Lost In The Dream

The War On Drugs' song 'Lost In The Dream' delves into the complex interplay between memory, love, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone grappling with the ephemeral nature of dreams and the haunting persistence of memories. The opening lines, 'Lost in the dream / Or just the silence of a moment,' set the tone for a journey through introspection and the blurred lines between reality and illusion. This ambiguity is a recurring theme, reflecting the difficulty in distinguishing between what is real and what is imagined or remembered.

The song also touches on themes of loss and resilience. The imagery of a 'soldier man' with 'locked eyes like they were red' suggests a battle-worn individual, possibly a metaphor for the emotional scars that linger long after the actual events have passed. The line 'You may risk it all / You’d risk it all for the memory' speaks to the powerful hold that memories can have, compelling one to relive past experiences despite the potential pain. This is further emphasized by the recurring notion that these memories live 'under your skin,' indicating their deep, almost inescapable presence.

Love is portrayed as both a guiding light and a challenging game. The lyrics 'Love’s the key to the things that we see / And don’t mind chasing' suggest that love provides meaning and direction, even if it involves a relentless pursuit. However, love is also described as a 'game' that is 'always the same,' hinting at its repetitive and sometimes frustrating nature. The song concludes with a sense of acceptance, acknowledging that love and memory are intertwined and that navigating their complexities is an inherent part of the human experience.