About the song
“Dream On” is a seminal power ballad by American rock band Aerosmith, first appearing on their 1973 self-titled debut album. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, the song marked Aerosmith’s inaugural major hit and has since become an enduring classic rock anthem. Upon its release in June 1973, “Dream On” initially climbed to number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it gained significant traction in the band’s hometown of Boston, where it soared to the top of the charts, achieving the number one spot on WBZ-FM, number five on WRKO, and number 16 on WMEX (AM). Its local popularity was further fueled by heavy airplay on WVBF (FM), where it frequently dominated the “Top Five at Five” in June 1973.
The album version of “Dream On” runs 4:28 minutes long, in contrast to the 3:25-minute 45 rpm edit released in 1973, which trimmed much of the intro and altered the chorus structure. This longer version was re-released in late 1975 and saw renewed success, debuting at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 10, 1976. It quickly climbed the charts, reaching the top 40 by February 14 and peaking at number 6 on April 10 of that year. Columbia Records promoted both the long and short versions to top 40 radio stations, introducing many listeners to Aerosmith’s first top 10 hit through the 45 edit.
“Dream On” has earned a place in rock history, as evidenced by its ranking on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, where it has been listed at positions 172 in 2004, 173 in 2010, and 199 in 2021. In 2007, Aerosmith re-recorded the song for the video game *Guitar Hero: Aerosmith* due to the original master track being unavailable. The song’s influence continues to be recognized, with its induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018 and a milestone achievement of surpassing one billion streams on Spotify on November 29, 2023. “Dream On” remains a timeless testament to Aerosmith’s enduring legacy and the power of classic rock.
Video
Lyrics
Every time that I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It went by like dusk to dawn
Isn’t that the way?
Everybody’s got the dues in life to pay, yeah
I know nobody knows
Where it comes and where it goes
I know it’s everybody’s sin
You’ve got to lose to know how to win
Half my life’s in books’ written pages
Live and learn from fools and from sages
You know it’s true, oh
All the things come back to you
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear
Sing with me, if it’s just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away
Yeah, sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear
Sing with me, if it’s just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream until the dream come true
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream until your dream come true
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream on, oh
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear
Sing with me, if it’s just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear
Sing with me, if it’s just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away