Story Behind The Song

I was visiting a friend years ago, a very well-known jazz musician, who played for me parts of a symphony he was working on. The music was amazingly beautiful. My friend tragically died a few months later, the piece along with him as to my knowledge he never committed it to paper or tape. That experience inspired the line "The melody that no one heard now fills an empty room; Adagio played only for the moon..." and the idea for this song was born.

Song Description

This song is structured as a series of vignettes about people who dreamed of being movie stars, musicians, adventurers, politicians, athletes, etc. The chorus sums it up as: 1) the dreams don't want to die; 2) we all dream of just one more try; and 3) we're not satisfied until we win it all. In the bridge we realize the truth that, although we're not all famous or exceptional "...you can still be someone's hero 'cause as long as you're alive. There's a battle to fight, there's somebody to love, and another chance to get it right." The last verse is a vignette of a dad realizing all his dreams have come true when his little girl says "daddy, I love you." Finally, the last chorus is altered to include the admonition "...don't run for money, don't run for glory, don't run for nothin' that'll hurt your soul; Just keep on keepin' on and never look back 'cause you've already won the gold." The coda with its choir-like vocals, is an affirmation of faith in God.

Lyrics

EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM

How 'bout a movie star that never made the screen;
Never loved any heroes, no she never played a scene.
Never walked off into the sunset with her leading man;
She never found someone who'd understand...

How 'bout a symphony that never was begun;
Sat around in someone's head till his dyin' day had come.
The melody that no one heard now fills an empty room;
Adagio played only for the moon...

(Chorus)
Everybody has a dream that doesn't wanna die,
Though we grow a little older every day.
But everybody has a dream to give it one more try,
It's not enough to run the race, we just have to win the gold...

How 'bout a sailor, who never made the sea;
The captain of his ghost ship he was always meant to be.
Around the Cape, into the Straits, imagining the scene,
And the wind that blows forever in his mind...

How 'bout a president that never gave that speech;
Inauguration Day was always out of reach.
Never took the place of honor or her place in history;
No, she never heard them play "Hail to the Chief"...

(Chorus)

(Bridge)
Well, if you never make a 3 point shot as the clock is winding down;
Or hit a 4 run ball goin' over the wall to bring the Pennant back to town.
Well you can still be someone's hero 'cause as long as you're alive.
There's a battle to fight, there's somebody to love, and another chance to get it right.

How 'bout a story while you tuck her into bed.
Slay the dragon save the world, that's the way it always ends.
And as you look into that little girl's eyes, sayin' "Daddy, I love you"
You realize your wildest dreams have just come true...

(CHORUS)

Everybody has a dream that doesn't wanna die,
And we grow a little older every day..
And everybody has a dream to give it one more try,
But don't run for money, don't run for glory, don't run for nothin' that'll hurt your soul;
Just keep on keepin' on and never look back 'cause you've already won the gold.

(CODA)
How 'bout a sinner who never paid his due,
The God of love that took his place was there to see him through...

Everybody has a dream...
Everybody has a dream...

© 1991, 2011 Rey Sanchez Music, SESAC