Lyric discussion by Anniefae 

Cover art for Nightmares lyrics by Violent Femmes

I think he's calling his dreams nightmares because in them he lives the life he really wants, a life with his ex back. What makes the dreams nightmares is the pain and disappointment he feels when he wakes up and comes back to reality, following with the long bittersweet daydreams of what could have been.

My Interpretation