Herdman attended the University of Iowa, finishing her studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. While working in the fashion industry, she began to play in the coffeehouses of Greenwich Village and the church basements of the Upper West Side, and toured in Europe. In 1976, she moved to Philadelphia and decided to become a professional singer.
Her first album, The Water Lily, was released in 1977, on the Philo label. In 1980, her second album, Forgotten Dreams, consisting mainly of covers of songs by contemporary North American songwriters, was released on the Flying Fish label. In 1982, Herdman left Philadelphia and moved to the small rural community of Pine Plains, New York, where she met her husband, Dick Hermans. In 1983 she released her third album, Seasons of Change. To date, Herdman has released 12 albums, including two as Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills & Cindy Mangsen.
Dreamcatcher
Priscilla Herdman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Read my books and followed rules
I played at recess really hard
I came back home and raked the yard
I had a snack and watched T.V.
My little sister watched with me but nows the time I like the best
I give myself a little rest
Let my hand drop in the water and catch a dream
My daydreams take me anywhere I want to be
I carry them inside of me
I could be a fairy in the trees, flying on the silver breeze
My fairy wings would fly me home I'll sit upon a flower thrown
I can be a captain of a ship and take my sister for a trip
With laughing dolphins at our side and mermaids dancing on the tide
I'll sit down in my favorite chair and float downstream
Let my hand drop in the water and catch a dream
My daydreams take me anywhere I want to be
I carry them inside of me
And if the rain comes falling down I won't fuss or even frown
So many things I have to do, so many places to go to
I'll be a farmer at my work and watch the rain fall on the dirt
My grandmas quilt can be the fields, til momma calls me to my meal
I'll sit down in my favorite chair and float downstream
Let my hand drop in the water and catch a dream
My daydreams take me anywhere I want to be
I carry them inside of me
And no matter how grown up I get, I won't stop dreaming you can bet
It's just too much a part of me to think of how'll it ought to be
And if all the people in the world men and women,
Boys and girls could close their eyes and
Dream of peace, I think we'd find it in our reach.
I'll sit down in my favorite chair and float downstream
Let my hand drop in the water and catch a dream
My daydreams take me anywhere I want to be
I carry them inside of me
Yes I carry them inside of me
The song "Dreamcatcher" by Priscilla Herdman tells the story of a young girl who lives a normal childhood. She goes to school, plays at recess, and helps with chores at home. She even takes time to watch television with her little sister. However, her favorite part of the day is when she can sit down in her favorite chair and let her imagination run wild. She "float[s] downstream" and catches her dreams, which take her to different places and allow her to be anything she wants to be. The girl's daydreams take her on exciting adventures, like flying with fairy wings or sailing with dolphins, and she carries them with her always.
But the song is more than just a story about a child's imagination. It also has a deeper message about the power of dreams. Even as the girl grows up, she says she will never stop dreaming because it is "just too much a part of me to think of how'll it ought to be." She believes that if everyone in the world could close their eyes and dream of peace, it would be within our reach. The girl's dreams show her that anything is possible, and so she carries them with her always.
In summary, "Dreamcatcher" is a song about the importance of imagination and dreaming. It tells the story of a child who lets her dreams take her on exciting adventures and emphasizes the idea that dreams can take us anywhere we want to go. But it also has a deeper message about the power of dreams to bring us together and create a more peaceful world.
Line by Line Meaning
I got up today and went to school
Started the day with the routine of going to school
Read my books and followed rules
Spent the day learning and following rules
I played at recess really hard
Had an energetic and fun time during recess
I came back home and raked the yard
Helped with chores by raking the yard
I had a snack and watched T.V.
Relaxed and enjoyed a snack while watching television
My little sister watched with me but nows the time I like the best
Enjoyed spending time with younger sibling but now is the time to unwind
I give myself a little rest
Gave permission to take a break and rest
I'll sit down in my favorite chair and float downstream
Will sit in comfortable place and relax
Let my hand drop in the water and catch a dream
Imagining and dreaming of something to come
My daydreams take me anywhere I want to be
Imagining oneself in different settings, situations or experiences
I carry them inside of me
The imagination and dreams are an integral part of oneself
I could be a fairy in the trees, flying on the silver breeze
Imagining oneself as a magical being enjoying nature
My fairy wings would fly me home I'll sit upon a flower thrown
Returning to a comforting and beautiful place
I can be a captain of a ship and take my sister for a trip
Imagining oneself as a leader and sharing the experience with loved ones
With laughing dolphins at our side and mermaids dancing on the tide
Imagining an idyllic and magical ocean setting
And if the rain comes falling down I won't fuss or even frown
Being content during life experiences that cannot be controlled
So many things I have to do, so many places to go to
Recognizing the demands and opportunities of life
I'll be a farmer at my work and watch the rain fall on the dirt
Imagining oneself in a peaceful and fulfilling occupation
My grandmas quilt can be the fields, til momma calls me to my meal
Bringing a sense of tradition and family into the imagination
And no matter how grown up I get, I won't stop dreaming you can bet
Maintaining the vitality and importance of imagination throughout life
It's just too much a part of me to think of how'll it ought to be
Recognizing that imagination is an essential part of oneself without any need to justify it
And if all the people in the world men and women, Boys and girls could close their eyes and Dream of peace, I think we'd find it in our reach.
Believing that peace is achievable if everyone imagines and strives for it
Yes I carry them inside of me
Reiterating that imagination and dreams are a part of oneself
Writer(s): Jones Jeffrey Charles
Contributed by Andrew D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.