This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
There is freedom within,
There is freedom without,
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead,
Many battles are lost,
But you'll never see the end of the road
while you're travelling with me
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof
In the paper today tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the T.V. page
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Only the shadows ahead barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and release
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
Don't ever let them win.
There is freedom without,
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead,
Many battles are lost,
But you'll never see the end of the road
while you're travelling with me
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof
In the paper today tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the T.V. page
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Only the shadows ahead barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and release
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
Don't ever let them win.
Lyrics submitted by Novartza
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There's so much wisdom and insight contained in this song.
The rhythm has moments of heartbeat, moments arhythmic and meandering, like a river with eddies and furls. The strumming of the opening riff, conjures an image for me of wave-riplets lapping a riverbank or a shoreline.
At times he sings with the tempo, and at others he'll fall behind or sing ahead of the main rhythm. There's also a funny assymetry to the instrumental break which comes a little more than half way into the song, and repeats about 3 or 4 measures (as a motif) after the main stream of the song begins anew.
For me, this song is like a river, a kind of metaphor for life. It's all there - the good, the not so good, the obstacles, the ideas and points of view which can hold us prisoner. What I love lyrically about the song is it's call to action - Hey, now, hey, now.. Don't dream it's over! To me, the song speaks of the moment - now - and urges the Lover, whom the singer is addressing to engage with life and embrace a real intention to go beyond doubt, not simply engaging in hope (hope being a dangerous practice, in my view, because it clings to an expected outcome, and will only bring disappointment and suffering if the hoped-for thing is not realized).
To me, the lyrics really offer an antidote, a way to respond to the conditions which can arise in life, challenging us, way beyond our control and influence. The lyrics are transcendent, an expression of good-intention, liberating and freeing, as he puts it.
It's such a beautiful love song. Bonne fête de St-Valentin, Lover.. to the Lover in all of us!
@Lazuline Hmmm... Interesting. Very well written, thanks for sharing that. Can't say it NOT correct, as you say, "It's all there - ". Let me digest a bit more, just had to say Thanks! <br /> <br /> Apropos on Valentine's Day, too. . .
@Lazuline This is one of my all time favorite songs, so meaningful. I like your review and totally agree with it.
@Lazuline This is one of the most profound insights to any song I have ever read. Thanks for the inspiration
@Lazuline
I think this song is telling about how adversities in life affect a relationship.
Great song. Makes me very sad, as I was going through the same situation in a previous love relationship. Only difference is, we let them win.
@MillerDodd -- Sorry to hear that... all best hopes for next time.
@MillerDodd Great work Man.....Thanks
@MillerDodd : I know its been almost 3 yrs since you posted. But, had to reply. Your interpretation of this song is so right. I was seeing the lyrics from a similar point of view, but you made sense of a couple of sections that were perplexing for me. So insightful. You ought to be a lyricist!
@MillerDodd I think the song is about more than that
@MillerDodd I love your interpretation of the song. It's very insightful and intelligent. I know you wrote this quite a while ago. You know how the internet is. One stumbles upon something like I did today and felt like I discovered it. Well in a way it wasn't Discovery for me. I've listened to this song over and over again I never grow tired of it and that's one of the reasons I related so much to your assessment of the song. When the song was a hit in the 80s, I had just gone through very painful divorce to a woman I love very much. So you can understand how much the song Meant to me in terms of its optimism about relationships. And like you and the partner you spoke of, we to let them win. Now, I'm 70 years old and have been married to the same great lady for 30 years. But life is thrown a Maelstrom at us, and it's mostly my fault. I haven't been the best with money and finances and that has caused a big rift between us. Mostly because I lied to her on a number of occasions and she feels like I've committed Financial adultery. And I agree with her. The thing is, and thank you for letting me bend your ear, I never imagined that at this point in my life I'd be fighting the same battles of trying to keep a relationship together and not letting them win, but here it is, a challenge all over again. I hope after these years of writing that wonderful critique on the Crowded House song you've found your own happiness and, maybe, are we in a happy loving relationship. I will end here, but I have one request. If you are a praying man, keep me in your prayers, if not at least keep me in your thoughts. Tom Molinaro, Bethlehem PA, Tommolinaro424@gmail.com
@MillerDodd I love your interpretation of the song. It's very insightful and intelligent. I know you wrote this quite a while ago. You know how the internet is. One stumbles upon something like I did today and felt like I discovered it. Well in a way it wasn't Discovery for me. I've listened to this song over and over again I never grow tired of it and that's one of the reasons I related so much to your assessment of the song. When the song was a hit in the 80s, I had just gone through very painful divorce to a woman I love very much. So you can understand how much the song Meant to me in terms of its optimism about relationships. And like you and the partner you spoke of, we to let them win. Now, I'm 70 years old and have been married to the same great lady for 30 years. But life is thrown a Maelstrom at us, and it's mostly my fault. I haven't been the best with money and finances and that has caused a big rift between us. Mostly because I lied to her on a number of occasions and she feels like I've committed Financial adultery. And I agree with her. The thing is, and thank you for letting me bend your ear, I never imagined that at this point in my life I'd be fighting the same battles of trying to keep a relationship together and not letting them win, but here it is, a challenge all over again. I hope after these years of writing that wonderful critique on the Crowded House song you've found your own happiness and, maybe, are we in a happy loving relationship. I will end here, but I have one request. If you are a praying man, keep me in your prayers, if not at least keep me in your thoughts. Tom Molinaro, Bethlehem PA, Tommolinaro424@gmail.com
@MillerDodd Your interpretation of "You'll never see the end of the road while you're traveling with me" was insightful and brought me to see the meaning differently. Your interpretation adds another layer to the complexity of this relationship this singer honors, laments, and cherishes. Thank you for the deeper perspective. Helpful!<br />
@MillerDodd Thanks for your wonderful interpretation - it's really brought understanding of the song for me.Appreciated!
@MillerDodd Good job Your post was really enlightening. Now it reminds me of a previous relationship as well
This song actually has a breezy, carefree undertone to it. Throughout the song, the singer assumes a seemingly protective/senior role that is almost fatherly, telling "the Lover" to not be put down by all the adversities and trials in life. He calls out to her "Hey now, hey now" as if he is comforting her, and finally tells her the primary message of the song - "Don't dream it's over"; no matter how bad things get, to always stay positive and not lose her dreams. He assures her - "they won't win", telling her that nothing from this world will ever destroy the cocoon the both of them are encapsulated in. In my opinion, it is truly a masterpiece - extremely meaningful yet easy on the ears; sending such a strong message yet not having overbearing lyrics. A classic worthy of time.
He is torn between the life he knew and the one he's trying to create - and even though the future is very unclear, it still looks like freedom compare to the very recent past. A deluge of new experiences accompanies this new freedom, and even though he can't be everywhere at once, he must try to live as much as humanly possible. She is one of these new experiences, and he's urging her to stick with him and not give up, as they discover this new life together. Obstacles are out there, but with patience, love, and the combined insight of two people from different worlds, these can be overcome. He is suspicious of (for just one example) the 80s yuppishness all around them, to the point where he'd rather be poor than lose his soul, and they both know there are ways to escape to a better place, if only for a while. Things are looking up each day, and though ghosts still hang over their heads, nothing can really take away their freedom, not the lack of money or anything else, if they just keep believing in each other and all the good in life.
ONE MY FAVORITES THIS SONG IS ABOUT OPTIMISM HIS UNDYING DESIRE FOR THIS LOVE TO WORK OUT.
this is how i interpeted the song by verse
[OUT OF HIS OWN FREE WILL HE IS TRYING TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE IT WONT BE EASY BUT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS]
BASICALLY THE CHORUS IS ABOUT NOT GIVING UP AND OVERCOMING OBSTACLES (AND IN THIS CASE ITS LOVE)
[I DONT HAVE MUCH BUT THATS NOT MY PRIORITY WE LIVE IN CRAZY TIMES BUT YOU CHOOSE TO ESCAPE]
[MOVING ON WITH MY LIFE AND WORKING TOWARDS YOUR LOVE UNCERTAINTY LIES AHEAD LOVE WILL SET US FREE]
I think this song is about perseverance in intimate relationships. I think he is communicating to his girl that he will never quit her, and (practically) begging her to do the same.
The first two verses are about the overwhelming odds against them. The last two are how the doldrums of life are a prison to him while he can only think of her, and their problems. When one gets into this sort of funk, it may seem that the partner is indifferent, for lack of passion, hence the T.V. Page line.
The closing line about the shadows is simply an acknowledgment that he will always have to be vigilant and chained to this love.
I tend to think the title, and chorus holds a double meaning..
Hey now, hey now --- Consoling, there there.. Don't dream it's over --- don't ever think I'll be the one to let go
and -
Hey now, hey now --- Wake up, HELLO!!! Don't dream it's over --- Don't think it's going to get any easier, love takes work.
"try to catch the deluge in a paper cup" - Life is too complicated to contain and simplify "there's a battle ahead, many battles are lost" - perhaps a psychological battle, attempting to overcome things you cannot control
chorus - saying how despite the drawback of not being in complete control of fate(?) you can still control your destiny to an extent, if you wish to
towing my car, hole in roof - this could be a psychological representation of his soul/mind, and the hole is representing uncertainty or uncompleteness... possessions causing suspicion... but there's not proof - could this be his thoughts/feelings/morals causing him doubt?
in the paper... turn right over to the TV page - distancing himself from the harsh reality of real life, seeking refuge in television as a means of protecting himself from the knowledge that as an individual, he cannot right the wrongs of the world
walking again to the beat... shadows ahead... get to know the feeling of liberation and release - the nature of life cannot permit complete freedom, and so he continues 'walking... to the beat' by living his life in the way people intend for life to be lived
although life can get bad, the situation is never hopeless...
Sheesh! Seven years later!.....These were pretty much my thoughts exactly.....The way I've always interpreted the song!
Wow. I had a totally different perspective before I came here. I had thought the song was a sad one about hopelessness after a breakup. The whole message being "don't dream, it's over" as in give up one your dreams and face the miserable reality of life. Even lines like "many battles are lost" meaning you shouldn't fight, or the pathetic hopelessness of trying to "catch a deluge in a paper cup" or even "counting the footsteps to your heart" meaning that as he progresses away from his beloved's heart, the number increases. I know see that it can be interpreted not as "don't dream BECAUSE it's over" but rather "don't dream THAT it's over" because there is no comma in the title of the song. Punctuation here made all the difference. Thanks guys!
RiP Paul Hester - This is such an awesome song, i have known it for a long time but i never got the chance to really listen to Crowded House even though the music is amazing. Reading about Paul Hester's suicide convinced me to start to listen to them properly. In a way i thank him, and i hope he is at peace.
This song is really beautiful, but I don't get the meaning of it. I think that maybe he's talking about unrequited love. "But you turn right over to the T.V. page" suggests lack of interest, maybe someone the singer has loves doesn't return his love? Also "I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart" shows that he wants his beloved to open her heart for him.