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Dreams Of Ordinary Men Lyrics
There is an essence in the water
There is a spirit in the sky
There is a spider drawing webs
To crucify a fly
The fly is drawing nearer
Just as if he knew
How we all must fit the pattern
How the pattern must fit you
Everybody say amen
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we’ll be living in
Out of the dreams of ordinary men
I mistook all your intentions
But you never did deceive
I have a helpless fascination
For the web you wove for me
We had nightly public beatings
But we slept in private hells
And I feel no guilt or vengeance
We just couldn’t help ourselves
Everybody say amen
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we’ll be living in
Out of the dreams of ordinary men
You've got to say amen
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we'll be living in
Out of the dreams of ordinary men
So what’s the answer I have to find
To change my world like I change my mind
And change my life
If I could only change my dreams
Everybody say amen
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we’ll be living in
Out of the dreams...
Everybody say amen
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we’ll be living in
Out of the dreams of ordinary men
You've got to say amen
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we'll be living in
Out of the dreams of ordinary men
There is a spirit in the sky
There is a spider drawing webs
To crucify a fly
Just as if he knew
How we all must fit the pattern
How the pattern must fit you
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we’ll be living in
Out of the dreams of ordinary men
But you never did deceive
I have a helpless fascination
For the web you wove for me
But we slept in private hells
And I feel no guilt or vengeance
We just couldn’t help ourselves
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we’ll be living in
Out of the dreams of ordinary men
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we'll be living in
Out of the dreams of ordinary men
To change my world like I change my mind
And change my life
If I could only change my dreams
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we’ll be living in
Out of the dreams...
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we’ll be living in
Out of the dreams of ordinary men
These are the dreams of ordinary men
This is the world that we'll be living in
Out of the dreams of ordinary men
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I've always thought that this song could have been written about the Amber series of books by Roger Zelazny. In them, most of the universe is made up of 'shadow planes' dreamed up by the 'Princes' of Amber. They dream up a land and they can then travel to it.
Also, the City of Amber is one of the few fixed points in the universe and there are two close shadow copies. There is an undersea version of the city (and essence in the water) and another cloud version of the city (a spirit in the sky).
Political machinations are the major theme of the books and it fits well with the tone of the song.
I've always suspected that the band members of Dragon were reading the novels while on tour and that inspired them to write this song, but of course, cannot get that confirmed.
I think it is much simpler, the writer is dissatisfied with life, but because He is Ordinary and because the world is ordinary they are unable to dream of anything greater than ordinary. This line is the key "So what’s the answer I have to find To change my world like I change my mind And change my life If I could only change my dreams"
I agree with DanDManner. I think he's stuck in his place in life and knows there is more but like the fly being drawn to the web, he can't make the change because he can't create the dream. I think that the "you" in verse 3 is probably life. He thought that his life would be bigger, better, more fulfilling but that deception came from within. Life never told him that was going to happen.
The song is about two people having an affair. This verse sets the scene:
I mistook all your intentions But you never did deceive I have a helpless fascination For the web you wove for me
He falls in love for a woman that he shouldn't have.
The other line that gives is a way is about sleeping in private hells. This implies they would be happy together but then at night have to sleep with their partners who they don't love.
The verse about changing his world is about the internal struggle - something has to change for him to find happiness. Either leave is lover or his wife.