From 1974 until 1985, Van Halen consisted of Eddie Van Halen; Eddie's brother, drummer Alex Van Halen; vocalist David Lee Roth; and bassist/vocalist Michael Anthony. Upon its release in 1978, the band's self-titled debut album reached No. 19 on the Billboard pop music charts and would sell over 10 million copies in the U.S. By 1982, the band released four more albums (Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning, and Diver Down), all of which have since been certified multi-platinum. By the early 1980s, Van Halen was one of the most successful rock acts of the day. The album 1984 was a commercial success with U.S. sales of 10 million copies and four hit singles; its lead single, "Jump", was the band's only U.S. number one single.
In 1985, Roth left the band to embark on a solo career and was replaced by former Montrose lead vocalist Sammy Hagar. With Hagar, the group released four U.S. number-one, multi-platinum albums over the course of 11 years (5150 in 1986, OU812 in 1988, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge in 1991, and Balance in 1995). Hagar left the band in 1996 shortly before the release of the band's first greatest hits collection, Best of Volume 1. Former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone replaced Hagar and recorded the commercially unsuccessful album Van Halen III with the band in 1998, before parting ways in 1999. Van Halen then went on hiatus until reuniting with Hagar in 2003 for a worldwide tour in 2004 and the double-disc greatest hits collection The Best of Both Worlds. Hagar again left Van Halen in 2005. In 2006 Roth returned, but Anthony was replaced on bass guitar by Eddie's son, Wolfgang Van Halen. In 2012, the band released their final studio album A Different Kind of Truth, which was commercially and critically successful; it was also Van Halen's first album with Roth in 28 years and the only one to feature Wolfgang.
As of March 2019, Van Halen is 20th on the RIAA list of best-selling artists in the United States; the band has sold 56 million albums in the States and more than 80 million worldwide, making them one of the best-selling groups of all time. As of 2007, Van Halen is one of only five rock bands with two studio albums to sell more than 10 million copies in the United States and is tied for the most multi-platinum albums by an American band. Additionally, Van Halen has charted 13 number-one hits on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. VH1 ranked the band seventh on a list of the top 100 Hard Rock artists of all time.
Eddie was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, and died of the disease on October 6, 2020. A month after his father's death, Wolfgang confirmed that Van Halen had disbanded.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Halen
Studio albums
Van Halen (1978)
Van Halen II (1979)
Women and Children First (1980)
Fair Warning (1981)
Diver Down (1982)
1984 (1984)
5150 (1986)
OU812 (1988)
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)
Balance (1995)
Van Halen III (1998)
A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
Dreams
Van Halen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pictures in an empty room
Your love starts fallin down
Better change your tun, yeah
Reach for the golden ring
Reach for the sky
Baby just spread your wings
Straight up we'll climb
We'll get higher and higher
Leave it all behind
Run, run, run away
Like a train runnin off the track
Got the truth gets left behind
Falls between the cracks
Standing on broken dreams
Never losin' sight, ah
Spread your wings
We'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
We'll get higher and higher
Leave it all behind
So baby dry your eyes, save all
The tears you've cried
Oh that's what dreams are made of
'Cause we belong in a world that must be strong
Oh that's what dreams are made of
We'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
Higher and higher leave it all behind
Oh we'll higher and higher who knows
What we'll find
So baby dry your eyes, save all
The tears you've cried
Oh that's what dreams are made of
Oh baby we belong in a world that must be strong
Oh that's what dreams are made of
And in the end on dreams we will depend
'Cause that's what love is made of
The first stanza of Van Halen's 'Dreams' describes a situation where everything appears dull and lifeless, like watching black and white pictures in an empty room. The lyrics recommend that the person involved, whose love is falling apart, change their tune by reaching for unattainable goals ("the golden ring" and "the sky") and 'spreading their wings.' The second stanza is a call to action, urging the person to run away from their problems, even if the truth will get left behind in the process. The lyrics recommend that the individual persists, despite standing on broken dreams, never losing sight of their objective, and "spread their wings."
The chorus is a clear example of the song's underlying theme of reaching for greatness; "We'll get higher and higher, Straight up we'll climb, We'll get higher and higher, Leave it all behind." The second half of the chorus is particularly powerful, as it recommends leaving everything behind to pursue one's objective. The third stanza's lyrics recommend that the person not be saddened by what has occurred and instead save their tears for the pursuit of their aspirations because ‘that’s what dreams are made of.' The final stanza describes love's importance, implying that, in the end, dreams are dependent on love, and that love alone should fuel our efforts towards our goals.
The song's lyrics are encapsulated in a soaring, significantly upbeat melody, driven by David Lee Roth's vocals and Eddie Van Halen's guitar work. It expresses the idea that achieving your dreams is not just about you; we all belong in a strong and positive world that aims to help and inspire others.
Line by Line Meaning
World turns black and white
Life seems dull and unexciting
Pictures in an empty room
Memories of happier times are all that are left
Your love starts fallin down
Your relationship is falling apart
Better change your tun, yeah
You need to make changes in your life
Reach for the golden ring
Aim for your goals and aspirations
Reach for the sky
Aim high in life
Baby just spread your wings
Take a chance and try new things
We'll get higher and higher
As we pursue our dreams, we'll experience greater fulfillment
Straight up we'll climb
We'll take a direct, unwavering path towards our goals
Leave it all behind
Forget the past and focus on the future
Run, run, run away
Escape from your problems
Like a train runnin off the track
Life feels chaotic and out of control
Got the truth gets left behind
In life, the honest and sincere may not always succeed
Falls between the cracks
Important things are overlooked or neglected
Standing on broken dreams
Life feels like a shattered, unfulfilled promise
Never losin' sight, ah
Stay committed to your dreams and goals
Spread your wings
Take action and pursue your dreams
So baby dry your eyes, save all
Don't give up hope and keep trying
The tears you've cried
Don't let your past hurt you
Oh that's what dreams are made of
Hope and aspiration is what makes life worth living
'Cause we belong in a world that must be strong
We need to be strong to survive in a harsh world
And in the end on dreams we will depend
Our dreams will give us strength and direction
'Cause that's what love is made of
Pursuing our dreams with perseverance and passion is an expression of love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alex Van Halen, Edward Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maria Fabiano
World turns black and white
Pictures in an empty room
Your love starts fallin' down
Better change your tune, yeah
You reach for the golden ring
Reach for the sky
Baby, just spread your wings
We'll get higher and higher
Straight up, we'll climb
We'll get higher and higher
Leave it all behind
Run, run, run away
Like a train runnin' off the track
Got the truth bein' left behind
Falls between the cracks
Standin' on broken dreams
Never losin' sight, ah
Well just spread your wings
We'll get higher and higher
Straight up, we'll climb
We'll get higher and higher
Leave it all behind
So baby dry your eyes
Save all the tears you've cried
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
'Cause we belong in a world that must be strong
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
Yeah, we'll get higher and higher
Straight up, we'll climb
Higher and higher
Leave it all behind
We'll get higher and higher
Who knows what we'll find?
So baby dry your eyes
Save all the tears you've cried
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
Oh baby, we belong in a world that must be strong
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
And in the end on dreams we will depend
'Cause that's what love is made of
DeltaMike89
Remember the last stanza of this song guys! Let us cry but remember we have to be strong for ourselves and others that look to us! RIP JDF!
“So baby, dry your eyes
Save all the tears you've cried
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
Oh baby, we belong
In a world that must be strong
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
And in the end
On dreams we will depend
'Cause that's what love is made of”
killthedead23
Rest in peace, Edward Van Halen.
Ryan Norris
God damn it!!
Tammy Hamilton
This one hurts💔💔💔
Banshun
That mini tapping solo at the end of the song took it to another level. RIP eddie. Thanks for all the music.
Marcus Hamner
Dreams by Van Halen Eddie was in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers credits. RIP Eddie😭💔🙏🏽🎸
LuigiTheMetal64
That should be a lesson to anyone in this world. Never pack smoke cigarettes, no matter what your tradition is. Rest in peace, Eddie.
King Ace Hernandez
Rest In Power To Both Eddie Van Halen And Jason David Frank
Danny Adi
Yes RIP to both legends. I remember watching an episode of two and half men rerun with eddies cameo and I’m not an avid watcher of it and the next day he passed so it was like Eddie was saying bye. Still a shock to me about JDF. Now this song will always remind me of Jason David Frank he was a humble great person I had the pleasure of meeting on two occasions.
Matthew McVey
Amen
Jester0153
Rangers forever.