“These Dreams” is a track recorded by Heart. It appears on the band’s 1985 album Heart.
About the Song
“These Dreams” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 22, 1986. Songwriter Bernie Taupin, best known for his work with Elton John, wrote the lyrics with Stevie Nicks in mind. But because the lyrics were too similar to what Stevie would have written herself, she turned the song down.
Singer-songwriter Martin Page, the track’s co-writer, confirmed this story to Songwriter Universe. “With ‘These Dreams,’ Bernie wrote a lyric that was initially called ‘Boys In The Mist.’ It was a lyric that he had originally given to Stevie Nicks. But Stevie wasn’t interested in it or wasn’t available to do it, so he sent it to me. I was able to convince him to change the title to ‘These Dreams’—he had written [those words] in the bridge. And he let me move it around” (Kawashima, 2017).
Lyrics
Spare a little candle, save some light for me
Figures up ahead, movin’ in the trees
White skin in linen, perfume on my wrist
And the full moon that hangs over
These dreams in the mist
Darkness on the edge, shadows where I stand
I search for the time on a watch with no hands
I want to see you clearly, come closer than this
But all I remember are the dreams in the mist
These dreams go on when I close my eyes
Every second of the night I live another life
These dreams that sleep when it’s cold outside
Every moment I’m awake, the further I’m away (the further I’m away)
Is it cloak and dagger? Could it be spring or fall?
I walk without a cut through a stained glass wall
(Weaker in my eyesight)
Weaker in my eyesight, the candle in my grip
(Words that have no form)
And words that have no form are falling from my lips
These dreams go on when I close my eyes
Every second of the night I live another life
These dreams that sleep when it’s cold outside
Every moment I’m awake the further I’m away (the further I’m away)
There’s something out there I can’t resist
I need to hide away from the pain
There’s something out there I can’t resist
The sweetest song is silence that I’ve ever heard
Funny how your feet in dreams never touch the earth
In a wood full of princes, freedom is a kiss
But the prince hides his face from dreams in the mist
These dreams go on when I close my eyes
Every second of the night I live another life
These dreams that sleep when it’s cold outside
Every moment I’m awake the further I’m away
These dreams go on when I close my eyes (every second)
Every second of the night I live another life
These dreams that sleep when it’s cold outside
Every moment I’m awake…
(Martin George Page / Bernard J. Taupin) 1985 © Little Mole Music, Imagem London Ltd., Concord Copyrights London Limited
Band
- Nancy Wilson – lead vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin
- Ann Wilson – background vocals
- Howard Leese – lead guitar, keyboards, mandolin, background vocals
- Mark Andes – bass guitar
- Denny Carmassi – drums
- Johnny Colla – background vocals
Reference
Kawashima, D. (2017). Martin Page discusses his career as a hit pop songwriter. Songwriter Universe. Retrieved from https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/martin-page-interview-2017.htm
