He was most famous for his rendition of Tip-toe Thru The Tulips With Me a No. 17 chart hit in 1968 that was delivered in his distinctive high falsetto. He became well known via numerous and highly rated appearances on television including Johnny Carson and Laugh-In. On December 17, 1969, 45 million viewers watched Tiny Tim get married on NBC TV via an appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show program. He was widely known, but generally thought of as a novelty act, and was not taken very seriously, although his records displayed a wide and serious forensic knowledge of early American stage songs.
Growing up with the squeaky clean entertainment choices of the 1930's and 40's, Herbert preferred the romantic crooners of the late- 19th and early-20th centuries and cinematic singers like Bing Crosby and Rudy Valee were amongst his early favorites.
After stints in the Greenwich Village folkscene of the 1950's and 60's billed as Vern Castle, Larry Love, Darry Dover and Emmett Swink, Khaury eventually settled on the name Tiny Tim. He doffed white facial powder makeup, and utilized a ukulele and songs that only a true American musical archivist would know. Despite some amateur demo acetates, his first professional recordings were with producer Richard Perry for the Blue Cat in 1966. Refusing to be deterred despite many years of setbacks in the notoriously tough New York show biz world, Tiny Tim earned a regular gig at a hip club called The Scene, and was soon signed by Mo Ostin to Warner Brothers subsidiary Reprise, then also the home of Frank Sinatra, and his daughter Nancy.
His 1970's label VicTim failed as a business venture, and he once told an interviewer that his next label Toilet Records was so-named "because that's where my career went." By 1978, the public's taste had soured on his act and Johnny Carson refused to book Tiny Tim anymore. However bleak the financial picture appeared, Tiny Tim refused to relent whatever spotlite remained for him, and toured constantly. through the 80's and 90's appearing at punk rock and gay nightclubs, making numerous solo recordings and some with the Texas-based polka band Brave Combo.
He died on November 30, 1996, after a heart attack while performing onstage at a benefit for the Woman's Club of Minneapolis. He was buried with his ukulele.
Welcome to My Dream
Tiny Tim Lyrics
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And how are you?
Will you be here long?
Or just passing through?
Brush off that stardust
Where have you been?
Don't tell me my rainbow
Welcome to my dream
It now seems real
You're what it needed
To make it ideal
So glad you got here
And I hope you can stay
But welcome to my dream
Anyway
The lyrics to Tiny Tim's Welcome to My Dream are inviting and friendly in tone, inviting listeners to join him in his dream world. He asks how the listener is and whether they plan to stay for long or just passing through. The imagery of stardust and rainbow add to the dream-like quality of the song. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the presence of the listener in Tiny Tim's dream is seen as essential to making the dream ideal. He expresses his happiness that the listener has arrived and hopes that they can stay, but ultimately welcomes them to his dream world regardless of how long they can stay.
The song is indicative of Tiny Tim's style, which often mixed elements of old-timey music with dreamy and psychedelic undertones. The lyrics can be interpreted as a gentle and beautiful invitation to escapism, and the song does an excellent job of painting vivid images for the listener. The general sentiment of wanting to share one's dreams with others is relatable, and the song's melody and tone are uplifting and soothing. It's a reminder of the power of the imagination and how it can be harnessed to make the world a better and more beautiful place.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to my dream
Come join me in my vision of the world, let us see how far our imagination can take us!
And how are you?
How are you feeling today? What emotions are you bringing to this dream?
Will you be here long?
Do you plan to stick around for a while? Enjoy the ride and see where this dream takes us?
Or just passing through?
Are you just a fleeting thought, a temporary character in my dream?
Brush off that stardust
Wipe away any negativity or dust that may have accumulated on your journey, and be ready to embrace the magic of this dream!
Where have you been?
What experiences have shaped you, and brought you to my dream?
Don't tell me my rainbow
Do not ruin the good vibes by telling me something negative, like my rainbow was delayed in arriving to my dream.
Was late getting in
Your arrival was untimely, and could have threatened the positivity of my dream, but you are welcomed regardless.
It now seems real
The hope and optimism of my dream feels more tangible and meaningful now that you are here to share it with me.
You're what it needed
Your presence is important and valued, you have added a dimension to my dream that was previously missing.
To make it ideal
Your contribution has brought my dream to a perfect state, the way it was always meant to be.
So glad you got here
I am ecstatic that you have chosen to participate in my dream, and share your presence and ideas with me.
And I hope you can stay
I wish for the pleasure of your company to last, that you remain with me throughout this dream.
But welcome to my dream
Although it is uncertain whether you will stay, take comfort in knowing that you are always welcome here and will always hold a special place in my dream.
Contributed by Lillian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.