All three members of the band remain active recording musicians, each with their own careers. They are said to have reunited on a forthcoming album, "Angels and Fools", by Gilbert's new band, The Excellent Staircase (formally The Believers); on the track "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want", a cover of the song by The Smiths.
Gaby Says
The Dream Academy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Follow her eyes and follow her down
Over the grey horizon
That winter
I was the lucky one
I would keep up
And she would run
Wherever the wind was running
And it's cold out
All the boats are moored out
Gaby says
They're all bound
For where she wants to stay
And there's a boat out
And when it leaves the harbour
The angel on your shoulder falls down
In the rain
We move around misunderstood
Out of a crown like lovers would
Wherever the wind was running
All broken up for one so tough
Hating romance
And who needs love
Only for reassurance
And it's dark out
All the streets are quiet now
Gaby says
They're all out
To hold you in the end
And if you've got one dream
Shouldn't it be realised
'Cause if it's only inside
It starts to drag you down
It drags you down
Hearing the bells strike down the hours
Striking the broken hearts and flowers
Out of a world of indifference
And I tried to say
When things got worse
You'd be taken up
And be put first
Over the grey horizon
And it's cold out
It's quiet out
And there's a bird out
And if you've got one dream
Shouldn't it be realised
'Cause if it's always inside
It starts to drag you down
It drags you down
It drags you
Oh who needs love
When in doubt
Love
The Dream Academy's song Gaby Says is a melancholic reflection upon a woman named Gaby who captures the attention of all the boys in her small town. The singer, who describes himself as "lucky" to have kept up with her, recalls how Gaby would "run wherever the wind was running". However, the singer hints at a sense of unrequited love, as Gaby is described as "broken up for one so tough" and "hating romance".
As the song progresses, the scene darkens, with the streets becoming quieter and the singer approaching Gaby with a message of hope. He tells her that if she has a dream, she should pursue it, because if she keeps it bottled up inside of her, it will eventually "drag you down". The song ends with the somber image of "broken hearts and flowers" as the bells strike down the hours.
Overall, Gaby Says is a poetic meditation on the fleeting nature of love and the struggle to pursue one's dreams in the midst of indifference and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
All of the boys in this small town
Every guy in this town
Follow her eyes and follow her down
Is attracted to and follows wherever she goes
Over the grey horizon
Across the distant, cloudy horizon
That winter
During that particular winter season
I was the lucky one
I felt fortunate enough
I would keep up
I would try my best to keep pace with her
And she would run
She moved quickly and freely
Wherever the wind was running
To wherever the wind was blowing
And it's cold out
The weather is chilly
All the boats are moored out
All the boats are docked and secured
Gaby says
Gaby declares
They're all bound
They're all destined
For where she wants to stay
To where she wants to go
And there's a boat out
And there's a boat sailing away
And when it leaves the harbour
And when it departs from the harbor
The angel on your shoulder falls down
The feeling of comfort you once had vanishes
In the rain
During a rainy period
We move around misunderstood
We tend to be misinterpreted by everyone
Out of a crown like lovers would
Amongst a crowd like lovers do
Wherever the wind was running
To wherever the wind blew
All broken up for one so tough
All shattered up while being so strong
Hating romance
Not fond of romance
And who needs love
And who requires love?
Only for reassurance
Only for morale support
And it's dark out
The ambiance is gloomy
All the streets are quiet now
All the roads are silent
Gaby says
Gaby mentions
They're all out
Everyone is out there
To hold you in the end
To catch you in the end
And if you've got one dream
And if you have a single objective
Shouldn't it be realised
Shouldn't it be achieved
'Cause if it's only inside
Because if it's just inside you
It starts to drag you down
It starts to pull you down in the dumps
It drags you down
It tugs you down
Hearing the bells strike down the hours
Hearing the bell tolls marking the passage of hours
Striking the broken hearts and flowers
Marking the sad times of heartbreak and loss
Out of a world of indifference
Emerging from a world indifferent to our emotions
And I tried to say
And I attempted to communicate
When things got worse
When the situation became critical
You'd be taken up
You would be lifted up
And be put first
And be given priority
Over the grey horizon
Beyond the distant, cloudy horizon
And there's a bird out
A bird is out there
Oh who needs love
Oh, who needs love anyway
When in doubt
When you are uncertain
Love
Love in general
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICK LAIRD-CLOWES, GILBERT GABRIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TruBryan
Nick Laird Clowes was one of the most elite charismatic, charming unstables ever.... Just an Epic Genius with Huge Inner Demons along the lines of Curt Cobain
Cunty McCuntface
Why have I never heard this album? It's bloody lovely. Gonna get a CD copy and play it LOUD on my big-wattage car system (4500 watts 👍😁). Where have this band been all my life?!
Mindset Mom
It was my favorite track on the album too. When his voice breaks-gets me everytime. Listened to this more than 20 years ago lol!
Miguelbarros nilson
cara fiquei muito feliz quando eu fui procurar algumas músicas numa novela e achei a música love do dream academy. parabéns este disco foi de 1987 eu tinha acabado de chegar em São Paulo e fui numa loja de disco e comprei este disco deles
Gaby George
I’m so happy that there’s a song out there about a character who spells her name like mine!
Mario Moreno
This song is simply beautiful ❤️😍❤️❤️❤️
MICHAEL LOBB
Great track by a great band from the best time in music
BRUCE DICKINSON
Awesome music! love it! Beautiful! genius! Thanks Dream Academy!
Kelsey Cooper
my all-time fav Dream Academy tune -- thanks!!!
Mario Moreno
Amazing!!!!