About the song
“Dream Lover” stands out as a quintessential example of late 1950s pop music, immortalized by the charismatic Bobby Darin. Written and recorded by Darin on March 5, 1959, this track was released to the public the following month and quickly made its mark on the music world. Produced by the esteemed Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler, with engineering by Tom Dowd, the song boasts a polished and captivating sound that has resonated with listeners for decades.
The song features a notable collaboration with Neil Sedaka on piano, adding a rich, melodic texture to the piece. Darin, known for his innovative approach to music, made the creative decision to extend some chord changes he discovered on the piano, resulting in a lush arrangement that includes strings and background vocals. This decision highlights Darin’s willingness to experiment and push the boundaries of traditional pop music.
The success of “Dream Lover” was remarkable. Upon its release as a single on Atco Records in 1959, it quickly became a multi-million seller. The song reached an impressive No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, holding this position for a week. It also made significant strides on other charts, peaking at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Sides chart and No. 5 in Canada. Despite its success, “Dream Lover” was edged out of the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 by Johnny Horton’s “The Battle of New Orleans.” However, the song achieved its own form of triumph by topping the UK’s New Musical Express chart for four weeks in July 1959.
Additionally, “Dream Lover” found success in other international markets, reaching No. 5 on Norway’s VG-lista, No. 12 in Flanders, and No. 21 in Wallonia. The song’s widespread appeal across different regions underscores its universal charm and Darin’s talent as an artist. The picture sleeve for the single, featuring a striking portrait of Darin, adds a visual element to the song’s legacy, making it a memorable piece of music history.
Video
Lyrics
Every night I hope and pray
A dream lover will come my way
A girl to hold in my arms
And know the magic of her charms
‘Cause I want (yeah-yeah, yeah)
A girl (yeah-yeah, yeah)
To call (yeah-yeah, yeah)
My own (yeah-yeah)
I want a dream lover
So, I don’t have to dream alone
Dream lover, where are you?
With a love, oh, so true
And the hand that I can hold
To feel you near as I grow old
‘Cause I want (yeah-yeah, yeah)
A girl (yeah-yeah, yeah)
To call (yeah-yeah, yeah)
My own (yeah-yeah, yeah)
I want a dream lover
So, I don’t have to dream alone
Someday, I don’t know how
I hope she’ll hear my pleas
Some way, I don’t know how
She’ll bring her love to me
Dream lover, until then
I’ll go to sleep and dream again
That’s the only thing to do
‘Til all my lover’s dreams come true
‘Cause I want (yeah-yeah, yeah)
A girl (yeah-yeah, yeah)
To call (yeah-yeah, yeah)
My own (yeah-yeah, yeah)
I want a dream lover
So, I don’t have to dream alone
Dream lover, until then
I’ll go to sleep and dream again
That’s the only thing to do
‘Til all my lover’s dreams come true
‘Cause I want (yeah-yeah, yeah)
A girl (yeah-yeah, yeah)
To call (yeah-yeah, yeah)
My own (yeah-yeah, yeah)
I want a dream lover
So, I don’t have to dream alone
Please, don’t make me dream alone
I beg you, don’t make me dream alone
No, I don’t wanna dream alone