The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam’s original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band’s songs, including the hits "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight", "The Eton Rifles", "Going Underground" and "Town Called Malice".
For artists called "Jam", please see http://www.last.fm/music/+noredirect/Jam.
The Dreams of Children
The Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Weeping willows and tall dark building, and
I've caught a fashion from the dreams of children
But woke up sweating to this modern nightmare, and
I was alone, no one was there
I was alone, no one was there
I caught a glimpse from the dreams of children
But woke up to a grey and lonely picture
The streets below left me feeling dirty, and
I was alone, no one was there
I was alone, no one was there
Something's gonna crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
You are going to crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
Something's going to crack up your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
I fell in love with the dreams of children
I saw a vision of all the happy days
I've caught a fashion from the dreams of children
But woke up sweating from this modern nightmare, and
I was alone, no one was there
I was alone, no one was there
Something's gonna crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
Something's going to crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
Something's going to crack up your dreams tonight
You will choke on your dreams tonight
Something's going to crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
Something's going to crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
The Jam's song Dreams of Children presents the contrast between the purity and joy of childhood dreams and the harshness and bleakness of the modern world. The first two stanzas follow the pattern of describing the beauty of the dreams of children and contrasting it with the ugliness of reality. The metaphor of weeping willows and tall dark building may represent the innocence and imagination of children and the frightening and oppressive nature of the adult world. The singer caught a fashion from the dreams of children and felt optimism but was let down by the grey and lonely picture of the streets. The repetition of "I was alone, no one was there" creates a sense of alienation and loss of hope.
The chorus declares that something is going to crack up the dreams tonight and that the singer will crack on their dreams. The repetition of this line emphasizes the uncertainty and vulnerability of the human condition, which can be shattered by the violent and unpredictable forces of life. At the same time, the verb "crack" can suggest a kind of breaking open or breaking free from the constraints of society, which may suggest an element of hope or revolution.
The last stanza introduces the idea of falling in love with the dreams of children and seeing a vision of happy days, which further contrasts with the emptiness and fear of the modern world. However, this hope is quickly crushed by the realization that waking up from the dreams leads to sweating and a "modern nightmare". The final repetition of "You will crack on your dreams tonight" serves as a warning or a prophecy that the singer and the listener must be ready for the inevitable collision of dreams and reality.
Line by Line Meaning
I sat alone with the dreams of children
Alone and lost in thought, pondering what children's dreams are and what they could mean
Weeping willows and tall dark building, and
Imagery description of the dreams that are being contemplated, reminiscent of nature meeting man-made structures
I've caught a fashion from the dreams of children
A sense of style or trend of optimism that was discovered within the children's dreams that has been captured or retained by the singer
But woke up sweating to this modern nightmare, and
Sudden re-entry into the reality of modern times that is dismal, causing the artist to feel disheartened and anxious
I was alone, no one was there
Feelings of isolation and loneliness
I caught a glimpse from the dreams of children
A brief and incomplete perception of the beauty and positivity that resides within the dreams of children
I got a feeling of optimism
The brief perception brought forth a sense of hope and positivity
But woke up to a grey and lonely picture
Returning to reality stripped away the optimism and dreamlike quality from before, leaving behind a dismal and lonely reality
The streets below left me feeling dirty, and
The mundane and grim environment of the city amplifies the artist's negative emotions and makes them feel unclean
Something's gonna crack on your dreams tonight
A premonitory feeling that something will shatter the artist's dreams tonight, causing them to feel broken and dispirited
You will crack on your dreams tonight
A repetitive and foreboding warning of the shattering of the singer's dreams tonight
I fell in love with the dreams of children
A strong admiration and fondness for the pure and genuine desires and aspirations within children's dreams
I saw a vision of all the happy days
A positive image of a future filled with happy and content days that are longed for
Something's going to crack up your dreams tonight
A repeated phrase that instills a sense of dread and forewarning of the fracturing of the singer's aspirations and positive outlook
You will choke on your dreams tonight
A more sinister version of the previous warnings, indicating that the shattering of the singer's dreams will be suffocating and painful
You will crack on your dreams tonight
The haunting repetition of the warning that the artist's dreams will be destroyed and broken
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrismorrison2805
I sat alone with the dreams of children
Weeping willows and tall dark building, and
I've caught a fashion from the dreams of children
But woke up sweating to this modern nightmare, and
I was alone, no one was there
I was alone, no one was there
I caught a glimpse from the dreams of children
I got a feeling of optimism
But woke up to a grey and lonely picture
The streets below left me feeling dirty, and
I was alone, no one was there
I was alone, no one was there
Something's gonna crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
You are going to crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
Something's going to crack up your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
I fell in love with the dreams of children
I saw a vision of all the happy days
I've caught a fashion from the dreams of children
But woke up sweating from this modern nightmare, and
I was alone, no one was there
I was alone, no one was there
Something's gonna crack on your dreams tonight
You will crack on your dreams tonight
PAUL WELLER
@nuwavegurl
This song is infectious. You can't play it only once.
@isaiasbv87
No shit i have the single repeat after repeat i hit that needle on that single ....youtube as well
@stringlarson1247
Very few of their choons are playable once anymore than one can eat a single chip/crisp (dep. of which side of the pond one lives).
@nuwavegurl
@String Larson Agreed. And it's chips for this Yank.
@KOSMICKEN09
Only 38k views in ten years - geez
@ian-yi9mj
I been listening since it came out, still listening 🎶, your right!!
@derekpugh6819
Great song by the best band ever 😎🎸👍🎶
@supertomcat1000
what a genius weller is! loved all their albums too, powerful, dynamic, and vibrant. real feel good music..
@eclectica1
It always bothered me that this didn't get as much recognition amongst many that Going Underground did. This is just as good.
@ladycplum
The Jam at the height of their powers.