About the song
This iconic song transcends generations, a timeless ballad etched in the annals of popular music. Released in 1977 as part of their juggernaut album Rumours, Dreams is more than just a song; it’s a potent cocktail of raw emotion, poetic imagery, and infectious melody.
The story behind Dreams is as fascinating as the song itself. Rumours was born from a period of intense personal turmoil within the band. Couples were breaking up, hearts were shattering, and amidst the emotional wreckage, Fleetwood Mac channeled their pain into an album of unparalleled honesty. Stevie Nicks, the band’s mystical songstress, penned Dreams after a particularly fraught encounter with her then-partner and bandmate, Lindsey Buckingham. Their volatile relationship, a volatile mix of love and discord, served as the raw material for this introspective masterpiece.
Dreams opens with a deceptively simple arrangement. A lone piano, played by Nicks herself, lays down a melancholic foundation. Her instantly recognizable voice then enters, weaving a tapestry of bittersweet lyrics. Nicks sings of recurring dreams, a subconscious exploration of the fractured relationship with Buckingham. Lines like “Thunder only happens when it’s raining” capture the essence of their tumultuous dynamic, a love story punctuated by inevitable storms.
The beauty of Dreams lies in its ambiguity. While undeniably rooted in Nicks’ personal experience, the lyrics resonate with anyone who has ever grappled with the complexities of love and loss. The dreamlike quality, the sense of yearning and uncertainty, transcends the specifics of the band’s situation. Dreams becomes an anthem for the bittersweet pangs of a relationship on the rocks, a universal lament for love’s fleeting nature.
But Dreams is not merely a ballad of sorrow. There’s a vein of defiance that runs through the song. Lines like “I see you with another love” and “Someday I’ll be living in a big old house” hint at a steely resolve beneath the melancholic surface. Nicks, despite the heartache, acknowledges the need to move on, to build a future for herself independent of the relationship.
Musically, Dreams is a masterclass in subtlety. The instrumentation, featuring Lindsey Buckingham’s tasteful guitar work and John McVie’s steady bass line, perfectly complements Nicks’ vocals. The song builds gradually, reaching a crescendo on the iconic chorus “Players gonna play, you got to learn to play the game” . This line, delivered with a touch of world-weariness, encapsulates the bittersweet wisdom gleaned from a love lost.
Dreams remains a cornerstone of Fleetwood Mac’s legacy. It topped the charts in the US and became an instant classic. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its relatable themes, its emotional honesty, and its masterful musical execution. Dreams is more than just a song; it’s a testament to the transformative power of music, a reminder that even from the ashes of heartbreak, something beautiful can emerge.
Video
Lyrics
“Dreams”
You say you want your freedom
Well, who am I to keep you down?
It’s only right that you should
Play the way you feel it
But listen carefully to the sound
Of your loneliness
Like a heartbeat… drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering what you had
And what you lost…
And what you had…
And what you lost
Thunder only happens when it’s raining
Players only love you when they’re playing
Say… Women… they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean… you’ll know, you’ll know
Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions
I keep my visions to myself
It’s only me
Who wants to wrap around your dreams and…
Have you any dreams you’d like to sell?
Dreams of loneliness…
Like a heartbeat… drives you mad…
In the stillness of remembering what you had…
And what you lost…
And what you had…
And what you lost
Thunder only happens when it’s raining
Players only love you when they’re playing
Women they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you’ll know
Oh, thunder only happens when it’s raining
Players only love you when they’re playing
Say women they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you’ll know, you’ll know
You will know, you’ll know