There is freedom within, there is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're traveling with me

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 towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof
In the paper today tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the T.V. page

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
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Only shadows ahead barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and release

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 let them win (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
Hey now, hey now
Don't let them win (they come, they come)
Don't let them win (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

Don't Dream It's Over Lyrics as written by Neil Finn

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Don't Dream It's Over song meanings
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  • +26
    Song Meaning

    There's so much wisdom and insight contained in this song.

    The rhythm has moments of heartbeat, moments arhythmic and meandering, like a river with eddies and furls. The strumming of the opening riff, conjures an image for me of wave-riplets lapping a riverbank or a shoreline.

    At times he sings with the tempo, and at others he'll fall behind or sing ahead of the main rhythm. There's also a funny assymetry to the instrumental break which comes a little more than half way into the song, and repeats about 3 or 4 measures (as a motif) after the main stream of the song begins anew.

    For me, this song is like a river, a kind of metaphor for life. It's all there - the good, the not so good, the obstacles, the ideas and points of view which can hold us prisoner. What I love lyrically about the song is it's call to action - Hey, now, hey, now.. Don't dream it's over! To me, the song speaks of the moment - now - and urges the Lover, whom the singer is addressing to engage with life and embrace a real intention to go beyond doubt, not simply engaging in hope (hope being a dangerous practice, in my view, because it clings to an expected outcome, and will only bring disappointment and suffering if the hoped-for thing is not realized).

    To me, the lyrics really offer an antidote, a way to respond to the conditions which can arise in life, challenging us, way beyond our control and influence. The lyrics are transcendent, an expression of good-intention, liberating and freeing, as he puts it.

    It's such a beautiful love song. Bonne fête de St-Valentin, Lover.. to the Lover in all of us!

    Lazulineon February 14, 2012   Link

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