The Dream
Turnstile Lyrics
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Their happiness comes from the American Dream but that don't shine for me.
There's a million lives to lead.
Choices made will help me understand the hardship and adversity that I couldn't see.
How could we believe in a calm sea ahead?
My friends, my dreams, the end.
And on the day I die I hope I can justify the choices in my life.
The lyrics to Turnstile's "The Dream" express a sense of disconnection and disillusionment with the traditional "American Dream" narrative of happiness and success. The singer observes the world around them, noting the ongoing conflicts and suffering, while feeling disconnected from the happiness that others seem to derive from striving for the American Dream. The singer reflects on the myriad of choices they must make in life, and how these choices shape their understanding of the hardships and adversity that others face. Despite the uncertainty of the future, the singer hopes to be able to justify their choices when they come to the end of their life.
The lyrics to "The Dream" challenge the dominant cultural narrative of the American Dream. Instead of painting a picture of success and fulfillment, the song acknowledges the reality of conflict and suffering, and the difficulty of navigating life's choices. The song speaks to a feeling of disconnection from mainstream culture, while also offering a sense of hope for personal accountability and reflection. In this way, the song speaks to a broader cultural shift towards rejecting traditional narratives and striving for personal authenticity and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
The world around me solves evil at war and suffer from a sad-ass heart.
The surroundings appear to be full of conflicts, struggles and sorrow, as if people's hearts are burdened with sadness due to the presence of evil and war.
Their happiness comes from the American Dream but that don't shine for me.
Although others find fulfillment in the American Dream, it does not impart any gleaming hope or happiness onto the singer.
There's a million lives to lead.
The world is full of infinite possibilities, presenting innumerable pathways and choices to be made.
Choices made will help me understand the hardship and adversity that I couldn't see.
Decisions taken in life will aid in comprehending those inevitable hard times and struggles that were previously obscure.
How could we believe in a calm sea ahead?
How can one possess the audacity to believe in a forthcoming age of tranquility and peacefulness?
My friends, my dreams, the end.
The singer's friends and dreams are the epicenter of their existence, and will remain priorities until the end of life, signifying the most important aspects of life.
And on the day I die I hope I can justify the choices in my life.
The singer hopes that upon their last breath, they can justify the choices made throughout their lifetime.
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Contributed by Alexandra I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.