(Psst, hey, come on man, wake up)

Yeah

I see the power changin' hands
Risin' from the streets
A self-made businessman
Knows how the system can be beat

Oh, we're the lost generation
Have no place to go
The road to destruction
Is all we need to know

'Cause it's a rip-off
We're stepped on and cheated
We're flat stone cold lied to
We're not defeated, no

It's ah, easy money
It's a way out
Join the family
No middleman, no IRS
Your ticket out of poverty

Oh, we're the lost generation
I hold fate from a string
Lookin' for a direction
Reachin' out for anything

So, dream another dream
This dream is over (ooh)
Dream another dream
This dream is over (over)
Dream another dream
This dream is over (over)
Over, yeah
So dream another dream

Ow
Ow

Ow, it's a rip-off
Stepped on and cheated
Flat stone cold lied to
We're not defeated, no

Dream another dream
This dream is over (ooh)
Dream another dream
This dream is over, over (dream another dream)
Dream another dream
This dream is over, oh
Dream another dream
This dream is over, over, yeah (dream another dream)

Dream another dream
Dream another dream
Dream another dream
Oh, this dream is over (dream another dream)
Dream another dream (dream another dream)
Dream another dream


Lyrics submitted by UseYourIllusion

The Dream Is Over Lyrics as written by Edward Van Halen Alex Van Halen

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The Dream Is Over song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Sounds to me like someone who has nothing trying to hustle their way out of their situation. Down & out, so the question is: do you go by the system and slowly scrape together a living, or make some $$ much more quickly, but illegally. Either way, the odds are against you in the long run. This dream is over.

    Could be wrong.. that's how I read it.

    whatever51on January 08, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think its pretty obvious. The song is about a generation who was always told that all they need to do is work hard and they will succeed, but in a world where employment is often very hard to come by (especially for teens), easy money is the only option. Easy money, A way out, Join the family. No middle man No IRS

    ^ obviously talking about gang life.

    The dream is just that life will go smoothly and you just need to be good to succeed

    dmstewarton December 31, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    About the selling out of the Baby Bookm generation.

    Smokleron July 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    No. This is a song about the end of the decadance of the 1980s and the economic downfall of 1990/1991, thus the phrases "we're stepped on and cheated" and "we're flat stonecold lied to." But the song is also talking about how a "self-made business man knows how the system can be beat," perhaps an allusion to self-made millionaires like Bill Gates. One of Van Halen's best songs with Sammy Hagar, showing the wild guitar playing prevalent in earlier songs such as Unchained, albeit with a newer sound, not the "brown sound."

    doubledragonon June 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    The second song on the album about the economic difficulties of being in a world-famous rock band making millions of dollars.

    DanVitaleRockson July 31, 2023   Link

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