After singing at weddings for a few years, he joined with several other choristers to form a group named The Mistletones in 1980. He also sang the national anthems at Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs games since 1988 and continues to do so. From 1984 through 1992 he worked as a circulation representative for the Toronto Sun, Conrad Black heard him singing at company parties. Black, along with other executives, financed McDermott's independent recording of "Danny Boy" in 1992, which was picked up and released in North America by EMI Music Canada. Following this unexpected success, McDermott decided to pursue a professional singing career.
John has annual concerts world wide, and can be seen from Toronto, to Boston, to New York, to Glasgow.
McDermott performed his first concert at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre on October 5, 1993 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there he continued to tour the rest of Canada, performing as an opening act for The Chieftains. Throughout 1994 he went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, following the great success of Danny Boy, which had been ranked Number 1 on the charts there and achieved triple platinum in New Zealand. Next, in 1995 he went on a tour of the United Kingdom with The Seekers.
At this point in his career he was becoming recognized internationally, so he started to tour regularly as a solo act rather than an opening act. He also appeared at several special events including the D-Day ceremonies in France in 1995, and the US Democratic National Convention in 1996. He has also appeared on TV several times, both as a host of CBC Television concert specials in 1997, and in his own television special titled John McDermott: A Time to Remember which aired on PBS in 2002.
McDermott formed The Irish Tenors and after performing a large concert in Dublin, Ireland in 1998, they spent some time touring the US, appearing on TV, and releasing a gold record.
Since leaving The Irish Tenors, McDermott continues to tour extensively throughout the World, performing with his own group and with the great symphonies of the world. He continues to work to support the veteran community in the United States and in Canada. In 2000 McDermott dedicated McDermott House in Washington DC, a transitional home for homeless veterans. His latest release Journeys-Bringing Buddy Home was recorded to help support fundraising for Fisher House Boston and launch the Canadian initiative for an outreach centre for Canadian Veterans.
Put Your Dreams Away
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I will take their place in your heart
Wishing on a star never got you far
And so it's time to make a new start
When your dreams at night
Fade before you
Then I'll have the right
Let your kiss confess this is happiness, darling
And put all your dreams away
When your dreams at night
Fade before you
Then I'll have the right
To adore you
Let your kiss confess this is happiness, darling
And put all your dreams away
The lyrics to John McDermott's "Put Your Dreams Away" are about being there for someone who has come to the end of their journey with their dreams. The singer is offering to take the place of the person's dreams in their heart as they put them away for another day. The singer believes that wishing on a star never gets anyone far, and that it's time for the person to make a new start.
The lyrics suggest that the person's dreams are no longer bringing them happiness, that they have faded before them at night. The singer tells the person that when this happens, they will have the right to adore them. The person's kiss is seen as a confession of happiness, and the singer urges them to put all their dreams away. The singer seems to be suggesting that the person needs to move on from their dreams and find happiness elsewhere, with the singer offering themselves as a possible source of that happiness.
Overall, the lyrics to "Put Your Dreams Away" are about change and moving on from dreams that may no longer be bringing happiness. The singer is offering support and hope for new beginnings, urging the person to put their old dreams away and find happiness in a new way.
Line by Line Meaning
Put your dreams away for another day
Delay your dreams for a while
And I will take their place in your heart
I will fill the void left by your dreams
Wishing on a star never got you far
Merely dreaming or hoping for something does not make it happen
And so it's time to make a new start
It's time to start anew and take action
When your dreams at night
When your dreams during nighttime
Fade before you
Disappear from your thoughts
Then I'll have the right
At that point, I will have the opportunity
To adore you
To deeply admire and cherish you
Let your kiss confess this is happiness, darling
Express your affection through a kiss and acknowledge your joy
And put all your dreams away
Forget your dreams for now and focus on the present moment
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Mann, Ruth Lowe, Stephan Weiss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind