Don't Dream It's Over

Listen while you read:  Crowded House (not friggin' Miley Cyrus)

There is freedom within, there is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're traveling with me

Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win

Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there is no proof
In the paper today tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the TV page

Hey now, hey now . . . 

Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Only shadows ahead barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and release

Hey now, hey now . . . 

Don't let them win . . . 

~ Neil Finn

Trying to keep track of the Finn Brothers (of whom Craig Finn is no relation) and their various musical connections is the New Zealand / Australian equivalent of trying to keep track of the relationships between Buffalo Springfield and The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Eagles, etc. I think some of you know what I mean. "Don't Dream It's Over" dates back to 1986 when Neil and Tim Finn were part of Crowded House and appears on the album named for the band.

As I'm sure you've noticed, it has become my habit to connect the songs I select with various issues going on in the world. It's really become so easy to do so. For example, it is amazing how many songs have walls in the lyrics, including this one. But I'm weary of the practice, so I am going to avoid it today.

Instead, I'll let Neil Finn do the talking: "I wrote that one on my brother's piano. I'm not sure if I remember what the context was, exactly, but 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.' That one actually fell out literally without me thinking about it too much."

Regardless of the politics of the world, we all feel lost at times. We all contemplate giving up. And some of us do. But maybe there's still that voice within that says Don't let them win. I hope you can hear it.

I hope we all hear it.