A Dream
John Cale & Lou Reed/John Cale & Lou Reed Lyrics


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It was a very cold clear fall night
I had a terrible dream
Billy Name and Brigid were playing under my stair case
on the second floor about two o'clock in the morning

I woke up
because Amos and Archie had started barking
That made me very angry
because I wasn't feeling well and I told them
I was very cross the real me
that they just better remember
what happened to Sam the bad cat
that was left at home and got sick and went pussy heaven

It was a very cold clear fall night
Some snowflakes were falling
Gee, it was so beautiful
and so I went to get my camera to take some pictures
And then I was taking the pictures
but the exposure thing wasn't right
and I was going to call Fred or Gerry
to find out how to get set it
I was too late
and then I remembered they were still probably at dinner
and anyway
I felt really bad and didn't want to talk to anybody
but the snowflakes were so beautiful and real looking
and I really wanted to hold them
And that's when I heard the voices
from down the hall near the stairs
So I got a flashlight
and I was scared and I went out into the hallway
There's been all kinds of troubles
lately in the neighborhood
and someone's got to bring home the bacon and anyway
there were Brigid and Billy playing

And under the stair case
was a little meadow sort of like the park at 23rd street
where all the young kids go and play frisbee
Gee, that must be fun
maybe we should do an article on that in the magazine
but they'll just tell me I'm stupid and it won't sell
but I'll just hold my ground this time, I mean
it's my magazine, isn't it?

So I was thinking that as the snowflakes fell
and I heard those voices having so much fun
Gee, it would be so great to have some fun
So I called Billy
but either he didn't hear me or he didn't want to answer
which was so strange
because
even if I don't like reunions I've always loved Billy
I'm so glad he's working
I mean it's different than Ondine
He keeps touring with those movies
and he doesn't even pay us and the film
I mean the film's just going to disintegrate and then what
I mean he's so normal off of drugs
I just don't get it

And then I saw John Cale
he's been looking really great
He's been coming by the office to exercise with me
Ronnie said I have a muscle
but he's been really mean since he went to AA
I mean what does it mean
when you give up drinking and then you're still so mean
He says I'm being lazy but I'm not
I'm just can't find any ideas
I mean I'm just not
let's face it
going to get any ideas up at the office

And seeing John made me think of the Velvets
and I had been thinking about them
when I was on St. Marks Place
going to that new gallery those sweet new kids have opened
but the thought I was old
and then I saw the old DOM
the old club where we did our first shows
It was so great
And I don't understand about that Velvet's first album
I mean I did the cover
I was the producer
and I always see it repackaged
and I've never gotten a penny from it
How could that be
I should call Henry
but it was good seeing John
I did a cover for him
but I did in black and white and he change it to color
It would have been worth more if he'd left it my way
but you can never tell any body anything I've leaned that

I tried calling again to Billy and John
they wouldn't recognize me it was like I wasn't there
Why won't they let me in

And then I saw Lou
I'm so mad at him
Lou Reed got married and didn't invite me
I mean is it because he thought I'd bring too many people
I don't get it
could have at least called
I mean he's doing so great
Why doesn't he call me?
I saw him at the MTV show
and he was one row away and he didn't even say hello
I don't get it
You know I hate Lou
I really do
He won't even hire us for his videos
And I was proud of him

I was so scared today
There was blood leaking thought my shirt
from those old scars from being shot
And the corset I wear to keep my insides in was hurting
And I did three sets of fifteen pushups
and four sets of ten setups
But then my insides hurt
and I saw drops of blood on my shirt and I remember
the doctors saying I was dead
And then later they had to take blood out of my hand
'couse they ran out or veins
but then
all this thinking was making me an old grouch
and you can't do anything anyway so
if they wouldn't let me play with them in my own dream
I was just going to have to make another
and another
and another
Gee, wouldn't it be funny if I died in this dream
before I could make another one up

And nobody called





And nobody came

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lou Reed's "A Dream" are full of random thoughts and musings that reflect the chaotic and disjointed nature of dreams. The singer describes a strange dream in which they wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of their dogs barking, and then feel a strong urge to take pictures of the beautiful snow falling outside. They hear voices coming from down the hallway and go to investigate, only to discover Brigid and Billy playing under the stair case. The singer tries to call out to them, but they don't hear, and the singer is left feeling rejected and alone.


The lyrics touch on a variety of other topics, including the singer's frustration with not being able to come up with new ideas for their magazine, their resentment toward Lou Reed for not inviting them to his wedding or hiring them for his videos, and their struggles with their health (including old gunshot wounds and the need to wear a corset to keep their "insides in").


Overall, the song portrays a sense of isolation, alienation, and frustration that is common in dreams. Through the use of fragmented, stream-of-consciousness lyrics, Reed captures the feeling of a dream that is both vivid and confusing.


Line by Line Meaning

It was a very cold clear fall night
The setting of the dream was a chilly and clear autumn night.


I had a terrible dream
The dream that the singer had was distressing and unsettling.


Billy Name and Brigid were playing under my stair case
The individuals named Billy Name and Brigid were engaging in playful activities beneath the singer's staircase.


on the second floor about two o'clock in the morning
The location of the playful activities was on the second floor, specifically at around two o'clock in the morning.


I woke up
The artist became awake from their sleep.


because Amos and Archie had started barking
The singer was awakened by the barking of their dogs named Amos and Archie.


That made me very angry
The barking of the dogs caused the singer to feel a strong sense of anger.


because I wasn't feeling well and I told them
Due to the artist's poor physical health, they communicated their displeasure to the dogs.


I was very cross the real me
The artist expressed their genuine frustration and annoyance towards the dogs.


that they just better remember
The artist expects the dogs to remember and learn from a previous incident involving a sick cat named Sam.


what happened to Sam the bad cat
The mention of Sam refers to a cat who suffered from illness and eventually passed away.


that was left at home and got sick and went pussy heaven
Sam, the cat, became sick while being left alone at home and eventually passed away.


Some snowflakes were falling
Snowflakes were descending from the sky.


Gee, it was so beautiful
The snowfall was described as exceptionally stunning.


and so I went to get my camera to take some pictures
The singer decided to retrieve their camera in order to capture photographs of the beautiful snowflakes.


And then I was taking the pictures
The artist proceeded to capture photographs using their camera.


but the exposure thing wasn't right
The settings for exposure on the camera were not properly adjusted.


and I was going to call Fred or Gerry
The singer had the intention of contacting individuals named Fred or Gerry for assistance.


to find out how to get set it
The singer sought guidance on how to adjust the exposure settings on their camera.


I was too late
By the time the artist decided to seek help, it was already too late.


and then I remembered they were still probably at dinner
The realization dawned upon the artist that Fred and Gerry were likely still having their meal.


and anyway
Regardless of the dinner situation, the artist started feeling a sense of distress and had no desire to engage in conversation.


I felt really bad and didn't want to talk to anybody
The singer experienced strong negative emotions and preferred to avoid any form of conversation.


but the snowflakes were so beautiful and real looking
Despite their emotions, the artist found the snowflakes to be incredibly captivating and lifelike in appearance.


and I really wanted to hold them
The singer had a strong desire to physically touch and hold the snowflakes.


And that's when I heard the voices
At that moment, the singer became aware of the presence of voices.


from down the hall near the stairs
The voices originated from a distance, specifically near the stairs in the hallway.


So I got a flashlight
To investigate the origin of the voices, the artist retrieved a flashlight for illumination.


and I was scared and I went out into the hallway
Despite feeling fear, the artist ventured into the hallway.


There's been all kinds of troubles lately in the neighborhood
Recently, the neighborhood has experienced various forms of difficulties and problems.


and someone's got to bring home the bacon and anyway
Given the circumstances, it was important for someone to take responsibility and provide for their household.


there were Brigid and Billy playing
The artist discovered Brigid and Billy engaging in playful activities.


And under the stair case was a little meadow sort of like the park at 23rd street where all the young kids go and play frisbee
Beneath the staircase, there existed a small meadow reminiscent of a popular park where youngsters gather to play frisbee.


Gee, that must be fun
The artist expressed admiration and curiosity regarding the enjoyable nature of such activities.


maybe we should do an article on that in the magazine
The singer contemplated the idea of featuring an article about the mentioned activities in their magazine.


but they'll just tell me I'm stupid and it won't sell
Anticipating negative feedback and rejection, the artist assumed that others would dismiss their idea as foolish and unprofitable.


but I'll just hold my ground this time, I mean it's my magazine, isn't it?
Despite potential criticism, the singer expressed determination to stand firm and assert their authority over their magazine.


So I was thinking that as the snowflakes fell and I heard those voices having so much fun
While observing the snowfall and hearing the joyful voices, the singer engaged in reflective thoughts.


Gee, it would be so great to have some fun
The singer expressed a strong desire to partake in enjoyable activities.


So I called Billy but either he didn't hear me or he didn't want to answer which was so strange because even if I don't like reunions I've always loved Billy
The artist attempted to communicate with Billy, but it appeared that Billy either didn't notice or deliberately chose not to respond. This puzzled the artist because, despite their preference against reunions, they held affection for Billy.


I'm so glad he's working
The artist expressed satisfaction and joy regarding Billy's employment or engagement in a productive activity.


I mean it's different than Ondine He keeps touring with those movies and he doesn't even pay us and the film
Comparing Billy's current endeavors to those of Ondine, the singer noted that Billy engages in film tours without compensating the singer and others involved in the film.


I mean the film's just going to disintegrate and then what
Concerned about the deterioration of the film over time, the singer questioned the future implications and consequences of its disintegration.


I mean he's so normal off of drugs I just don't get it
Expressing confusion, the artist failed to understand how Billy transformed from being heavily reliant on drugs to displaying a remarkably normal demeanor.


And then I saw John Cale he's been looking really great
The artist's attention turned toward John Cale and the artist remarked on John's impressive physical appearance.


He's been coming by the office to exercise with me
John Cale frequently visits the artist's office to engage in exercise activities together.


Ronnie said I have a muscle but he's been really mean since he went to AA
A person named Ronnie commented on the singer's muscle development, but the singer perceived Ronnie's behavior as increasingly negative since attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings.


I mean what does it mean when you give up drinking and then you're still so mean
The artist questioned the significance of someone giving up alcohol yet still exhibiting unkind behavior.


He says I'm being lazy but I'm not
Despite Ronnie's accusation of laziness, the singer denied possessing such a trait.


I'm just can't find any ideas I mean I'm just not
The singer expressed their struggle in generating ideas and emphasized their lack of success in doing so.


let's face it
The singer urged for honesty and acknowledgement of a particular situation.


going to get any ideas up at the office
The artist acknowledged their inability to find inspiration or creative ideas while working at the office.


And seeing John made me think of the Velvets
The sight of John Cale triggered thoughts of the Velvet Underground, the band in which both John and the artist were part of.


and I had been thinking about them
The singer had been actively contemplating and reflecting on the Velvet Underground.


when I was on St. Marks Place going to that new gallery those sweet new kids have opened
During a visit to St. Marks Place, the singer encountered a recently opened gallery run by enthusiastic youngsters.


but the thought I was old
Despite their interest in the gallery, the artist perceived themselves as old and potentially irrelevant.


and then I saw the old DOM the old club where we did our first shows It was so great
The artist then reminisced about the past, recalling the DOM club where the Velvet Underground initially performed, expressing nostalgic fondness toward that time.


And I don't understand about that Velvet's first album I mean I did the cover I was the producer
The artist expressed confusion and frustration regarding the first album by the Velvet Underground, as they were involved in designing the cover and fulfilling the role of a producer.


and I always see it repackaged and I've never gotten a penny from it
Despite witnessing the album being repackaged and redistributed, the singer never received any form of financial compensation for their contribution.


How could that be I should call Henry
The artist questioned the circumstances surrounding the lack of compensation and contemplated reaching out to Henry for further clarification or resolution.


but it was good seeing John I did a cover for him
Despite the previous frustration, the singer found satisfaction in encountering John Cale, reminiscing about their collaborative work on an album cover.


but I did in black and white and he change it to color
The singer's artistic preference was to create the album cover in black and white, but John Cale modified it by adding color.


It would have been worth more if he'd left it my way
The singer believed that if John Cale had retained the original black and white presentation, the album cover would have had greater value.


but you can never tell any body anything I've leaned that
Through personal experiences, the artist has come to realize that it is futile to expect others to accept or heed their advice.


I tried calling again to Billy and John they wouldn't recognize me it was like I wasn't there
The artist made another attempt to contact both Billy and John, but it seemed as though they failed to acknowledge the artist's presence, almost as if they couldn't perceive the artist.


Why won't they let me in
The singer expressed confusion and frustration over the apparent rejection from Billy and John.


And then I saw Lou I'm so mad at him
Following the encounter with Billy and John, the singer's attention shifted to Lou (Lou Reed), evoking anger towards him.


Lou Reed got married and didn't invite me
The artist felt a sense of betrayal and resentment because Lou Reed got married without extending an invitation to the artist.


I mean is it because he thought I'd bring too many people
The artist wondered if the reason for not being invited was due to Lou's assumption that the artist would bring along a large crowd of individuals.


I don't get it could have at least called
Unable to comprehend Lou's actions, the artist expected, at the very least, a phone call or some form of communication.


I mean he's doing so great Why doesn't he call me?
Observing Lou's apparent success, the singer expressed confusion as to why Lou hasn't initiated contact.


I saw him at the MTV show and he was one row away and he didn't even say hello
Recounting an encounter with Lou at an MTV show, the artist revealed their disappointment in Lou's failure to greet or acknowledge their presence despite being in close proximity.


I don't get it You know I hate Lou
The singer admitted to their strong dislike and animosity towards Lou.


I really do He won't even hire us for his videos
The singer's hatred towards Lou persisted, fueled by feelings of exclusion as Lou refused to offer them employment opportunities for his videos.


And I was proud of him
Despite the singer's negative emotions towards Lou, they still held a sense of pride and admiration for Lou's accomplishments.


I was so scared today There was blood leaking thought my shirt from those old scars from being shot
The artist experienced fear on the particular day being referred to, as blood was seeping through their shirt due to older gunshot wounds.


And the corset I wear to keep my insides in was hurting
The artist felt physical discomfort as the corset they wear to support their internal organs caused them pain.


And I did three sets of fifteen pushups and four sets of ten setups
Despite their physical discomfort, the singer proceeded to complete multiple sets of pushups and setups as part of their exercise routine.


But then my insides hurt and I saw drops of blood on my shirt and I remember the doctors saying I was dead
The singer's physical exertion resulted in intensified internal pain, leading to the discovery of blood drops on their shirt. This triggered a memory of doctors declaring the singer's death.


And then later they had to take blood out of my hand 'cause they ran out or veins
At a later time, medical professionals had to extract blood from the artist's hand since their veins were no longer accessible.


but then all this thinking was making me an old grouch
The artist recognized that excessive contemplation and negative thoughts were causing them to become increasingly surly and ill-tempered.


and you can't do anything anyway so if they wouldn't let me play with them in my own dream I was just going to have to make another and another and another
Confronted with the inability to participate in the activities within their own dream, the artist resolved to create alternate dreams repeatedly, as they believed there was no other action they could take.


Gee, wouldn't it be funny if I died in this dream before I could make another one up
Amidst their contemplation, the singer entertained the humorous thought of perishing within the current dream, thus preventing them from generating subsequent dreams.


And nobody called
The artist experienced a sense of abandonment and loneliness as nobody reached out to them.


And nobody came
The absence of anyone coming to the singer's aid or company further intensified their feelings of isolation and solitude.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE, LOU REED

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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