Don’t Dream It’s Over
Neil Finn
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 travelling 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’s no proof
In the paper today tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the T.V page
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 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 dream it’s over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
Don’t ever let them win
Song appears on:
Crowded House - Crowded House (1986 debut album)
Live: Fangradio broadcasts 2020-2021
On the set of the Don’t Dream It’s Over video, November 1986
“I wrote “Don’t Dream It’s Over” on my brother’s piano. I was feeling a little bit antisocial that day; I wasn’t having a great day. For some reason, Tim wasn’t there. Paul Hester was living there at the time, and he invited a few people over, but I just wasn’t in the mood to socialize. I just remember going to the piano; I don’t know whether I was writing about them obliquely: “They come to build a wall between us.” That seems like a harsh commentary on a bunch of visitors! But songs are often like that; you get a line that pops out for a seemingly innocent reason. And it takes on greater significance in the context of the song because of what’s around it.
”
“It was one of those songs that came largely in one go, which doesn’t happen very often, and is usually a good sign.
In a sense, it was a private message from me to someone who was withdrawing from their world.”
“Somebody espoused the theory once that if ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ had been called ‘Hey Now’ we might have got a number one record in America. It’s probably completely bullshit but you never know.”
