The Misfits disbanded in 1983, and Glenn Danzig went on to form Samhain and then Danzig. Several albums of reissued and previously unreleased material were issued after the group's dissolution, and their music later became influential to punk rock, heavy metal, and alternative rock. After a series of legal battles with Danzig, Only and Doyle regained the rights to record and perform as the Misfits. They formed a new version of the band in 1995 with singer Michale Graves and drummer Dr. Chud. This incarnation of Misfits had more of a heavy metal sound, and released the albums American Psycho (1997) and Famous Monsters (1999) before dissolving in 2000. Jerry Only then took over lead vocals and recruited former Black Flag guitarist Dez Cadena and former Ramones drummer Marky Ramone for a Misfits 25th anniversary tour.
This lineup released an album of cover songs titled Project 1950 and toured for several years. In 2005, Marky was replaced by Robo, who had played with Black Flag in the early 1980s and had also previously been Misfits' drummer from 1982 to 1983. This lineup released a single titled "Land of the Dead" in 2009. The Misfits' lineup of Only, Cadena, and drummer Eric "Chupacabra" Arce released a new album titled The Devil's Rain in October 2011. In 2015, it was announced that Cadena would be taking a break from music after receiving a cancer diagnosis, and was replaced by Only's son Jerry Caiafa II, presented as Jerry Other. That same year Soulfly's Marc Rizzo joined the band, also playing guitar. He filled in for Cadena, before Caiafa would move on to become the sole guitarist for the band.
In September 2016, for the first time in 33 years, Danzig, Only, and Doyle reunited for two headlining shows as the Original Misfits at that year's edition of Riot Fest, along with drummer Dave Lombardo and second guitarist Acey Slade. The Original Misfits lineup continued performing sporadically through 2019.
Each incarnation of the Misfits has made use of horror film and science fiction film-inspired themes and imagery, with makeup, clothing, artwork, and lyrics drawn from B movies and television serials, many from the 1950s through 1970s. Musically the band are often recognized as progenitors of the horror punk and psychobilly subgenres and have drawn from punk rock, heavy metal, and 1950s rock and roll and rockabilly to inform their style. Rolling Stone describes them as "the archetypal horror-punk band of the late 1970s and early '80s", and they are considered icons in punk music and culture.
Dream Lover
Misfits Lyrics
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A dream lover will come my way
A girl to hold in my arms
And know the magic of her charms
'Cause I want
A girl
To call
My own
So I don't have to dream alone
Dream lover, where are you
With a love, oh, so true
And the hand that I can hold
To feel you near as I grow old
'Cause I want
A girl
To call
My own
I want a dream lover
So I don't have to dream alone
Someday, I don't know how
I hope she'll hear my plea
Some way, I don't know how
She'll bring her love to me
Dream lover, until then
I'll go to sleep and dream again
That's the only thing to do
Till all my lover's dreams come true
'Cause I want
A girl
To call
My own
I want a dream lover
So I don't have to dream alone
Dream lover, until then
I'll go to sleep and dream again
That's the only thing to do
Till all my lover's dreams come true
'Cause I want
A girl
To call
My own
I want a dream lover
So I don't have to dream alone
Please don't make me dream alone
I beg you don't make me dream alone
No, I don't wanna dream
The song "Dream Lover" by Misfits is a classic love song that expresses the singer's longing for a romantic partner. The lyrics describe the singer's desire for a dream lover who can fulfill all of their hopes and desires. The song begins with the singer expressing their nightly hope for a dream lover who can finally bring them the love and companionship they crave. They long for a girl to hold in their arms and experience the magic of her charms. The repeated refrain of "I want a dream lover so I don't have to dream alone" emphasizes the singer's loneliness and their desire for a loving partner.
The second verse of the song highlights the singer's longing for a specific kind of lover, one with a love that is true and a hand they can hold as they grow old. The refrain continues to underscore the singer's desire for a committed and loving relationship. The final verse expresses the singer's hope that their dream lover will somehow hear their plea and bring their love to the singer. Until then, the singer must continue to dream and hope for love.
Overall, "Dream Lover" is a tender and poignant love song that captures the universal desire for companionship and love. It's a song that many people can relate to, as it speaks to the common desire for a soulmate or life partner. Misfits has created a timeless classic that will continue to resonate with listeners for years to come.
Line by Line Meaning
Every night I hope and pray
The singer eagerly anticipates finding a romantic partner.
A dream lover will come my way
The singer wishes that a perfect partner would appear in their life.
A girl to hold in my arms
The singer seeks physical intimacy with their partner.
And know the magic of her charms
The singer wants to experience the thrill of being around their partner.
'Cause I want
The singer explains their motivation for seeking a dream lover.
A girl
The singer is looking for a female partner.
To call
The singer wants to have a committed, exclusive relationship.
My own
The singer desires a partner to belong to them.
I want a dream lover
The singer desires a perfect romantic partner.
So I don't have to dream alone
The singer wants to avoid loneliness by having a partner in their life.
Dream lover, where are you
The singer is calling out to their dream lover who has not yet appeared in their life.
With a love, oh, so true
The singer seeks a partner who will love them deeply and sincerely.
And the hand that I can hold
The singer wants to feel physically connected to their partner.
To feel you near as I grow old
The singer desires a lifelong partnership with their dream lover.
Someday, I don't know how
The singer is hopeful but uncertain about finding their dream lover.
I hope she'll hear my plea
The singer hopes their dream lover will appear in their life soon.
Some way, I don't know how
The singer acknowledges that they do not know how their dream lover will find them.
She'll bring her love to me
The singer hopes their dream lover will give them love and affection.
Dream lover, until then
The singer is still waiting for their perfect romantic partner.
I'll go to sleep and dream again
The singer will keep dreaming about their dream lover until they find them.
That's the only thing to do
The singer feels helpless and can only continue dreaming and waiting.
Till all my lover's dreams come true
The singer hopes that they and their dream lover can achieve their shared dreams together.
Please don't make me dream alone
The singer is lonely and wishes to have a dream lover to share their life with.
I beg you don't make me dream alone
The singer is desperate for companionship and love.
No, I don't wanna dream
The singer is tired of dreaming and wants to find their dream lover in reality.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: Bobby Darin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind