Songs About Dreams
We all dream, but some people do much more than that. They make songs about their dreams. Here is a list of some of the best songs we’ve found about dreaming.
The best songs about dreams and dreaming
Dreams are often an inspiration. They fuel aspirations and provide hope. Here are 14 inspirational songs that capture and convey the essence of dreaming.
(Also be sure to check out the big list of dream songs below!)
1. In Dreams by Roy Orbison
Album: In Dreams
Year: 1963
This song by Roy Orbison is featured in David Lynch’s 1986 cult-favorite film “Blue Velvet.” It helped set the edgy, noir mood of the movie along with other vintage songs from the movie’s soundtrack (like Bobby Vinton’s “Blue Velvet”).
Entertainment Weekly included the soundtrack of “Blue Velvet” on its list of “100 Greatest Film Soundtracks.”
Roy Orbison also recorded three other songs about dreams during his career; his top-ten hit “Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream),” the jazz-influenced “Dream,” and the parlor song “Beautiful Dreamer.”
2. California Dreamin’ by The Mamas And The Papas
Album: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
Year: 1965
The Mamas and The Papas make the list of best dream songs with “California Dreamin’” (just edging out another of their hits and fellow dream song, “Dream a Little Dream of Me”).
Inspiration for “California Dreamin'” came from band member (and California girl) Michelle Phillips’ aversion to the cold of a New York City winter.
Hubby John Phillips came up with the lyrics reflecting Michelle’s longing for her home in sunny California.
The song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and is included on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.
Check out these famous dream quotes and sayings.
3. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac – Songs about dreams
Album: Rumours
Year: 1977
Stevie Nicks titled this song “Dreams” even though it’s about a relationship breakup.
In fact, the word “dreams” only shows up three times in the lyrics:
“It’s only me who wants to wrap around your dreams
And have you any dreams you’d like to sell?
Dreams of loneliness”
“Dreams” is Fleetwood Mac’s only number-one hit song in the United States, leading the way on their mega-hit album “Rumours.”
Check out these songs with whistling in the music.
4. Dream On by Aerosmith
Album: Aerosmith
Year: 1973
According to Aerosmith’s lead singer Steven Tyler, the band’s first single was inspired by classical music chords played by his father. Three-year-old Steven would lie underneath his piano and listen to his dad play.
The popularity of “Dream On” helped Aerosmith survive its early years since their first (self-titled) album didn’t sell very well.
Columbia records focused its promotional efforts instead on another up-and-coming artist at the time named Bruce Springsteen.
With a radio-friendly edit that shortened the album version of the song, “Dream On” reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
5. #9 Dream by John Lennon
Album: Walls And Bridges
Year: 1974
This popular dream song from John Lennon features the nonsense lyrics “Ah bowakawa, posse, posse.”
Lennon explained the gibberish came to him in a dream (and contained nine syllables). Thus the song’s title, “#9 Dream.”
This song is also included in our list of famous songs featuring gibberish lyrics. Check it out!
“#9 Dream” reached the #9 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.
Here’s a fun playlist featuring songs about colors.
6. Dreams by The Cranberries
Album: Everybody Else Is Doing It, Why Can’t We?
Year: 1993
The Cranberries’ first single “Dreams” helped launch the Irish rock band to national acclaim.
Lead singer Dolores O’Riordan was only 20 years old when the song was released. She wrote it about the rush of feelings when you meet your first love.
The song proved to be very popular as a TV and movie soundtrack during the 1990s. It was featured in six major films and three TV dramas during that era.
7. Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift – Songs about dreams
Album: 1989
Year: 2014
Taylor Swift’s sultry love song “Wildest Dreams” takes a different approach from her more idealistic views of romance.
“I used to go into [relationships] thinking, ‘Maybe this is the one — we’ll get married and have a family. This could be forever.’ Whereas now I go in thinking, ‘How long do we have on the clock — before something comes along and puts a wrench in it, or your publicist calls and says this isn’t a good idea?’,” she admitted to Rolling Stone.
Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” reached the #5 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S.
8. All I Have To Do Is Dream by The Everly Brothers
Album: (Released as a single)
Year: 1958
The Everly Brothers recorded their number-one hit “All I Have To Do Is Dream” in just two takes.
With support from Chet Atkins on guitar, the song became the only single to ever reach #1 on all of the Billboard singles charts simultaneously.
Rolling Stone magazine added the song to its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
9. Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House
Album: Crowded House
Year: 1986
Lead singer Neil Finn wrote Crowded House’s biggest U.S. hit, a song about unity and not giving up when you’re down.
“It was just about on the one hand feeling kind of lost, and on the other hand sort of urging myself on: Don’t dream it’s over,” he explained to Goldmine magazine.
The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.
10. Daydream Believer by The Monkees – Songs about dreams
Album: The Birds, the Bees & the Monkeys
Year: 1967
Over their career, the 1960s TV pop band The Monkees sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
“Daydream Believer” was the band’s last #1 single before they broke apart.
Lead singer Davy Jones counts this song as his favorite from the band’s work. It reached #1 in the U.S. and #5 on the U.K. Hot 100 charts.
11. Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Album: Full Moon Fever
Year: 1989
Tom Petty wrote this song with guitarist Mike Campbell and ELO frontman Jeff Lynne, who co-produced the “Full Moon Fever” album and played many instruments on the record.
Petty got help from his other famous Traveling Wilburys bandmates Roy Orbison and George Harrison on this album as well.
The song’s lyrics include a reference to Del Shannon and his 1961 hit song “Runaway” — “Me and Del were singin’ little Runaway.”
For more songs that name-drop famous people, check out Songs With Celebrities in the Lyrics.
12. Dream Lover by Bobby Darin
Album: Darin at the Copa
Year: 1959
Teen idol Bobby Darin made fans swoon with his wholesome image and boy-next-door looks.
“Dream Lover” tells the story of a boy who dreams of a lover and his desire to make her real.
Darin followed up this #1 U.K. hit song (#2 in the U.S.) with his popular songs “Mack the Knife” and “Beyond the Sea.”
13. Dream Weaver by Gary Wright
Album: The Dream Weaver
Year: 1975
Indian spiritualism influenced Gary Wright to compose his 70s hit song “Dream Weaver.”
The song’s title came to him after reading a poem by a famous yogi given to him by fellow musician George Harrison. The verse contained a line about the mind ‘weaving dreams.’
With that inspiration, Wright finished the song in an hour. “The lyrics and music seemed to have flowed out of me as if written by an unseen source,” he said on his website.
The song is “about someone with infinite compassion and love… None other than God Himself.”
14. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics
Album: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Year: 1982
Annie Lennox and songwriting partner Dave Stewart wrote “Sweet Dreams” after a bitter fight took place between them.
The anger and resentment they felt provided the creative force behind this song about searching for fulfillment.
The advent of MTV proved beneficial to the song’s popularity, thrusting it to the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.
The big list of songs about dreams
Here is a list of even more songs about dreams and dreaming by many different popular artists. Enjoy!
- Daydreaming by Radiohead
- Dream Police by Cheap Trick
- I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) by The Electric Prunes
- River of Dreams by Billy Joel
- Just a Dream by Nelly
- Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day
- American Dream by MKTO
- Ghetto Dreams by Common
- These Dreams by Heart
- Just a Dream by Carrie Underwood
- Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me by The Smiths
- Dreams Money Can Buy by Drake
- Dream Operator by Talking Heads
- Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect by The Decemberists
- Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car by Billy Ocean
- I Have a Dream by ABBA
- You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates
- All of These Dreams by Phish
- Your Wildest Dreams by The Moody Blues
- If I Can Dream by Elvis Presley
- Dreams of the Everyday Housewife by Glen Campbell
- A Head Full of Dreams by Coldplay
- Only In My Dreams by Debbie Gibson
- Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
- 40 Day Dream by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
The big list – Songs about dreams and dreaming
- Dreamsicle by Jason Isbell
- Dreams and Nightmares by Meek Mill
- Barbie Dreams by Nicki Minaj
- Sweet Dreams by Beyoncé
- Dream With Me by Jackie Evancho
- Innocent When You Dream by Tom Waits
- Dreamer by Supertramp
- Bob Dylan’s Dream by Bob Dylan
- I Can Dream About You by Dan Hartman
- Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD
- Dreams of the San Joaquin by Linda Ronstadt
- Dreamer by Ozzy Osbourne
- I Will Dream by Emmylou Harris
- Dreamer in My Dreams by Wilco
- Only in Dreams (Kitchen Tapes) by Weezer
- Fever Dream by Iron & Wine
- Flying Dream 143 by Elbow
- I Could Be Dreaming by Belle and Sebastian
- Dreaming by Blondie
- Dreams by The Allman Brothers Band
- Wildest Dreams by Brandy
- Dream Baby Dream by Bruce Springsteen
- A Dream by DeBarge
- Dreams by Van Halen
- Follow Your Dream by Sheryn Regis
- Dreaming Of You by Selena
- Dreams by Beck
We hope you enjoyed reading this list of the best songs about dreams and dreaming. Here are more song playlists you’ll like:
By Greg Johnson | Published 6/29/2022
