Dreamer – English Lyrics

• By: Ozzy Osbourne
• Album: Memoirs of a Madman

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the reflective world of Ozzy Osbourne's "Dreamer," a powerful ballad that showcases a rarely seen vulnerable side of the "Prince of Darkness." This song, often compared by Ozzy himself to John Lennon's "Imagine," offers a rich tapestry of themes including hope for a better future, environmental concern, and a plea for peace amidst human conflict. Its clear, introspective lyrics and softer melodic rock style provide an excellent opportunity for language learners to grasp meaningful vocabulary and emotional expression in English, while understanding a rock icon's profound message for the world.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dreamer /ˈdriːmər/ B1	noun - a person who dreams; one who is not practical or is visionary
dream /driːm/ A1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. verb - to experience a dream while sleeping.
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, people, and natural features.
earth /ɜːrθ/ A1	noun - the planet on which we live; the world.
mother /ˈmʌðər/ A1	noun - a female parent.
mankind /ˌmænˈkaɪnd/ B1	noun - human beings considered collectively; the human race.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
history /ˈhɪstəri/ A2	noun - the past events, especially those concerning a particular nation or people.
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth.
dawn /dɔːn/ B1	noun - the first light of day; daybreak.
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular position, point, or area in space; a location.
power /ˈpaʊər/ A2	noun - the ability to do something or act in a particular way.
God /ɡɒd/ A1	noun - (in Christianity and other monotheistic religions) the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being.
Jesus /ˈdʒiːzəs/ A1	noun - the central figure of Christianity, believed by Christians to be the Son of God.
hope /hoʊp/ A2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. verb - want something to happen or be the case.
fantasy /ˈfæntəsi/ B2	noun - the faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable.
serenity /səˈrenəti/ C1	noun - the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
anger /ˈæŋɡər/ B1	noun - a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.
hate /heɪt/ A2	noun - intense dislike; feeling of antipathy or aversion.
bigotry /ˈbɪɡətri/ C1	noun - intolerance toward those holding different opinions.
searching /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/ B2	verb - try to find something by looking or otherwise seeking carefully and thoroughly. adjective - probing; penetrating.

Key Grammar Structures

• Gazing through the window at the world outside

  ➔ Present participle phrase

  ➔ The phrase "Gazing through the window" uses the present participle to describe an ongoing action.

• I'm just a dreamer

  ➔ Simple present tense

  ➔ The sentence "I'm just a dreamer" uses the simple present tense to express a state of being.

• Hoping that mankind will stop abusing her

  ➔ Gerund phrase

  ➔ The phrase "Hoping that mankind will stop abusing her" uses a gerund to express an ongoing hope.

• When will all this anger, hate and bigotry be gone?

  ➔ Future simple tense

  ➔ The question "When will all this anger, hate and bigotry be gone?" uses the future simple tense to inquire about a future event.

• I'm living in a dream, a fantasy

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "I'm living in a dream, a fantasy" uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing action.

• It would be nice if we could live as one

  ➔ Conditional sentence

  ➔ The sentence "It would be nice if we could live as one" is a conditional sentence expressing a hypothetical situation.

• I'm just a dreamer who dreams of better days

  ➔ Relative clause

  ➔ The phrase "who dreams of better days" is a relative clause that provides more information about the noun "dreamer."