 Welcome To My Dream (1991) [ larger cover art ] |
Share this song
Tweet this song
Wikipedia search
Musicbrainz DB;){kind=link}
Stealing down an ally on a cold dark night
I see a halo in the rain around the street light
I stop and look, and listen to the sound
As the raindrops penetrate the silence all around
Alone, I gaze into the glistening street
The distant thunder echoing my heartbeat
Urging me on to a secret goal
Away from the light from this lamp on a pole
So I turn, slip away into the rain
Drifting like a spirit through the shadows in the lane
Clutching the tools of my trade in my hand
An old box of matches and a gasoline can
Darkness envelopes the scene like a shroud
A veil of emptiness hangs from the clouds
Filling up the cracks in this desolate place
Cradled by the night in an icy embrace
Moving to the town like a ghost in the rain
A dim reflection in a dark window pane
Blackness beckons from every side
Creeping all around like an incoming tide
A broken window in an empty house
I slip inside and begin to douse
The whole place with the fuel that will feed the fire
And push back the night, taking me higher
On out of the darkness in a defeaning roar
The match in my hand is the key to the door
A simple turn of the wrist will suffice
To open a passage to paradise
I pause, I think about the past and the gloom
The smell of gasoline permiates the room
Everyone has a little secret he keeps
I light the fires while the city sleeps
(Like the 4th of July)
The match makes a graceful auk to the floor
And time stands still as I turn for the door
Which expoldes in a fireball and throws me to the street
I hit the ground running with the flames at my feet
Reaching for the night which encoils in the fire
The raindrops hiss like a devilish choir
Dying in the flames with a terrible sound
Calling all the names of the sleepers all around
But then in the arms of the night, they lay
Their dreams sprout wings and fly away
Out of the houses in a gathering flock
Swarming overhead as I hurry down the block
I make my escape with the greatest of ease
And savor the darkness, drop to my knees
And the lightless window, my hand on the latch
I reach in my pocket, and pull out a match
(Like the 4th of July)
I see a halo in the rain around the street light
I stop and look, and listen to the sound
As the raindrops penetrate the silence all around
Alone, I gaze into the glistening street
The distant thunder echoing my heartbeat
Urging me on to a secret goal
Away from the light from this lamp on a pole
So I turn, slip away into the rain
Drifting like a spirit through the shadows in the lane
Clutching the tools of my trade in my hand
An old box of matches and a gasoline can
Darkness envelopes the scene like a shroud
A veil of emptiness hangs from the clouds
Filling up the cracks in this desolate place
Cradled by the night in an icy embrace
Moving to the town like a ghost in the rain
A dim reflection in a dark window pane
Blackness beckons from every side
Creeping all around like an incoming tide
A broken window in an empty house
I slip inside and begin to douse
The whole place with the fuel that will feed the fire
And push back the night, taking me higher
On out of the darkness in a defeaning roar
The match in my hand is the key to the door
A simple turn of the wrist will suffice
To open a passage to paradise
I pause, I think about the past and the gloom
The smell of gasoline permiates the room
Everyone has a little secret he keeps
I light the fires while the city sleeps
(Like the 4th of July)
The match makes a graceful auk to the floor
And time stands still as I turn for the door
Which expoldes in a fireball and throws me to the street
I hit the ground running with the flames at my feet
Reaching for the night which encoils in the fire
The raindrops hiss like a devilish choir
Dying in the flames with a terrible sound
Calling all the names of the sleepers all around
But then in the arms of the night, they lay
Their dreams sprout wings and fly away
Out of the houses in a gathering flock
Swarming overhead as I hurry down the block
I make my escape with the greatest of ease
And savor the darkness, drop to my knees
And the lightless window, my hand on the latch
I reach in my pocket, and pull out a match
(Like the 4th of July)
| Poacher (Brighton, UK) | Posted: May 12, 2013 - 03:00 This is outstanding! On so many levels. |
| Biscobret (Vashon, WA) | Posted: Apr 10, 2013 - 23:01 Came in to say "WOW!!! I haven't heard this in 20 years! Thanks, Bill... once again you blow my mind with your diverse tastes and knowledge.!!!  |
| Biscobret (Vashon, WA) | Posted: Apr 10, 2013 - 22:59 fredriley wrote: Yep, I'll second that. I can't bear rap normally (learn to feckin' sing, guys!) but this is intriguing. Perhaps what rap should be, poetry with music, not macho ranting with aggressive backbeats and mandatory misogyny. Wow - that's a lot of overgeneralizing there! That's like saying that "rock music is made by drug addicts" or "jazz is just too crazy & unstructured." A whole genre of music that you obviously know little about described in a sentence. Shame. Why is rap the one genre that is still so maligned by good people who claim to "know good music?" There is a lot of poetry in a rap - even in those "macho ranting"s that you don't care for - a lot. I'm sure that you dad, or grandfather depending on your age, said that rock music wasn't really even music. Of course we know that this is a stupid statement - same goes for rap. Public Enemy are being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, BTW. Grandmaster Flash & Run DMC are already there. |
| coffeeadikt (Albany, NY) | Posted: Mar 10, 2013 - 12:01 mostling wrote: the 900 footer was way ahead of his time. Way before Linkin park. Reminds me of Paul Hardcastle's "19" and later Butthole Surfers Yeah, no kidding. I'm surprised to see it goes back to 1991. I thought for sure it was influenced by Portishead and Beck.I totally see where you're coming from with Butthole Surfers too. |
| myersei (Denver, CO) | Posted: Jan 06, 2013 - 21:08 such a cool track. been a while since i heard these guys last. |
| BoulderKevin (Boulder, CO) | Posted: Jan 06, 2013 - 18:57 Heard of them, but never really gave them a good listen. I like... |
| mostling | Posted: Dec 06, 2012 - 09:58 the 900 footer was way ahead of his time. Way before Linkin park. Reminds me of Paul Hardcastle's "19" and later Butthole Surfers |
| wxman (a random dimension) | Posted: Dec 06, 2012 - 09:57  |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Dec 06, 2012 - 09:56 bh1 wrote: Much as I dislike rap, I find this kind of interesting. I like the trance music aspect, the vocal not so sure, but not the vocal effects. Still, something different every now and then is good even if it is not something I like. after all I tune in here for non mainstream music so I shouldn't complain. And at least it isn't Liki Li. Yep, I'll second that. I can't bear rap normally (learn to feckin' sing, guys!) but this is intriguing. Perhaps what rap should be, poetry with music, not macho ranting with aggressive backbeats and mandatory misogyny. |
| aspicer (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Dec 06, 2012 - 09:55 Always liked this album - one of the better tunes from it. |
| bh1 | Posted: Nov 05, 2012 - 00:51 Much as I dislike rap, I find this kind of interesting. I like the trance music aspect, the vocal not so sure, but not the vocal effects. Still, something different every now and then is good even if it is not something I like. after all I tune in here for non mainstream music so I shouldn't complain. And at least it isn't Liki Li. |
| hidey (NZ) | Posted: Nov 05, 2012 - 00:48 Elevator muzac. Let me out. |
| Jelani (Home of the freak, land of the vague) | Posted: Oct 04, 2012 - 15:42 Now, just try to imagine this song sung from the perspective of a fireman... |
| Krispian (Vancouver, BC) | Posted: Aug 02, 2012 - 15:43 Great to hear this! This guy put out some really great music in the 90s. |
| vandal (arriving somewhere, but not here. . .) | Posted: Jul 23, 2010 - 08:19 Valley_Boy wrote: I had to remove my headphones and wash out my ears. Then by all means, please do. . . |
| SirLars (London, ON) | Posted: Jul 23, 2010 - 08:15 "a 900 ft Jesus would have a 100 foot SHLONG!" Mclean and Mclean |
| socalhol (Seattle) | Posted: Jun 21, 2010 - 11:21 doctec wrote: I always liked this song, it's held up well over the years. Evocative and creepy. Agreed! It's great to hear every now and again — takes me back. It was unique when it first came out, as compared to other songs out at the time. |
| MinMan (Bay Area, CA) | Posted: Jun 21, 2010 - 11:16 bares repeating: Per Oral Robert's Obit - "Jesus, I'll even preach for you if you'll save my soul."Jesus took him up on it. Mr Roberts next saw Him, in 1980, as he stood praying by a giant unfinished skyscraper in Tulsa. This was his City of Faith Medical Centre, built on the Lord's instructions but running into financial delays. He was now a rich man, in an Italian silk suit and with solid gold bracelets on his wrists. His annual income from donations was $120m; he bought a new Mercedes every six months, and had a luxury home in Palm Springs. His inspirational shows were broadcast on hundreds of radio and TV stations. Richard Nixon and Elvis Presley had sought his spiritual counselling, as had millions of other hurting people. But Jesus towered over all this. He was 900 feet tall, with eyes that burned to the very pit of Mr Roberts's soul. He assured him the Centre would be finished and, just to show him how easy it would be, He picked it up." Economist 1/1/2010. |
| wolverine (Canada) | Posted: May 20, 2010 - 16:05 denbear wrote: I know few like this piece, but I just love it. It was outside the norm in its time. Love the narrative. I think he captured a point of view in a very accessible way. You summed up exactly what I was thinking!  I'm liking this song.. |
| denbear (Denver, Colorado) | Posted: Apr 18, 2010 - 21:37 I know few like this piece, but I just love it. It was outside the norm in its time. Love the narrative. I think he captured a point of view in a very accessible way. |
| CatFitz (Tulsa, OK) | Posted: Mar 18, 2010 - 07:36 Amazing! This track and the previous two all suck, but in totally different ways! Please for the love of Bob, no more! Ick Johnny Trash - I'm leaving now Rosanne Cash - Burn down this town mc 900 ft jesus - the city sleeps it just keeps getting worse! |
| Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida) | Posted: Mar 18, 2010 - 07:35 roccoeugene wrote: He's got some good tracks this isn't one of them. RP won't play rap or hip hop but they'll play this lame, watered-down, white rap. Yeah, white people are stupid and lame. If by watered down you mean smart and theatrical, water me down every day. You might want to research 1930's talking blues by Oklahoma dirt farmers when looking for the roots of spoken word music, which might be a more fitting description of this than rap. Appreciate this artist, but had not heard this cut. Makes me want to hear some Ken Nordine. |
| Valley_Boy (Wisconsin: Smell our DairyAir) | Posted: Mar 18, 2010 - 07:35 I had to remove my headphones and wash out my ears. |
| FrankMc | Posted: Mar 18, 2010 - 07:34 redtex wrote: This sounds too much like many others...vocals from Butt Hole Surfers/Pepper, Tom Waits, LFeat as you mentioned. Needs some work. the_bink wrote: Tom Waits?????? You must be joking. FrankMc feels compels to add: Little Feat?????? (assuming that is LFeat.) I can't imagine any iteration of that fine band ever producing anything that sounds like this. Actually like it better on second listening than on first (when I gave it a 2.) But I know Little Feat and this is no Little Feat. |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Mar 18, 2010 - 07:32 A simple message to all rap and hip-hop artists: learn to feckin' sing! Otherwise call yourselves poets, not singers. Ok, hobby horse dismounted... |
| contractor07 (Ann Arbor Michigan) | Posted: Mar 03, 2010 - 16:44 I think |
| More_Cowbell (Northern IL) | Posted: Jan 14, 2010 - 06:59 Sounds like Beck ripped them off. |
| fatcatjb (Sunny Sacramento) | Posted: Dec 13, 2009 - 21:23 so glad to hear from someone else who's heard of Buck 65 flatpicker wrote: This kinda reminds me of Buck 65. But not as good. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wyyVh3uc5Y |
| smdeeg (SillyCone Valley) | Posted: Nov 12, 2009 - 12:24 doctec wrote: I always liked this song, it's held up well over the years. Evocative and creepy. Completely agree. He had a very interesting musical vision ... hip-hop, jazz, electronica, spoken word, humor, story telling ... what ever you call it, great grooves with interesting lyrics ranging from the creepy (like this one) to the downright silly. Maybe the best band of the 90s that no one's ever heard of. For anyone out there who likes this, do check out his other stuff. Both Welcome to my Dream (the middle album) and One Step Ahead of the Spider (his third/last) are fantastic. |
| flatpicker (Toronto, Canada) | Posted: Nov 12, 2009 - 11:41 This kinda reminds me of Buck 65. But not as good. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wyyVh3uc5Y |
| More_Cowbell (North of Chicago, IL, USA) | Posted: Sep 10, 2009 - 10:52 how about bloodhound gang... the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire... |
| Nat (Toronto, Canada) | Posted: Sep 10, 2009 - 10:51 What the heck is this? It woke up the baby and made her cry. |
| thewiseking (New York, New York) | Posted: Sep 10, 2009 - 10:50 reminds one of Jamie Kennedy's wanksta rap in Malibu's Most Wanted |
| mtmedlin | Posted: Aug 09, 2009 - 22:38 I like this song, but I prefer the version that appears on one of the KCRW collections. Much more paired down production, and clearer lyric. If you're a fan of this song, give it a try. —mike |
| jagdriver (Tunin' in from the aptly-named Grass Valley, CA) | Posted: Jul 09, 2009 - 08:05 doctec wrote: I always liked this song, it's held up well over the years. Evocative and creepy. I agree. In reading some of the other comments, should we also ban all songs that mention heavy drug use, alcoholism, illicit sex, and anything else that is a challenge to society? Like anything else, just because we hear or read about something doesn't mean we go out and do it. Even as an impressionable teen (back then), I wouldn't have been inclined to become a serial arsonist because of song lyrics. |
| doctec (Northeastern U.S.) | Posted: Jul 09, 2009 - 06:38 I always liked this song, it's held up well over the years. Evocative and creepy. |
| martinc (Ottawa Canada) | Posted: Jul 09, 2009 - 06:37 Once again RP gives me some variety to listen to. This I could do without. Is the sound him chuggin the gasoline. I hate the thought of some kid listening to this and be inspired. I guess my age doesn't let me see anything good in this. |
| roccoeugene | Posted: Jul 09, 2009 - 06:37 He's got some good tracks this isn't one of them. RP won't play rap or hip hop but they'll play this lame, watered-down, white rap. |
| shawshank (Maryland) | Posted: Jul 09, 2009 - 06:35 Fire fascinates me....  |
| sirrus (yesterday) | Posted: Jul 09, 2009 - 06:35 Word to your mother... |
| Bluebuddha (Atlanta) | Posted: Jun 07, 2009 - 11:41 I had to stop composing a legal letter when this came on. It's just plain sick. It gives me chills. Love it! |
| TheFriendlyCat (BC) | Posted: Mar 04, 2009 - 16:40 FrankMc wrote: Somehow arson really doesn't appeal as the subject for a song. Pretty tedious, even for rap. Muting now. Back in a bit. as long as we are considering not-really-rap-songs with odd subject material, you have to bring 'women lose weight' by Morcheeba to the table... there is a song with strange subject matter... |
| snowcat (Cold, Frozen Minnesota) | Posted: Oct 29, 2008 - 07:46 So him in concert at Prince's club Glam Slam in Minneapolis when this came out...fantastic show! |
| FrankMc | Posted: Oct 29, 2008 - 07:45 Somehow arson really doesn't appeal as the subject for a song. Pretty tedious, even for rap. Muting now. Back in a bit. |
| Danny_G (Lima) | Posted: Aug 27, 2008 - 02:23  |
| alanthecowboy (Lakefield) | Posted: Jul 26, 2008 - 10:38 thewiseking wrote: if this douchebag sees the buttholes comin..........he better run
I'm a little confused about all the Buttholes comments, since this album predates 'pepper' by five years. Am I missing something? |
| the_bink (Burlington, Ontario) | Posted: Apr 22, 2008 - 22:49 redtex wrote: This sounds too much like many others...vocals from Butt Hole Surfers/Pepper, Tom Waits, LFeat as you mentioned. Needs some work. Tom Waits?????? You must be joking. |
| prickelpit96 (Hannover, Germany) | Posted: Apr 22, 2008 - 22:48 rOOk wrote: Bought the CD used on 90/91...never get tired to listen it.
P.S. don't like rap music :) Rap? Where do you hear rap? |
| jpfueler (South o' Ft Worth) | Posted: Mar 22, 2008 - 10:55 believe it or not, I've heard this on the local Clearchannel abomination. The afternoon dj is a vera cool lady. |
| rOOk (Roma, Italia.) | Posted: Dec 19, 2007 - 02:04 Bought the CD used on 90/91...never get tired to listen it. P.S. don't like rap music :) |