Everytime I Dream
Yusuf/Cat Stevens Lyrics


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Every time I dream I keep seeing,
Streets and alleyways, places that I've never known,
Every time I dream I am being,
Lifted to a height, that I too frightened to go,

Then I wake up and find everything's away, it seems, one night ago,
Every time I sleep I keep hoping,
This would be the night of nights that I see you again,
As I close my eyes like rims and curtains, slowly rising on an empty stage,
Then I'm back in the stall sitting all alone waiting for the show to begin,
Oh oh

Every time I dream I would often find myself running,
From a wild pack of lice,
'Till I reach a house and hear the gurge upstairs,
And look for a place to hide,




But if I saw you there,
I wouldn't dare dream again of opening my eyes,

Overall Meaning

The song Everytime I Dream by Yusuf/Cat Stevens delves into the theme of longing to be lifted to a higher place, both physically and emotionally. The lyrics suggest that every time the singer dreams, he is transported to unknown places that he has never seen before. The use of imagery, such as streets and alleyways, highlights the sense of being lost in unfamiliar territories. The idea of being taken to great heights puts him in a state of fear, perhaps because he is not used to experiencing such emotions. Through these dreams, he desires to find a sense of belonging and fulfillment, something that he struggles to find in his waking life.


As the song progresses, the singer expresses his hope that one day he will dream of seeing someone again, suggesting that he may have lost that person. He paints a picture of himself on an empty stage with curtains slowly rising up, setting the stage for the memory of that person to come to life. Time seems to stand still as he tries to relive a moment of happiness. However, as is often the case, he wakes up and finds himself unable to reach that dream again.


Towards the end of the song, the singer experiences a dream where he is running from a pack of lice, desperate to find a place to hide. However, everything changes when he sees the person he longs for. The fear he felt dissipates, and he is overcome with the urge to remain in that dream forever. The song portrays the idea that dreams can provide an escape from reality, a place where one can find solace and shed one's fears.


Line by Line Meaning

Every time I dream I keep seeing,
Whenever I dream, I am always seeing


Streets and alleyways, places that I've never known,
Unknown places like streets and alleyways appear in my dreams


Every time I dream I am being,
During my dream experiences,


Lifted to a height, that I too frightened to go,
I get lifted to a new height that makes me too scared to proceed


Then I wake up and find everything's away, it seems, one night ago,
Once I wake up, it feels like everything from my dream was gone, like it was just last night


Every time I sleep I keep hoping,
While falling asleep, I constantly hope for


This would be the night of nights that I see you again,
The night when I can finally see you again


As I close my eyes like rims and curtains, slowly rising on an empty stage,
When I close my eyes, it feels like curtains closing, slowly rising on an empty stage


Then I'm back in the stall sitting all alone waiting for the show to begin,
But in reality, I am sitting in a still place, waiting for the next act


Every time I dream I would often find myself running,
I usually find myself running when I dream


From a wild pack of lice,
Being chased by a pack of frantic lice


'Till I reach a house and hear the gurge upstairs,
I manage to make it to a house and hear noises upstairs


And look for a place to hide,
Searching for somewhere to hide


But if I saw you there,
The one exception would be if I saw you there


I wouldn't dare dream again of opening my eyes,
If I saw you, I wouldn't dare dream of waking up again




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: YUSUF ISLAM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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