In 1983, she decided to become a psychologist, enrolling in Yeshiva University. She continued playing music while completing her PhD, and began to have some success as part of a duo with Shawn Colvin. However, when they began to attract record company interest, Kaplansky declined, choosing instead to set up a private practice and become a staff psychologist at a New York hospital. For several years, she concentrated largely on her work, and played little in the way of concerts. However, she still did some session work, such as singing backing vocals in the studio for Suzanne Vega.
By the early 1990s she found herself increasingly drawn back to music. Colvin, who by this time had experienced some commercial success, offered to produce an album for her. The result, The Tide, a mixture of her own songs and several covers, was released by Red House Records (Greg Brown's label) in 1994. At this time, she decided to give up her psychology practice, and return to music full-time. She released her second album, Flesh and Bone, in 1996.
In 1998 Kaplansky joined with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell to form the folk group Cry Cry Cry, which made an album and toured extensively as a result of the success of the original six week tour.
1999's Ten Year Night won rave reviews and boosted her popularity, leading to performances on CBS-TV. She followed that album in 2001 with Every Single Day.
The Red Thread, released in early 2004, includes songs about adopting her new daughter Molly, who Lucy and her husband Rick brought home from China in late 2003, and several songs relating to her experiences living in downtown Manhattan during 9-11. In 2007 she released her latest album Over the Hills.
Dreamland
Lucy Kaplansky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pull your covers up real tight
By your bed we'll leave a light
To guide you off to dreamland
Your pillows soft your bed is warm
Your eyes are tired when day is done
One more kiss and you'll be gone
On your way to dreamland
Every sleepy boy and girl
In every bed around the world
Can hear the stars up in the sky
Whispering a lullaby
Who knows where you'll fly away
Winging passed the light of day
The man in the moon and the milky way
Welcome you to dreamland
Every sleepy boy and girl
In every bed around the world
Can hear the stars up in the sky
Whispering a lullaby
Who knows where you'll fly away
Winging passed the light of day
The man in the moon and the milky way
Welcome you to dreamland
Lucy Kaplansky's Dreamland is a soothing lullaby about sleep and dreaming. The lyrics describe the experience of going to bed and being guided to sleep by the soft light left on, the comfort of a warm bed and the tender words of a parent wishing their child sound slumber. The song conjures up a magical world where sleepy boys and girls take flight and travel across the night sky while the stars whisper enchanting melodies to soothe them into peaceful slumber.
The verse also alludes to the wonder of the cosmos and the possibility of travel, suggesting that in dreamland, anything is possible. The stars become witnesses and guardians, and the man in the moon and the milky way offer their welcome to dreamland. This is a place of rest and rejuvenation, where the imagination can roam free, and adventures abound.
The artistic use of imagery and evocative lyrics make Dreamland an enchanting song that will resonate with listeners of all ages. Its calming music and lyrics create a feeling of serenity and tranquility and will certainly impart a sense of peaceful sleep to its listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Sun goes down and says goodnight
The day is over and the sun is setting, so it's time to go to sleep.
Pull your covers up real tight
Get under your sheets and comforter and snuggle up.
By your bed we'll leave a light
A small light will be left on by your bed so you won't be in total darkness.
To guide you off to dreamland
The light is there to help you drift off to sleep.
Your pillows soft your bed is warm
Your bed is comfortable and cozy with fluffy pillows and warm blankets.
Your eyes are tired when day is done
After a long day, your eyes are feeling heavy and ready to close.
One more kiss and you'll be gone
A goodnight kiss will be the last thing you remember before falling asleep.
On your way to dreamland
You're drifting off to sleep and heading to a place where you'll have dreams.
Every sleepy boy and girl
All children who are sleepy and ready for bed.
In every bed around the world
Every child, no matter where they are in the world, is getting ready to go to sleep.
Can hear the stars up in the sky
The stars are like a chorus, singing a quiet song to help you fall asleep.
Whispering a lullaby
The stars are murmuring soothing, calming sounds to help you sleep.
Who knows where you'll fly away
When you fall asleep, you travel to a world of dreams, where anything can happen.
Winging past the light of day
In dreams, you can be transported to a vivid and imaginative world.
The man in the moon and the milky way
Even the sky itself is welcoming you to dreamland, with the man in the moon and the galaxy overhead.
Welcome you to dreamland
All the elements of the universe are inviting you to dream and rest.
Writer(s): Mary Carpenter
Contributed by Maya O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.