Crystal Gayle features prominently on the record, performing either solo vocal or singing in duet with Waits on many of the songs. For Coppola's film, Waits originally wanted to work with Bette Midler, who previously sang a duet with him on the Billie Holiday-esque track "I Never Talk to Strangers" from Foreign Affairs, but due to previous engagements, Midler was unavailable.
During the film/album project Waits met his wife Kathleen Brennan, an employee at the studio where it was recorded.
Is There Any Way Out of This Dream?
Tom Waits & Crystal Gayle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I keep falling apart every year
Let's take a hammer to it
There's no glamor in it
Is there any way out of this dream?
I'm as blue as I can possibly be
Is there someone else out there for me
I feel so incomplete
Is there any way out of this dream?
Summer is draggin' it's feet
I feel so incomplete
Is there any way out of this dream?
In Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle's song "Is There Any Way Out of This Dream?" the singer is feeling stuck and disillusioned with their life. They feel like they are falling apart every year, and there's no way out of this cycle. The singer suggests taking a hammer to it, presumably meaning to break free from their current situation. They feel like there's no glamor in their life and they're blue- depression is taking over. The singer wonders if there's someone else out there for them, as they feel incomplete.
The repetition of the lines "Is there any way out of this dream?" adds to the despair and hopelessness the singer feels. They feel stuck in a never-ending cycle they can't escape from. The summertime, usually a time of joy and relaxation, feels like it's dragging on and adding to their misery. The singer's tone is defeated and sad, unable to find any hope or light at the end of the tunnel.
Overall, "Is There Any Way Out of This Dream?" is a melancholy reflection on feeling stuck in life, unable to find a way out of a cycle of dissatisfaction.
Line by Line Meaning
I can clearly see nothin' as clear
My vision is clouded and unclear
I keep falling apart every year
I feel like I’m deteriorating with time
Let's take a hammer to it
Let’s destroy this dream and start anew
There's no glamor in it
This dream is not as exciting as I thought it would be
Is there any way out of this dream?
Is there any way to escape this unfulfilling dream?
I'm as blue as I can possibly be
I am extremely sad and depressed
Is there someone else out there for me
Is there another person who can bring joy and happiness to my life?
Summer is draggin' it's feet
Time is moving slowly and it feels like it’s taking forever
I feel so incomplete
I feel like something is missing from my life
Is there any way out of this dream?
Is there any way to escape this unfulfilling dream?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robbiearroyo2292
How is this song so overlooked! Masterpiece.
@punkmom08
Gorgeous ❤
@punkmom08
Crystal Gayle brava bellissima!!!!!!!
@danielberry922
I think this song means . She's sad and lonely , I've never heard this song before . I just wished there was more of it , it's hard to interpret it ,when there's not much to go on . She hopes and dreams , she will find someone to make her life complete . To hold her together , when her life falls apart , she tired of being alone . Is There Any Way Out Of This Dream