Dream On – English Lyrics

• By: Aerosmith
• Album: Aerosmith

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the powerful world of Aerosmith's "Dream On," a timeless rock anthem that offers a profound journey into self-reflection and the pursuit of aspirations. Through its poignant lyrics and Steven Tyler's evocative vocals, you can explore expressions of hope, perseverance, and the bittersweet nature of life. The song's rich vocabulary and emotional depth make it an excellent choice for expanding your English comprehension, especially in understanding idiomatic expressions related to life's experiences and achieving goals.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep verb - to experience dreams during sleep
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head, from the forehead to the chin
lines /laɪnz/ A2	noun - a long, narrow mark or band
past /pæst/ A2	noun - the time before the present
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
dues /djuːz/ B2	noun - an obligatory payment; a fee
sin /sɪn/ B2	noun - an act regarded as a serious or regrettable fault, offense, or omission.
books /bʊks/ A1	noun - a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers.
fools /fuːlz/ B1	noun - a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person.
sages /ˈseɪdʒɪz/ C1	noun - a profoundly wise person
things /θɪŋz/ A1	noun - an object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to.
year /jɪər/ A1	noun - the time it takes the earth to complete one revolution around the sun
laughter /ˈlɑːftər/ B1	noun - the action or sound of laughing
tear /tɪər/ A2	noun - a drop of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in the eye
tomorrow /təˈmɒrəʊ/ A1	noun - the day after today
true /truː/ A2	adjective - in accordance with fact or reality

Key Grammar Structures

• Every time when I look in the mirror

  ➔ Subordinating conjunction "when" introducing a time clause.

  ➔ The word "when" connects the main clause "Every time" to the subordinate clause "I look in the mirror", indicating the time at which the action occurs. Though the sentence may sound a bit verbose, it's showing emphasis on time.

• All these lines on my face getting clearer

  ➔ Present participle "getting" as part of a present continuous construction describing a state of becoming.

  ➔ "Getting clearer" indicates a progressive change or development in the visibility of the lines. It's not just that the lines are clear, but that they are *becoming* clearer over time.

• It went by, like dusk to dawn

  ➔ Simile using "like" to compare two different things (time passing and the transition from dusk to dawn).

  ➔ The phrase "like dusk to dawn" is a simile, comparing the speed of the past's passing to the relatively quick transition from dusk to dawn. It emphasizes how swiftly time has gone by.

• Everybody's got the dues in life to pay

  ➔ Use of the possessive "Everybody's" (everybody has) and the infinitive "to pay" acting as an adjective modifying "dues".

  ➔ "Everybody's got the dues in life to pay" means everyone has responsibilities or hardships that they must face in life. The infinitive "to pay" specifies what needs to be done with the "dues".

• Where it comes and where it goes

  ➔ Indirect questions using "where" to introduce clauses functioning as the object of a verb.

  ➔ These are examples of embedded questions acting as noun clauses. Instead of asking "Where does it come from?" and "Where does it go?", the lyrics use these questions as part of a larger sentence. The subjects (e.g., 'nobody') don't know the origin and destination.

• You got to lose to know how to win

  ➔ "got to" as a colloquialism for "have to" expressing obligation, and "how to win" as an infinitive phrase acting as a noun.

  ➔ The structure "how to + verb" functions as a noun phrase, which is the direct object of "know". "You got to lose" is a less formal way of saying "You have to lose."

• Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away

  ➔ Use of "will" to express future possibility. It's not a definitive prediction, but a hypothetical.

  ➔ The modal verb "will" here isn't a certainty of future action but rather a suggestion. It presents the *possibility* of a future event occurring, but not an absolute guarantee.