Just a Dream
Tobias Jesso Jr. Lyrics


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Yesterday I had a baby
Now she's one day old
And looks just like her old lady

And last night I had a bad dream
That the world would end and would be forever ending
Now I know it's not that nice, but hey
It's just a dream, it's just a dream

And if I had just one more day
Here's all the things that I would say
To my baby

I can't explain the world to you
Can't explain the things that people choose to do
There's a thing called hate and there's a thing called love, too
Like the love I have for your mom and for you
And my baby, she looked at me and she smiled

Never had nobody else
No bestest friend until the end to talk about
But then I met this little girl
And I could see that she would be my whole wide world

And I know it don't feel right
But hey, nothing's ever as it seems

And if I had just one more day
Here's all the things that I would say
Before you came to take away
My baby baby baby baby baby baby

I can't explain the world to you
Can't explain the things that people choose to do
There's a thing called hate and a thing called love, too
Like the love I have for your mom and for you
No, I can't explain the world to you
Can't explain the things that people do
There's a thing called hate and there's a thing called love, love, too




Like the love I have for your mom and for you
Well, my baby, she looked at me and she just smiled

Overall Meaning

In Tobias Jesso Jr.'s song "Just a Dream," the singer reflects on the birth of his child and the fragility of life in the face of a bad dream where the world ends. In the first verse, he expresses joy for the arrival of his new baby who looks like her mother. However, in the second verse, he reveals a bad dream he had the previous night where the world was ending, highlighting the tension between life and death. Despite the bleakness of the dream, the singer acknowledges that it is just a dream, and consequently, he urges his baby not to take life too seriously. In the bridge, he laments not being able to explain the world and its complexities to his child, such as the concepts of hate and love. However, he reassures her that he loves her deeply, just as he loves her mother. The song ends on a hopeful note with the baby smiling at her father.


The song speaks to the profundity of parenthood, which involves navigating the beauty of new life while confronting the knowledge that it is fleeting. Every moment is precious when it comes to raising a child, and this is articulated in the song's lyrics. The singer's acknowledgement that he would feel incomplete without his child signals the importance of family and love in a world that is often filled with chaos and uncertainty. The pain of loss is not directly expressed in the lyrics but underpins the singer's desire to hold on to every moment with his child. Ultimately, the song celebrates the joy that comes with the birth of a child while laying bare the reality that life is fragile and should be cherished.


Line by Line Meaning

Yesterday I had a baby
I became a father to a newborn baby yesterday


Now she's one day old
She is only a day old now


And looks just like her old lady
She resembles her mother


And last night I had a bad dream
I had a nightmare last night


That the world would end and would be forever ending
I dreamt that the world was ending and would never recover


Now I know it's not that nice, but hey
I understand that the dream wasn't pleasant, but


It's just a dream, it's just a dream
It was just a nightmare and not real


And if I had just one more day
If I had more time with my baby


Here's all the things that I would say
Here are the things I would want to tell her


To my baby
To my newborn child


I can't explain the world to you
I can't justify the world's complexities to you


Can't explain the things that people choose to do
I can't rationalize human behavior


There's a thing called hate and there's a thing called love, too
There are both negative and positive emotions in the world


Like the love I have for your mom and for you
I have immense love for both you and your mother


And my baby, she looked at me and she smiled
My baby looked at me and gave me a smile


Never had nobody else
I had never had a close, lifelong friend


No bestest friend until the end to talk about
There was no one I could rely on and confide in until I met her


But then I met this little girl
But then I met my daughter


And I could see that she would be my whole wide world
I knew that she would be the most important thing in my life


And I know it don't feel right
I know it may not seem fair


But hey, nothing's ever as it seems
But things are not always as they appear to be


Before you came to take away
Before death inevitably comes


My baby baby baby baby baby baby
My beloved daughter


No, I can't explain the world to you
I cannot clarify the complexity of the world for you


Well, my baby, she looked at me and she just smiled
My daughter looked at me and smiled




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tobias MacDonald Jesso

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

vintagekeyboards

Lyrics:

Yesterday I had a baby
Now she's one day old
And looks just like her old lady
And last night I had a bad dream
That the world would end and would be forever ending
Now I know it's not that nice, but hey
It's just a dream, it's just a dream
And if I had just one more day
Here's all the things that I would say
To my baby
I can't explain the world to you
Can't explain the things that people choose to do
There's a thing called hate and there's a thing called love, too
Like the love I have for your mom and for you
And my baby, she looked at me and she smiled
Never had nobody else
No bestest friend until the end to talk about
But then I met this little girl
And I could see that she would be my whole wide world
And I know it don't feel right
But hey, nothing's ever as it seems
And if I had just one more day
Here's all the things that I would say
Before you came to take away
My baby baby baby baby baby baby
I can't explain the world to you
Can't explain the things that people choose to do
There's a thing called hate and a thing called love, too
Like the love I have for your mom and for you
No, I can't explain the world to you
Can't explain the things that people do
There's a thing called hate and there's a thing called love, love, too
Like the love I have for your mom and for you
Well, my baby, she looked at me and she just smiled



All comments from YouTube:

FosterNewmanMusic

Really hope he releases another album at somepoint. Everything I've heard, is absolute gold. Beautiful.

Marcus

I like this better than the studio version.  There's something pure about Tobias with his piano and the warped tape production.  Adding drums/bass/clean production kills the vibe.

Jessica McMath

I've always imagined singing this song to lull my baby to sleep when I had one. Currently 5 months pregnant and playing this for my sweet baby. I'll be singing this song to him/her when he/she makes an entrance. I can't wait.💚

deftley

Hope you got to sing it to your baby!

Colin Drayer

I hope he releases a whole LP of lo-fi "Goon" demos like this one.

Excentrique672

I second that notion. :)

vintagekeyboards

Lyrics:

Yesterday I had a baby
Now she's one day old
And looks just like her old lady
And last night I had a bad dream
That the world would end and would be forever ending
Now I know it's not that nice, but hey
It's just a dream, it's just a dream
And if I had just one more day
Here's all the things that I would say
To my baby
I can't explain the world to you
Can't explain the things that people choose to do
There's a thing called hate and there's a thing called love, too
Like the love I have for your mom and for you
And my baby, she looked at me and she smiled
Never had nobody else
No bestest friend until the end to talk about
But then I met this little girl
And I could see that she would be my whole wide world
And I know it don't feel right
But hey, nothing's ever as it seems
And if I had just one more day
Here's all the things that I would say
Before you came to take away
My baby baby baby baby baby baby
I can't explain the world to you
Can't explain the things that people choose to do
There's a thing called hate and a thing called love, too
Like the love I have for your mom and for you
No, I can't explain the world to you
Can't explain the things that people do
There's a thing called hate and there's a thing called love, love, too
Like the love I have for your mom and for you
Well, my baby, she looked at me and she just smiled

Francisco P

Loved this song since it came out. A few months ago... I had a baby, so i love your song even more. We just heard it together, and she smiled... Thanks a lot Tobias, best wishes from Argentina.

Mohammad Obaid

Love this song always ♥️

Paula A.

This has become one of my favourite songs ever. So simple and yet so beautiful... It's perfect for a rainy and lazy day, isn't it? c:

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