He also plays the harmonica, mandolin, langeleik, and Turkish saz.
The Dream
Knut Reiersrud Lyrics
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Crying out the blues
He said ""won't you give me a dollar
won't you give me a dime
Cause I'm watching my light decline
Last night I had a dream
I dreamt I had died
To take me for the ride
I couldn't afford a coffin
Embalmin' kinda high
I jumped off my death bed
Cause I'm too poor to die
I dreamt at the cemetery
I couldn't afford enough
To pay the gravediggers
To cover me up
It cost a lot of money
Cause they were union men
I guess before I die
I better think again
I dreamt I met the devil
He is waitin' at the gate
Say ""come on in son
Youre not a minute late""
Said he lead me to his kingdom
Lead me by my arm
But he wouldn't move my body
Less I grease his palm
In Knut Reiersrud's song "The Dream," the lyrics tell a story of a blind man who is struggling financially and facing the decline of his life. The blind man is depicted standing on a corner, crying out in sorrow. He asks for help, pleading for someone to give him a dollar or a dime, expressing his desperation as he watches his light, or hope, fade away.
The narrative then shifts to the blind man's dream, where he envisions his own death. In the dream, the undertaker approaches him to take him for the final journey, but the blind man cannot afford a coffin because embalming costs are high. Faced with the realization that his poverty prevents him from dying comfortably, he figuratively jumps off his deathbed, symbolizing his refusal to succumb to his destitution.
Continuing his dream, the blind man finds himself at the cemetery, but once again, money becomes an obstacle. He is unable to pay the gravediggers to cover him up, emphasizing the financial burden even in death. This hardship is exacerbated by the fact that the gravediggers are union men, suggesting that there are additional costs and regulations to contend with. The blind man acknowledges the need to reconsider his situation before he actually dies, acknowledging the unfairness of his circumstances.
In the final part of his dream, the blind man encounters the devil at the gate of his kingdom. Surprisingly, the devil welcomes him without delay, suggesting that the blind man's struggles and desperation provide an opportunity for manipulation. The devil offers to lead him into his kingdom but demands payment, symbolized by greasing his palm. This imagery highlights the corrupting influence of money and power, hinting at the potential consequences of succumbing to such temptations.
Overall, these lyrics depict a story of a blind man who faces financial hardships and struggles to maintain his dignity and autonomy in the face of poverty and despair. The dream sequence serves as a metaphor for the challenges and injustices that the blind man encounters in his life, presenting a thought-provoking commentary on societal inequalities and the complexities of human existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Blind man standing on the corner
There is a visually impaired man standing on the street corner.
Crying out the blues
He is expressing his sorrow and sadness through his music, specifically the blues genre.
He said "won't you give me a dollar
The blind man is requesting for financial assistance, asking for a dollar.
won't you give me a dime
He is also asking for a smaller amount, a dime, as any contribution would help.
Cause I'm watching my light decline
His situation is deteriorating, and he feels like his life is gradually fading away.
Last night I had a dream
The singer is recounting a dream they had the previous night.
I dreamt I had died
In the dream, the singer experienced their own death.
The undertaker came to me
In the dream, an undertaker appeared to handle their funeral arrangements.
To take me for the ride
The undertaker intended to transport the artist's body to the burial site.
I couldn't afford a coffin
Financially, the artist was unable to purchase a casket for themselves.
Embalmin' kinda high
The cost of embalming, the process of preserving a deceased body, was too expensive for the singer.
I jumped off my death bed
In the dream, the artist decided to escape death by leaping off their own deathbed.
Cause I'm too poor to die
The singer lacks the financial means to afford a dignified death.
I dreamt at the cemetery
During the dream, the singer found themselves in a cemetery.
I couldn't afford enough
Financially, the singer did not have enough funds to cover the expenses associated with burial.
To pay the gravediggers
The artist was unable to compensate the individuals responsible for digging the grave.
To cover me up
The lack of funds prevented the artist from being properly buried and covered in the ground.
It cost a lot of money
The overall cost of a funeral was substantial and beyond the singer's financial capacity.
Cause they were union men
The gravediggers belonged to a union, which likely increased the costs associated with their services.
I guess before I die
The artist reflects on the fact that they need to reconsider their circumstances and plan ahead before their death.
I better think again
The artist acknowledges the necessity of reevaluating their current situation and finding a solution.
I dreamt I met the devil
In the dream, the artist encountered the devil.
He is waitin' at the gate
The devil is positioned at the entrance, waiting for the singer.
Say "come on in son
The devil invites the artist to enter his realm, addressing them as 'son'.
Youre not a minute late"
The devil assures the singer that their arrival is perfectly timed and not delayed in any way.
Said he lead me to his kingdom
The devil takes the singer on a journey to his kingdom or realm.
Lead me by my arm
The devil guides the singer by holding their arm.
But he wouldn't move my body
Despite being led by the devil, the artist's physical body remained stationary.
Less I grease his palm
In order for the devil to physically move the artist's body, the artist would need to bribe him or provide some form of payment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Knut Reiersrud, Iverson Minter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind