Here where you are standing
The dinosaurs did a dance
The Indians told a story
Now it has come to pass

The Indians had a legend
The Spaniards lived for gold
The white man came and killed them
But they haven't really gone

We live in the city of dreams
We drive on the highway of fire
Should we awake
And find it gone
Remember this, our favorite town

From Germany and Europe
And Southern U.S.A.
They made this little town here
That we live in to this day

The children of the white man
Saw Indians on TV
And heard about the legend
How their city was a dream

We live in the city of dreams
We drive on the highway of fire
Should we awake
And find it gone
Remember this, our favorite town

The Civil War is over
And World War One and Two
If we can live together
The dream it might come true

Underneath the concrete
The dream is still alive
A hundred million lifetimes
A world that never dies

We live in the city of dreams
We drive on the highway of fire
Should we awake
And find it gone
Remember this, our favorite town


Lyrics submitted by alexboy

City of Dreams Lyrics as written by David Byrne

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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City of Dreams song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    Sometimes, this song makes me feel proud, awed and ashamed all at once. Yet another incredible piece from David Byrne, this version is superior to the instrumental version found on the soundtrack to True Stories, if only by virtue of the lyrics.

    Major Valoron April 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The instrumental version is known as "City of Steel", BTW.

    Major Valoron May 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It´s a song about the illusion of reality. About the ridiculous feeling of eternity humankind has. Beautiful poetry.

    Shackletonon October 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    We live in the city of dreams. We drive on this highway of fire.

    You know I don't really have much to offer as far as the lyrics. I had a killer panic show, and they cover it, it's killer. Southern USA. Not many bands bring that much entertainment.

    JB croaking it out.

    bkabbotton April 13, 2014   Link

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