Early in their recording and airwave career, Lovin' Spoonful members termed their approach "good-time music". Unlike many pop groups of the day, the Lovin' Spoonful played all the instruments on their records, and aside from a few covers, wrote all their own material.
His group The Lovin' Spoonful played a major role in the mid-'60s rock revolution, but what leader, singer and songwriter Sebastian had in mind was actually a counter-revolution. "We were grateful to the Beatles for reminding us our rock & roll roots," John explains, "but we wanted to cut out the English middlemen, so to speak, and get down to making this new music as an 'American' band."
This the Lovin' Spoonful did like nobody before or since, putting their first seven singles into the Top 10. This was unprecedented, and utterly unthinkable at the height of Beatlemania. At first they'd taken older material from blues, country, folk and jug band sources - what we now term "roots music" - and made it sound modern. Then, in a series of original songs composed and sung by John Sebastian, they did the reverse, creating thoroughly modern music that sounded like it contained the entire history of American music. Which it did.
He embarked on a moderately successful solo career after leaving the Lovin' Spoonful in 1968. Sebastian was popular among the rock festival circuits. He had a memorable, albeit unscheduled appearance at Woodstock, appearing after Country Joe McDonald's set, playing songs such as "I Had A Dream," "Rainbows All Over Your Blues" and "Younger Generation" which he dedicated to a newborn baby at the festival. Documentary remarks by festival organizers revealed that Sebastian was under the influence at the time, hence his spontaneity and casual, unplanned set. Sebastian also returned for Woodstock '94, playing harmonica for Crosby, Stills and Nash. Sebastian released his eponymous LP John B. Sebastian in 1970, which featured him accompanied by various L.A. musicians.
Sebastian played harmonica with The Doors on the song Roadhouse Blues under the pseudonym G. Puglese to avoid problems with his contract, which was featured on Morrison Hotel album, also played on "Little Red Rooster" on the live album Alive, She Cried and on seven songs on Live In Detroit. He is also credited with playing harmonica on Crosby Stills Nash & Young's "Déjà Vu" from the album of the same name.
He had been involved in music for films (most notably Francis Ford Coppola's "You're A Big Boy Now" and Woody Allen's "What's Up Tiger Lily") and Broadway, but when producers of a TV show called "Welcome Back Kotter" commissioned a theme song in 1976, Sebastian's "Welcome Back" became a chart-topping solo record.
Thankfully John's induction into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 hasn't slowed him down. Whether the stage is at Carnegie Hall or a folk festival in some far-flung locale, John is still out there spreading his gospel of American roots music. He is the subject of the current PBS special "Do You Believe In Magic: The Music of John Sebastian," and a new album of duets with David Grisman was released in 2007. He has also lent his music in support of social, environmental and animal rights causes. Recently he joined a delegation of songwriters (including Lamont Dozier, Allen and Marilyn Bergman, and Mike Stoller) in Washington, DC to campaign on behalf of the National Music Publisher's Association.
Perhaps because it has been the product of heart and soul and history, the oldest song in the Sebastian catalog is as fresh and vital as the song he's about to write tomorrow. That's why you still hear his music everywhere - in movies, on television, in cover versions and samples - and why it's always welcome. John is also a welcome media presence; his commentary, insights and anecdotes and stories are regularly featured in print, radio, TV and film documentary projects. John Sebastian is not only a master musician, writer and performer, he remains one of the best ambassadors American music has ever had.
I Had A Dream
John Sebastian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a lovely dream it was
I dreamed we all were alright
Happy in a land of Oz
Why did everybody laugh
When I told them my dream
I guess they all were so far
Feeling mean
I heard a song last night
What a lovely song it was
I thought I'd hum it all night
Unforgettable because
All of the players were playing together
And all of the heavies were light as a feather
All I remember is a feeling tomorrow
And as I recall the rest will just follow
I had a dream last night
What a lovely dream it was
I dreamed we all were alright
Happy in a land of Oz
In John Sebastian's song "I Had A Dream," the singer expresses a beautiful dream they had where everyone was happy and alright in a land of Oz. However, when they shared this dream with others, they were met with laughter and disbelief. Despite this, the singer still holds onto the dream and the feeling they had upon waking up. The dream symbolizes hope and the possibility of a better future, while the laughter and disbelief symbolize the cynicism and skepticism of society.
The singer then shifts to another dream they had where they heard a beautiful song. The players were all playing together, and even the "heavies" were "light as a feather." The song represents unity and the power of music to bring people together. The line "All I remember is a feeling tomorrow, and as I recall the rest will just follow" suggests that the feeling of unity and happiness from the song will have a lasting impact on the singer, and hopefully, on society as a whole.
Overall, John Sebastian's "I Had A Dream" is a song about hope, unity, and the power of dreaming and music to bring people together. Despite the laughter and cynicism of others, the singer holds onto their dreams and believes in the possibility of a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream last night
John Sebastian had a dream the previous night and it made an impact on him.
What a lovely dream it was
The dream was a pleasant experience for John Sebastian.
I dreamed we all were alright
The dream involved a scenario where everyone was alright.
Happy in a land of Oz
The dream took place in a land that resembles the fictional world of Oz, where everyone was happy.
Why did everybody laugh
John Sebastian was puzzled by the manner of some people when he shared his dream.
When I told them my dream
John Sebastian had shared his dream with others.
I guess they all were so far
John Sebastian supposes that the people he told his dream were so far removed from the happiness that the dream represented.
From that kind of scene
The people John Sebastian told his dream about were far removed from the kind of scenario his dream was about.
Feeling mean
The experience left John Sebastian feeling negative emotions.
I heard a song last night
John Sebastian heard a song the previous night.
What a lovely song it was
The song John Sebastian heard was pleasant and enjoyable.
I thought I'd hum it all night
The song was memorable enough for John Sebastian to keep humming it throughout the night.
Unforgettable because
The song was unforgettable due to the arrangements or the melody.
All of the players were playing together
All the musicians playing the song were playing together in a harmonious manner.
And all of the heavies were light as a feather
Even the most serious people in the scenario were feeling light and happy.
All I remember is a feeling tomorrow
The lasting impact of the song was a positive feeling that John Sebastian carried into the next day.
And as I recall the rest will just follow
John Sebastian believes that the rest of the song was not important beyond the positive impact it left on him emotionally.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John B. Sebastian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mysticmaverick1
What a great songwriter, singer, and musician, and so good looking too.
Marcelo Cabrera
Beautiful song, the end of the golden era.