Don't Dream It's Over

Of course, everyone applies their own spin on what they think the songs mean depending on their own life experiences... here's what I think this song means... I love this song BTW. The lyrics escaped me for a long time, but I love this song... very beautiful.. My interpretation might seem a little fruity at first, but read it all... I think it makes more sense as you read more.

There is freedom within, There is freedom without, Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup

=There is freedom within the relationship... There's freedom without it. He is validating his and her view respectively. She doesn't want to be with him any longer, but he wants to be with her. Being dumped and all the emotions he's feeling are a deluge and he feel's emotionally ill-equipped to deal with it. Hence the paper cup metaphor. The emotions pour over him and he's overwhelmed by them.

There's a battle ahead, Many battles are lost, But you'll never see the end of the road while you're travelling with me

=A battle ahead to recover after the breakup and to potentially renew it (if he gets his way). Many battles are lost, meaning the things that lead to the breakup, and the falling outs. But you'll never see the end of the road when you're travelling with me = while we may ALWAYS have fights and problems, the relationship will always be passionate and we can work through the problems.

Hey now, hey now Don't dream it's over Hey now, hey now When the world comes in

They come, they come To build a wall between us We know they won't win

= 'Don't dream it's over' is more a plead and a request than a reassurance, as in "Please don't dream it's over, or I will be crushed." "When the world comes in between us" is very broad. He's referring mainly to the little fights and bickerings of the relationship. The things that don't matter. Love is all that matters... and it will triumph over the ordinary worldly concerns and problems. 'We know they won't win' = he is urging her to agree with him, as in 'WE know they won't win, right?' He is also externalizing the problems. Instead of the relationship problems stemming from his and her interaction, he is making the problems a separate entity so that he can persuade her that TOGETHER they can work it out. THEY didn't cause the problems, the world did...the world being trivial bullsh*t that doesn't matter compared to real love between two people.

Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof

=Since the breakup, I have been depressed. Nothing seems to go right anymore.

My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof

=This part escapes me. I don't know exactly what possessions he is reffering to. Suspicion could be linked to him thinking that she cheated on him and is seeing another guy.

In the paper today tales of war and of waste But you turn right over to the T.V. page

= SHE is living a happy life. She has moved on and the depression he feels is far removed from her reality. She doesn't even see it, or him. She skips right over to the next page, the next guy in line to date her.

Hey now, hey now Don't dream it's over Hey now, hey now When the world comes in

They come, they come To build a wall between us We know they won't win

Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum

=Now I'm back on my feet. I don't feel as bad.

And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart

=This is the main line that flipped the switch in my head that made me think "ohhh... she is NOT with him... he's trying to get her BACK." I think he is saying "I won't give up on getting you back, but I don't forsee when I ever will... I just have to keep going up the steps and enduring it until I win your heart again.

Only the shadows ahead barely clearing the roof

=All I see are obstacles to getting you back.

Get to know the feeling of liberation and relief

= The fact that he didn't say "I get to know" but just "Get" tells me that he is talking to her. She most likely felt tied down and smothered by him. The fact that he has so many challenges to getting her back gives her an opportunity to feel 'free', though he is being a little caustic (sarcastic) when he says that.

Hey now, hey now Don't dream it's over Hey now, hey now When the world comes in

They come, they come To build a wall between us Don't ever let them win.