The Beau Brummels were an American rock band, formed in San Francisco in 19… Read Full Bio ↴The Beau Brummels were an American rock band, formed in San Francisco in 1964. The band's original lineup included Sal Valentino (lead vocals), Ron Elliott (lead guitar and main songwriter), Ron Meagher (bass guitar), Declan Mulligan (rhythm guitar, bass, harmonica), and John Petersen (drums). The Beau Brummels were discovered by Autumn Records, where Sylvester Stewart—later known as Sly Stone—produced the group's early recording sessions. Initially, the band's musical style blended beat music and folk music, and has been described as early and influential folk rock. Much like their contemporaries, The Byrds, their early music drew comparisons to the Beatles. Their later work incorporated other music genres such as psychedelic rock and country rock.

The Beau Brummels broke into the mainstream with their debut single, "Laugh, Laugh", for which they would later be credited for setting the aesthetic foundation for the San Francisco Sound. The band's popularity continued with the subsequent album, 1965's Introducing the Beau Brummels, and the Top 10 single "Just a Little". The group's commercial success declined by the following year, at which time the financially struggling Autumn label was acquired by Warner Bros. Records. After recording an album of cover songs, Beau Brummels '66, the band released a pair of critically acclaimed albums: Triangle in 1967 and Bradley's Barn in 1968.

The band underwent several personnel changes, beginning with Mulligan's departure in 1965. Guitarist Don Irving joined the band in late 1965 when Elliott began to suffer seizures resulting from a diabetic condition, leaving him unable to tour with the band. Shortly after the release of Beau Brummels '66, Irving left the group when he was inducted into the armed forces. Petersen left to join Harpers Bizarre, reducing the Beau Brummels to a trio for the recording of Triangle. Meagher was drafted for military service in 1968, leaving Valentino and Elliott as the only remaining band members. The duo worked with prominent Nashville session musicians to record Bradley's Barn before parting ways in 1969 to focus on solo material and participate in projects by other artists. The five original Beau Brummels reformed in 1974, and the band released an eponymous album the following year.

Only Dreaming Now
The Beau Brummels Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some time long ago
There lived a gypsy I loved so
She danced around my head
Above my bed
Like no other I had known
I remember taking with her smile
The magic sweetness of a child
A wonderous warmth of love in her gentle giving

Oh, am I dreaming now?

I can feel her dancing
Dancing in the memory of when I saw her crying
Crying cos our hearts weren't lying and
We are only dreaming now

The days of sunshine in the air
The nights not lonely we were gave
To share an onlyness that to be in love could find
To get her fair
So happy dancing on our way
Sometimes she'd stop and she would say
"Oh how I love you so, is this so
Tell me, am I dreaming now?"

I can feel her dancing
Dancing in the memory of when I saw her crying

Crying cos our hearts weren't lying and
We are only dreaming now

Overall Meaning

The Beau Brummels's song Only dreaming Now is a beautiful, melancholic love ballad that explores the theme of lost love and the power of memories. The song is narrated from the perspective of someone who is reminiscing about a past lover, a gypsy girl, who used to dance around his head and fill his life with warmth and sweetness. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia, as the singer recalls the happy times they shared together, the days of sunshine in the air, and the nights not lonely, spent in each other's company.

However, as the song progresses, the tone shifts, and the singer acknowledges that those memories are now just dreams, as the relationship has ended, and the two lovers have gone their separate ways. The lyrics convey a deep sense of longing and sadness, as the singer tries to hold on to the magic of that past love and the fleeting moments of happiness they once shared. The repeated refrain "am I dreaming now?" highlights the dreamlike quality of those memories and the uncertainty of whether they were real or just a figment of the singer's imagination.

Line by Line Meaning

Some time long ago
Once, a very long time ago

There lived a gypsy I loved so
There was a gypsy woman that I loved deeply

She danced around my head
Her image lingered in my mind

Above my bed
As I lay in bed, she seemed to float above me

Like no other I had known
She was completely unique and special to me

I remember taking with her smile
I distinctly remember the joy her smile brought me

The magic sweetness of a child
It was a pure and innocent affection, like that of a child

A wonderous warmth of love in her gentle giving
She had a way of expressing love that made me feel warm and special

Oh, am I dreaming now?
I question if this memory is real or just a dream

I can feel her dancing
Even now, I can sense her dancing in my mind

Dancing in the memory of when I saw her crying
I recall seeing her cry in the past, and it adds to the emotion of the memory