When Nelson released his first CD, "Still Here", he was half way through his senior year in high school. "Still Here" is a collection of songs about a sixteen month period of his life. A time in which "everything seemed surreal and hazy". According to Nelson, he "became a very unpleasant person to be around, and yet (he) was the happiest (he) had ever been". It is an album about loss and regretful decisions. Later in the spring of 2012 his musical content made a change for the positive and optimistic. After a trip to Europe, he returned to record his uplifting tune "What Did I Find?" which received local acclaim in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In 2012 he released his second full length LP "Waiting and Waiting".
Dream Last Night
John Mark Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
that ends with my reflection
Trying a hundred times to turn the other way
Keeping the balance right
just for your own protection
Finding the answers just in time to hear you say
I... wanna believe the things you say
I... am letting it go and that's ok
Cause I had a dream last night you were talking to me
Told me all about the things that you loved
And the conversation was killing me
So I left without looking back
How do I belong right here
Locked in a heart of fear
(so you know you belong)
There's a word that I wish you would say I won't have it any other way
(tell me what you need me to say)
Cause I... am longing for every little moment
And I... am letting it go and that's OK
Cause I had a dream last night you were talking to me
Told me all about the things that you loved
And the conversation was killing me
So I left without looking back
Will you look
to the light
mystery
shining bright
Save yourself for that day
Will what you feel be gone at me
You will never be what you say
You will never say what you need
I had a dream last night you were talking to me
Told me all about the things that you loved
And the conversation was killing me
So I left without looking back
Yeah I had a dream last night you were talking to me
Told me all about the person that you wanted to be
And the conversation was killing me
So I left without ever looking back
In John Mark Nelson's song Dream Last Night, the lyrics convey the themes of emotional turmoil, confusion, and the desire for clarity. The line, "Fighting an endless war that ends with my reflection," suggests a sense of inner conflict that ultimately leads the singer to attempt to find balance to protect themselves. However, they struggle with feeling like they belong, locked in a "heart of fear." Amidst this confusion, the singer has a dream where the person they are talking to tells them about the things they love, and the conversation is killing them. This dream illuminates the confusion and turmoil within the singer and causes them to leave without looking back.
Throughout the song, the singer is grappling with the tension between the desire to believe what they are being told and the sense that something is off. This is particularly evident in the lines, "Cause I wanna believe the things you say / I am letting it go and that's okay." The dream represents a crisis point, where the singer realizes they need to walk away.
Line by Line Meaning
Fighting an endless war
Struggling through a never-ending battle
that ends with my reflection
A conflicting battle against oneself
Trying a hundred times to turn the other way
Repeating attempts to change course
Keeping the balance right
Maintaining an equilibrium in life
just for your own protection
Only to safeguard oneself
Finding the answers just in time to hear you say
Discovering solutions when it's already too late
I... wanna believe the things you say
Desiring to trust the spoken words
I... am letting it go and that's okay
Accepting to move on
Cause I had a dream last night you were talking to me
A sub-conscious conversation
Told me all about the things that you loved
Shares about likes and passions
And the conversation was killing me
The discussion is emotionally draining
So I left without looking back
The escape from the distress.
How do I belong right here
Feeling uncertain of one's place
Locked in a heart of fear
Held captive by overwhelming fright
(so you know you belong)
A subtle reminder of the necessity to determine one's place
There's a word that I wish you would say I won't have it any other way
A particular expression yearned to hear
(tell me what you need me to say)
An appeal to speak honestly
Cause I... am longing for every little moment
Seeking to capture every insignificant detail
And I... am letting it go and that's OK
Resolving to relinquish control
Will you look to the light mystery shining bright
A metaphorical call to higher aspirations
Save yourself for that day
Preserve oneself for the future
Will what you feel be gone at me
Will emotions fade with time
You will never be what you say
Words can only do so much
You will never say what you need
A suppression of desires and needs
Yeah I had a dream last night you were talking to me
A repetition of the dreamy communication
Told me all about the person that you wanted to be
Unveiling a desired identity
And the conversation was killing me
The same exhausting interaction
So I left without ever looking back
The same instinct to depart
Contributed by Muhammad H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thomas Hendricks
I just heard this on NPR, super glad that I did! Keep it coming!
Brian Graves
This song kicks.
tacai24
So did I! This song is awesome. Going to check out more of his music. Hope this isn't all he has...
Reece Capers
me too
Claudia Villamil Bowmil
+Thomas Hendricks
Me too!! =D
Tim O'Keefe
+Fox Hound +Thomas Hendricks
Go NPR!
Bibi_the_mom 7797
Glad I heard this on NPR this morning! Will add it to my playlist! :)
Sid Bastola
Heard it on my way to work on NPR. Great track!
Gwen Hauenstein
This is a great song! Heard this morning on NPR and I can't get it out of my mind. Found a new artist. Thanks NPR!
Donna Walters
Love this! Keep'em coming. Thanks for sharing, NPR.