanutdust1053
Beautifully put
@V0ID_X5
ELO is without question- the GREATEST band ever created! Their music is a gift to mankind!
The rare group who doesn’t make bad music (at least of what I’ve heard 😅)
@fabfour7397
💯😎👍
@vladimirnikolskiy
Yes, but not counting the Beatles!))