Nobodies' Dream
The Ex Lyrics
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Flea's dream is to buy a dog
And the nobodies' dream is to escape
From destiny, from history
And the nobodies dream that one day, suddenly, miraculously
Fortune it will rain, fortune it will pour, but fortune doesn't rain
Not yesterday, tomorrow or today
And not even in a dizzle does fortune drop from the skies
However loud the nobodies' cry
Even when their left hand itches and they get out of bed on the right side or start the new year with a new broom
Fortune doesn't rain
The nobodie's dream is to escape
Cos they're nobody's children, owners of nothing
Who die their life, who miss their hold, the displaced, the denied, the doomed, the damned
Who don't actually exist
Who have no language, but dialect
No religion, but superstition
No art, but handiworks
No culture, but folklore
Who are not human being, but human ressources
Bodies who cost less than the bullet to kill them
Who have no face, but hands
Who have no name, but numbers
Who are no part of history, but miscellaneous news
In the local press
A flea's dream is to buy a dog
And the nobodies' dream is to escape
From destiny, from history
And the nobodies dream that one day, suddenly, miraculously
Fortune it will rain, fortune it will pour, but fortune doesn't rain
Not yesterday, tomorrow or today
The lyrics to The Ex's song Nobodies' Dream, based on a text by Eduardo Galeano, speak about the desires of those who are oppressed and marginalized in society. The song juxtaposes the simple, innocent desire of a flea to buy a dog with the impossible dream of the nobodies to escape their fate. The nobodies, who are described as "nobody's children, owners of nothing," are those who are denied their humanity and their place in society. They are forced to live a life without agency, without a voice, without a name, and without any hope of happiness or fulfillment. The song highlights how fortune, luck, and justice are not evenly distributed in society, and that the nobodies are left with nothing but a dream that will never come true.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the nobodies' existence, describing their lack of language, religion, art, culture, and humanity. They are reduced to being nothing more than expendable human resources, bodies that are worth no more than the bullet that kills them. The song is a poignant commentary on the injustice and inequality that exists in our world, and the desperate longing for a better life that is shared by so many.
Line by Line Meaning
Flea's dream is to buy a dog
Everyone has dreams, even the smallest creatures like a flea, but this is not the same as the nobodies' dream.
And the nobodies' dream is to escape
From destiny, from history
The nobodies' dream is to escape their current reality, one that seems predetermined and shaped by history.
And the nobodies dream that one day, suddenly, miraculously
Fortune it will rain, fortune it will pour, but fortune doesn't rain
Not yesterday, tomorrow or today
The nobodies hope that they will get lucky and break free from their situation, but the reality is that fortune is not something that can be counted on.
However loud the nobodies' cry
Even when their left hand itches and they get out of bed on the right side or start the new year with a new broom
Fortune doesn't rain
Even if the nobodies try everything they can think of to bring about good luck, they will still find that fortune does not come.
Cos they're nobody's children, owners of nothing
Who die their life, who miss their hold, the displaced, the denied, the doomed, the damned
Who don't actually exist
The nobodies are people who are forgotten and ignored by society, often without any hope for improvement.
Who have no language, but dialect
No religion, but superstition
No art, but handiworks
No culture, but folklore
Who are not human being, but human ressources
Bodies who cost less than the bullet to kill them
Who have no face, but hands
Who have no name, but numbers
Who are no part of history, but miscellaneous news
In the local press
The nobodies are dehumanized and reduced to being mere objects or commodities without any value or significance beyond their usefulness to those in power.
Writer(s): eduardo galeano
Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.