The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Champagne glass of blood and wine
On chocolate hearts alone I dine
Candles weeping waxen tears
Ten four roses, each one a year disappear
Arrows fester in my heart
Each memory, another dart
Love and death both colored red
Showing my past, the dream is dead
The dream is dead, yeah
Another lonely Valentine's Day
I can't believe that things turned out this way
And though I hate to see you go
I know it must be so
Another lonely Valentine's Day
Nobody will break your fall
All for none, yeah, none for all
Nothing's so cruel as the truth
Join the Festival of Fools
Nobody will break your fall
All for none, yeah, none for all
Nothing's so cruel as the truth
Join the Festival of Fools
Another lonely Valentine's Day
I can't believe that things turned out this way
And though I hate to see you go
I know it must be so
Another lonely Valentine's Day
The dream is dead
The dream is dead
The dream is dead
The dream is dead
The dream is dead
The dream is dead
On chocolate hearts alone I dine
Candles weeping waxen tears
Ten four roses, each one a year disappear
Arrows fester in my heart
Each memory, another dart
Love and death both colored red
Showing my past, the dream is dead
The dream is dead, yeah
Another lonely Valentine's Day
I can't believe that things turned out this way
And though I hate to see you go
I know it must be so
Another lonely Valentine's Day
Nobody will break your fall
All for none, yeah, none for all
Nothing's so cruel as the truth
Join the Festival of Fools
Nobody will break your fall
All for none, yeah, none for all
Nothing's so cruel as the truth
Join the Festival of Fools
Another lonely Valentine's Day
I can't believe that things turned out this way
And though I hate to see you go
I know it must be so
Another lonely Valentine's Day
The dream is dead
The dream is dead
The dream is dead
The dream is dead
The dream is dead
The dream is dead
Lyrics submitted by open_veins
The Dream Is Dead Lyrics as written by Peter Thomas Steele
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is a love song. he talks about how the plans they had together died when they broke up.
isn't this about his life in high school? it might just be me, because i haven't read his biography or nothin like that, but the kind of guy Pete is seems like the kind of kid who probably got bullied in school im jus takin a literal meaning here but i think it's cause he asked this nice chick out on a valentives date, but she stood him up, even though he planned this big ol romantic dinner for her sooooooo, i think the girl would be one of those really popular bitches at school who spite the uncool kids jus throwin it out there
The Jambo
I think it's a little deeper than a breakup, it suggests a death. I don't know of anyone who'd mourn a breakup for 10 years... "ten for roses, each one a year".
@jester121 yep, I agree with you!
In an interview Peter said that the song is about the death of his father and how it happened to fall on Valentine's Day. :'(
"I think it's a little deeper than a breakup, it suggests a death. I don't know of anyone who'd mourn a breakup for 10 years... "ten for roses, each one a year"." I think that the ten years were how long the relationship was. I could be wrong.
I'd say it was only inspired by his father's death, and then I would agree with rustedthoughts. Each Valentine's Day, the guy used to give a rose to his gf, so the line would refer to that. Just my two cents ;)
And, Candles weeping waxing tears is veeeery beautiful construction! Really got me!
it sucks being alone or being broken up with durring valentines day. type o can relate. its wierd tho, this song IMO sounds a bit upbeat at parts while its obvious that the message is pretty sad.
I thought he was singing 'without love believe these words I say' which I took to mean: your concept of love is tainted; you'd best get on with killing yourself, buddy. Killing yourself = executing your implanted beast666 mind virus, swapping it for the Christ one, which all your 'common sense,' and your 'friends' (the people you make dates with to go out and fuck your minds up even worse.) all that stuff you 'know' because you saw it on TV! It is incredibly sad, that the (seemingly) most fucked-up, degenerate, sorry excuses of wasted human potential, are the one's who are gifted with the sight to steer the ship of civilization away from total oblivion.