There must be lights burning brighter somewhere
Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue
If I can dream of a better land
Where all my brothers walk hand in hand
Tell me why, oh why, oh why can't my dream come true
Oh why

There must be peace and understanding sometime
Strong winds of promise that will blow away the doubt and fear
If I can dream of a warmer sun
Where hope keeps shining on everyone
Tell me why, oh why, oh why won't that sun appear

We're lost in a cloud
With too much rain
We're trapped in a world
That's troubled with pain
But as long as a man
Has the strength to dream
He can redeem his soul and fly

Deep in my heart there's a trembling question
Still I am sure that the answer, answer's gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, there's a beckoning candle, yeah
And while I can think, while I can talk
While I can stand, while I can walk
While I can dream
Oh, please let my dream
Come true
Right now
Let it come true right now
Oh yeah


Lyrics submitted by STREAMSTREE, edited by lagfonseca

If I Can Dream Lyrics as written by Walter Earl Brown

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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If I Can Dream song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    An amazing inspiring song that Elvis sang with more emotiona than almost any other song.

    Elvis cared deeply about people and treating each other with dignity and equality, he had a few songs like this where he sings about social issues like "In the ghetto" But "If I can dream" is about the dream of everyone getting along, no fighting about stupid issies, etc. And might be a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. now that I think about it and his hope that peace was possible between people. It's a song of hope, "But as long as a man Has the strength to dreamHe can redeem his soul and fly"

    ephilbrookon January 17, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    1968 comeback special - If I Can Dream, brings tears to my eyes. He put so much meaning into it, it's truly truly beautiful.

    This song leaves me speechless, and watching him perform it in concerts reassures to me why I'm an Elvis fan. Thank you Elvis, for everything you've given to us through your music. You will never be forgotten, and we will remember you for eternity through your music and songs like these. thank you

    havok_foreveron April 20, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "ephilbrook" and others - you are right. Following the assassination of Martin Luther King and others Elvis wanted to make his own political speech. His "minders" advised him against that so he took the next best step and recorded this song. The raw emotion in this song is really powerful, sung from the heart and it shows. At the 2010 Parkes Elvis Festival a finalist in the Elvis impersonation contest chose this song to sing - unfortunately for him he couldn't get near the vocal and emotional intensity of Elvis.

    chrisb1on January 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is my favourite Elvis song and I agree with ephilbrook that Elvis sang this song with more emotion than any other song. I saw him singing it live on TV and I almost cried. Amazing stuff.

    insanelysaneon January 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is an inspiring and powerful song, vastly underrated...my favorite elvis song, bar none

    a guyon May 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Just beautiful... All about searching and hoping for truth and beauty adn goodness and holding on in the darkest of times. Elvis sings it so beautifully. He puts his everytihng into it.

    monkfluenceon May 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is one of my favourites. Ever. ' got to be birds, flying higher...' the way Elvis raises his voice in this line is beautiful. its an inspiration. If we could all dream.

    paradise iceon September 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I do a bit of singing and sing this whenever I can I love this song so much, this was one of Elvis' favourite songs and definately mine! The emotion on Elvis' face when he sings "Deep in my heart there's a trembling question," just shows you how much he loved and felt for the words in this song!

    azza16/08/1977on April 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I get lost in this song every time. I love it.

    brittanixon July 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great song. Powerful message and so much emotion. My favorite Elvis song.

    Uptowngirlon December 18, 2010   Link

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