Frequent releases during the mid-60s included many cover versions of popular songs, as well as a few group-penned hits and many songs written especially for them by professional songwriters.
The Hollies were formed in 1962 in Lancashire, England. By 1965,the group had been established as one of Britain's pre-eminent singles bands. As part of the British Invasion, they enjoyed huge chart success in many countries in the mid-Sixties, releasing a string of classic harmony-pop hits including Bus Stop I'm Alive, a UK No. 1, I Can't Let Go, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne, On A Carousel, Look Through Any Window, and Jennifer Eccles.
In 1972, the hit Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reached #2 in the US. Their last mega hit was He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, hitting #1 in the UK in 1988 (albeit 19 years after its first release).
The band are noted for their longevity, with their 2006 tour chalking up 45 years. Despite numerous changes in line-up, Tony Hicks & Bobby Elliott have been with the band almost from its inception.
Lead singer Allan Clarke left The Hollies in 1971, though he rejoined the band at later times. He was eventually replaced by Carl Wayne, ex lead singer of The Move, who passed away in 2004. Wayne was replaced by Peter Howarth. The 2007 line up is, Ian Parker on keyboards, Ray Stiles (Ex Mud, remember 'Tiger Feet') on bass guitar and Alan Coates on guitar and vocals by Steve Lauri.
Original bass player Eric Haydock died in January 2018.
The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2010.
Allan Clarke (vocals, 1962-71, 1973-99), Graham Nash (guitar, vocals, 1962-68, 1983), Eric Haydock (bass, 1962-66), Vick Farrell (guitar, 1962), Don Rathbone (drums, 1962-63), Tony Hicks (guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals, 1963-present), Bobby Elliott (drums, percussion, 1963-present), Bernie Calvert (bass, 1966-81), Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals, 1969-81), Mikael Rickfors (vocals, 1971-73), Denis Haines (bass, 1981-86), Alan Coates (guitar, 1981-2004), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals, 1986-present), Ian Parker (keyboards, vocals, 1991-present), Carl Wayne (vocals, 2000-04), Peter Howarth (vocals, acoustic guitar, 2004-present), Steve Lauri (guitar, vocals, 2004-present)
I Had a Dream
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were so near to me
but when I woke you were gone
when I woke you were gone
Thinking of you
being so far away
I guess I got memories
When I am alone I feel your golden hair
Skyline of silver-blue
Trying to find words to pacify
my feelings of loneliness for you
(Repeat)
I had a dream
You are so near to me
but when I wake you are gone
when I wake you are gone
when I wake you are gone
The Hollies’ song ‘I Had A Dream’ is a poignant ballad about missing someone deeply. The lyrics begin with the singer expressing how he had a dream where the person he misses was so close to him, but when he woke up, they were gone. The song progresses with the singer reminiscing and thinking about this person, unable to escape the memories of their time together. The middle section of the song is particularly moving, with the singer attempting to describe the physical presence of the person he misses; he can feel her golden hair and sees a “skyline of silver-blue”. However, he is left feeling lonely and struggling to articulate how he feels.
The song’s lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and a longing for someone who is no longer present. The dream-like quality of the song gives it a slightly wistful, otherworldly feel, as if the singer is stuck between reality and memory. The repetition of certain phrases also adds to this quality and emphasises how integral the person he misses is to his thoughts and feelings.
Overall, ‘I Had A Dream’ is a beautifully written and performed song about missing someone deeply. The Hollies’ knack for creating catchy melodies and emotive lyrics is evident in this song, and it remains a classic example of their work.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream
The singer is referring to a dream they had that felt very real.
You were so near to me
The person the singer is dreaming of felt very close and intimate to them.
but when I woke you were gone
The dream ended and the person the singer was dreaming of disappeared, leaving the singer feeling alone.
when I woke you were gone
The artist emphasizes their feeling of loss upon waking up from the dream.
Thinking of you
The artist is reflecting on the memory of the person they were dreaming of.
being so far away
The person the singer is thinking of in the present moment is physically distant from them.
I guess I got memories
The singer realizes that memories of the person they were dreaming of are what they have left now.
When I am alone I feel your golden hair
The artist has a strong memory of the physical appearance of the person they dreamt of and it brings them comfort when they are by themselves.
Skyline of silver-blue
The artist is using descriptive imagery to paint a picture of the environment around them and how it makes them feel.
Trying to find words to pacify
The artist is struggling to find ways to console themselves from their feelings of loneliness.
my feelings of loneliness for you
The singer is specifically lonely for the person they dreamt of and it is a strong emotion that they are struggling to deal with.
I had a dream
The artist repeats the first line of the song to emphasize the impact the dream had on them.
You are so near to me
The singer repeats the second line to remind themselves of the intimacy they experienced in the dream.
but when I wake you are gone
The singer repeats the third and fourth lines to remind themselves of the loss they felt upon waking up from the dream.
when I wake you are gone
The singer repeats the fourth line again to further emphasize their feelings of loss.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TERRY SYLVESTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Carrie Anne
A nice and catchy song by The Hollies.
Philip Kassabian
on Bus Stop
Yet another great Hollies song.
Philip Kassabian
on Stop Stop Stop
One of the best bands from the 60's no doubt.