Only in Dreams

"Only in Dreams" is a song by the band Weezer. It is the 10th and final track on their 1994 self-titled debut album. At slightly under eight minutes, it is to date Weezer's longest song. It is most noteworthy for its three-minute crescendo of the two guitars, bass, and drums, in which the dynamics gradually increase and the timbre builds up layers until the climaxing guitar solo at the end.

## Background

The song's lyrics tell the story of a young man who wants to be romantically involved with the girl of his dreams. But because he cannot do so in reality due to how nervous he is, he can only fantasize about being with her in his dreams; hence the title of the song. In a 2010 interview with Rolling Stone, Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo said, "I think most of our audience always thought it was a song about a girl when I’m really singing about my artistic process."

## Reception

When asked in 2006 which Weezer guitar solo he is the most proud of/likes the most, Rivers Cuomo answered, "I'd have to go with 'Only in Dreams' and [Make Believe track] 'Haunt You Every Day' for sheer length. Epic, epic, epic. So few people play these kinds of solos anymore."

IGN included "Only in Dreams" on their "Weezer Ultimate Mix" list, where they listed what songs they want to be compiled into a Weezer collection and called the song "the "Stairway to Heaven" for Generation X." They also listed the song on their "Top 10 Ambiguously Inspiring Songs" list, where they called it one of Weezer's best songs. Magnet considered "Only in Dreams" to be the third most overrated Weezer song. The song was rated #8 in Q Magazine's "20 Greatest Guitar Tracks" in September 2007. Melissa Bobbitt at About.com ranked it as the number 1 best Weezer song, stating "This is Weezer at their finest. From the syrupy opening bass line, to the sincere guitar work and the gawking lyrics, the immense closing song on their debut best represents the band".

In an article devoted to the song by Kevin McFarland at The A.V. Club, he described it as "Cuomo's epic masterpiece", as well as a "glorious anomaly in the Weezer canon".

Rolling Stone regarded the song as a "real gem." PopMatters calls the song a "'Bohemian Rhapsody'-worthy conclusion."

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

You can't resist her, she's in your bones

She is your marrow, and your ride home

You can't avoid her, she's in the air (In the air)

In between molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide

[Chorus]

Only in dreams, we see what it means

Reach out our hands, hold onto hers

But when we wake, it's all been erased

And so it seems, only in dreams

[Verse 2]

You walk up to her, ask her to dance

She says, "Hey, baby, I just might take the chance"

You say, "It's a good thing that you float in the air (in the air)

That way, there's no way I will crush your pretty toenails into a thousand pieces"

[Chorus]

Only in dreams, we see what it means

Reach out our hands, hold onto hers

But when we wake, it's all been erased

And so it seems, only in dreams

[Post-Chorus]

Only in dreams, only in dreams, only in dreams

Only in dreams, only in dreams, only in dreams, only in dreams

[Instrumental Bridge]

[Guitar Solo]

[Instrumental Outro]

## See Also

 Standard