Lyric discussion by Lazuline 

Cover art for Don't Dream It's Over lyrics by Crowded House

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!

Song Meaning

@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!

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