How To Dream
Sam Phillips
The Duality of Reality and Dreams in 'How To Dream'
Sam Phillips' song 'How To Dream' delves into the intricate relationship between our waking life and our dreams. The repetitive and almost hypnotic refrain 'When we open our eyes and dream, we open our eyes' suggests a blurring of the lines between reality and the dream world. This line implies that dreaming is not just a state of unconsciousness but a way of seeing and understanding the world more deeply. By opening our eyes to dream, we are opening ourselves to new perspectives and possibilities that we might not see in our everyday lives.
The lyrics 'Under normal, we change the wind, facing every direction' and 'Planted in the future, we live two lives' highlight the duality of our existence. On one hand, we are grounded in the present, dealing with the tangible aspects of life. On the other, we are constantly looking forward, dreaming and planning for the future. This duality is further emphasized by the line 'All to reveal a secret we can't hide,' suggesting that our dreams and aspirations are an integral part of who we are, even if we don't always acknowledge them.
The imagery of 'searching the sky, planets chasing the stars' and 'weights and numbers measure a wound that won't heal' adds a cosmic and almost existential layer to the song. It speaks to the human condition of always seeking, always yearning for something greater, while also dealing with the inevitable pains and scars that come with life. The 'wound that won't heal' could symbolize the perpetual longing and the emotional baggage that we carry, which dreams can sometimes help us confront and understand. Through its poetic and evocative lyrics, 'How To Dream' invites listeners to explore the depths of their own dreams and the truths they reveal.