A Dream Within a Dream
Tim Graham Lyrics
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And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
The lyrics of Tim Graham's "A Dream Within A Dream" convey the idea of the transience and insubstantiality of life. The kiss on the brow seems to indicate a farewell, suggesting that the singer is leaving someone behind. The singer acknowledges that the listener's perception of their life as a dream is not wrong, as all that we experience is fleeting and fading. Even if hope has vanished, it does not mean that it wasn't real at some point. The repetition of the core idea - that everything we experience is a dream within a dream - serves to emphasize the transience of life.
In the second stanza, the singer is now standing on a shore, holding grains of sand in their hand. The imagery of the surf-tormented shore creates a sense of unease, while the grains of sand slipping through the singer's fingers symbolize the passing of time. The weeping intensifies the mood of sadness and loss. The singer then pleads with God to help them save just one grain of sand from the waves, suggesting that the singer is grappling with the inevitability of the impermanence of life.
Overall, the lyrics of "A Dream Within A Dream" highlight the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of loss. Through vivid imagery and repetition, the song explores the idea that everything we perceive is but a fleeting dream.
Line by Line Meaning
Take this kiss upon the brow!
Accept this expression of my affection.
And, in parting from you now,
As I leave you behind,
Thus much let me avow-
Allow me to make a confession
You are not wrong, who deem
You are correct in believing
That my days have been a dream;
That my life has been like a dream,
Yet if hope has flown away
However, if hope has disappeared
In a night, or in a day,
Whether it happened instantly or gradually,
In a vision, or in none,
Due to an image in mind, or not
Is it therefore the less gone?
Is it any less lost?
All that we see or seem
Everything that we perceive or experience
Is but a dream within a dream.
Is nothing more than a dream inside another dream.
I stand amid the roar
I stand in the middle of a noisy
Of a surf-tormented shore,
Beach with waves crashing onto the shore,
And I hold within my hand
As I hold in my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
Some sand that glitters like gold-
How few! yet how they creep
Although there are few, they are slowly slipping away
Through my fingers to the deep,
Through my fingers and into the ocean depths
While I weep- while I weep!
As I cry- as I cry!
O God! can I not grasp
Oh, God! Can't I catch
Them with a tighter clasp?
These grains with a stronger grip?
O God! can I not save
Oh, God! Can't I rescue
One from the pitiless wave?
One from the merciless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
Is everything we observe or detect
But a dream within a dream?
Just another dream within a dream?
Contributed by Miles V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.