In Dreams

Roy Orbison's 'In Dreams' is a poignant ballad that delves into the world of dreams as a refuge from the pain of lost love. The song opens with the gentle imagery of the Sandman, a mythical character who helps bring sleep and dreams. Orbison uses this figure to set the stage for a nightly escape into a dream world where he can be with his lost love once again. The Sandman's 'candy-colored' description adds a surreal, almost childlike innocence to the experience, contrasting the complexity of the emotions involved.

As the song progresses, the dream becomes a sanctuary where the singer can experience the love and connection that is no longer present in his waking life. The repeated lines 'In dreams, I walk with you. In dreams, I talk to you. In dreams, you're mine all the time' emphasize the depth of his yearning and the solace he finds in his dreams. However, this solace is temporary, as the reality intrudes with the dawn. The awakening is painful, and the singer admits his helplessness and sorrow when he cries upon realizing that the reunion with his beloved can only occur in his dreams.

The song's conclusion is a melancholic acceptance of the dream world's limitations. The line 'It's too bad that all these things can only happen in my dreams' encapsulates the heartache of desiring something that is unattainable in real life. Orbison's powerful voice and the dreamy melody create a haunting atmosphere that lingers with the listener, evoking the universal experience of longing for what we cannot have.