Dreamland

Glass Animals' song 'Dreamland' is a vivid exploration of memory, nostalgia, and the surreal nature of our inner worlds. The lyrics paint a picture of someone navigating the labyrinth of their mind, slipping through memories and dreams like a tourist. The repetition of 'Pullin' down backstreets, deep in your head' suggests a journey through the subconscious, where past experiences and emotions are revisited and re-examined.

The song delves into the complexity of human experience, touching on moments of joy, pain, and everything in between. Lines like 'That first friend you had, that worst thing you said' and 'That perfect moment, that last tear you shed' highlight the duality of our memories—the good and the bad, the cherished and the regretted. The reference to 'Memorex'—a brand known for its blank tapes—suggests that these memories are recorded and replayed in our minds, constantly influencing our present.

'You've had too much of the digital love, you want everything live, you want things you can touch' speaks to a longing for authenticity in an increasingly digital world. The desire for tangible experiences, reminiscent of a simpler time, is a recurring theme. The song also touches on the surreal and bizarre, with references to 'old conceptual cars' and 'girls dressed in drag, boys with guitars,' adding to the dreamlike quality of the narrative.

The imagery of 'Kodachrome,' 'pink and gold,' and 'Mulholland glow' evokes a sense of nostalgia and a longing for the past. The mention of 'airplane mode' suggests a desire to disconnect from the present and immerse oneself in these memories. The song concludes with a reflection on the nature of identity and change, encapsulated in the line 'Oh, it's 2020, so it's time to change that,' indicating a call to action and self-reinvention.