Compared to Southern rock pioneers and label-mates The Allman Brothers Band, Marshall Tucker had a more country and western feel, with the flute being a key lead instrument in their sound. "Can't You See", "Fire on the Mountain", and "This Ol' Cowboy" are among their songs that received appreciable FM radio airplay, while "Heard It in a Love Song" made it to #14 as a single on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.
Original bassist Tommy Caldwell died in a car crash on April 28, 1980. His brother, guitarist Toy Caldwell, died of respiratory failure on February 25, 1993.
There was no band member named "Marshall Tucker". Originally, the band called itself The Toy Factory (named after lead-guitarist Toy Caldwell). But by the time the band released its first album they had become the Marshall Tucker Band. During a radio interview in Hempstead, NY in 1973, Tommy Caldwell explained the origins of the band's name:
"There's an old blind dude [in Spartanburg, SC] that tunes pianos, and his name is Marshall Tucker... We didn't name the band after him, but we just kind of liked that name and stuck with it."
Dream Lover
The Marshall Tucker Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Jerry Eubanks, George McCorkle)
Was a time when friends of mine said
Love was just a game
Find a girl and give her a whirl, then
Move on, all the same
Always searching for this one
The dream to be my lover
And the dream she'd give me a son
I've searched this whole world over
'Bout a hundred times or more
Always looking for a girl I could love
Forever more
Dream lady, sexy Sadie, oh, I've dreamed
All my life of you
Dream lover, there's no other, oh girl
You could make all my dreams come true
CHORUS
Dream lover, oh, where are you?
If I could find you I'd love you true
Dream lover you're in my mind
Oh, lord, why does love have to be so unkind?
But I found a girl with loving
One to share my hopes and dreams
A friend to stand beside me
And the lover of my dreams
CHORUS
The Marshall Tucker Band's Dream Lover is a ballad that reflects on the search for a true love, a partner who can make all the dreams come true. The lyrics are expressive of the journey of finding the right person, someone who can be a lover, a friend, and a companion for life. Amidst the societal norm of treating love as just a game, the singer of the song is shown to have a different perspective towards it. He is not someone who would just move on from one person to another, but someone who has always been in search of a particular dream lover. The mention of the dream lover being someone who could give him a son hints at a desire to build a family, to find a love that is strong enough to sustain and nurture.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Dream lover" multiple times, emphasizing the importance and the value that the singer places on finding someone who can be that dream lover. The song also speaks to the frustration of not being able to find that person, asking the question, "Dream lover, oh, where are you?" The portrayal of love as being unkind further adds to the idea that finding a companion can be a difficult journey. However, in the end, the singer finds someone who can be all those things - the lover, the friend, and the companion. The song ends on a positive note, where the search for the dream lover is finally over.
Line by Line Meaning
Was a time when friends of mine said
During a past moment, some of my peers suggested that love is a trivial activity that one should engage in for pleasure.
Love was just a game
My friends claimed that love is similar to playing games, where one finds a romantic partner, engages in a romantic relationship for a short period, and then moves on to another.
Find a girl and give her a whirl, then
According to my friends, a man can locate a girl, engage in a romantic relationship on a trial basis and, thereafter, move on to another lady.
Move on, all the same
Regardless of how good a romantic relationship appears at face value, my buddies contend that fulfilling romantic relationships are hard to come by, and it is typical to move on from a love relationship.
But I was never happy
That advice never worked for me because I always felt unfulfilled and untroubled in love relationships.
Always searching for this one
I was perpetually questing for that one ultimate, fulfilling romantic involvement.
The dream to be my lover
I wanted a romantic partner who would fulfill my amorous and emotional needs and with who I could have an excellent romantic relationship.
And the dream she'd give me a son
Having a child is an important dream, and I hoped that I would find a romantic partner with whom I could have a son.
I've searched this whole world over
I've searched far and wide across the planet earth, with no luck in finding that fulfilling romantic relationship.
'Bout a hundred times or more
I've searched a large number of times without success.
Always looking for a girl I could love
My search revolved around finding that girl who would resonate with my personality and emotional needs and who I would genuinely love.
Forever more
My quest for a fulfilling romantic partner would never cease.
Dream lady, sexy Sadie, oh, I've dreamed
I have virtually dreamt of various romantic partners in the past, including fictitious romantic partners, but I have not met that one that I'd like to be with forever.
All my life of you
I have thought of finding that special person all through my life.
Dream lover, there's no other, oh girl
I'm very fixated on meeting that one romantic partner and there is no one else I'd rather settle down with than her.
You could make all my dreams come true
Meeting and being together with that special someone would be the realization of all my dreams.
Dream lover, oh, where are you?
In desperation, I preach out to my dream lover to reveal herself to me.
If I could find you I'd love you true
Once I find my dream lover, I vow to love her wholeheartedly.
Dream lover you're in my mind
My dream of finding that special someone is consistently on my mind.
Oh, lord, why does love have to be so unkind?
I'm marred by the disappointing romantic relationships I've had over time and I'm saddened by how unkind love can be sometimes, by the hurtful experiences that one may encounter in a romantic relationship.
But I found a girl with loving
In my search for love, I finally met a girl who genuinely loves me.
One to share my hopes and dreams
She's someone who is willing to share my aspirations and work towards achieving them together.
A friend to stand beside me
More than just a romantic partner, she is someone who is also my friend and our bond is much more profound than just love.
And the lover of my dreams
She's the embodiment of all my fantasies, and practically the lover of my dreams.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: GEORGE MCCORKLE, JERRY EUBANKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
austin thompson
I absolutely love mtb my father taught me all of the best music ... so proud ... much love for all .... funnny thing is on the radio all you hear is heard it in a love song or cant you see like cmon tucker has it all in my book ... so deep
joan Jett
Love this band ... my HOME GROWN Spartanburg boys ...❤️❤️🖤🖤🌈
Jana Remer
doug gray and his band are great group of guys....love the doug hugs i got on rock legends cruises with em ...yal keep it rockin love yal