Dreamer – English Lyrics

• By: Martin Garrix, Mike Yung

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with "Dreamer," a powerful collaboration between Dutch DJ Martin Garrix and American soul singer Mike Yung. This song is a masterclass in conveying hope and perseverance through clear, emotive English lyrics, enriched by Mike Yung's soulful delivery. You'll encounter common idioms related to dreams and determination, and experience how English can be used to inspire across diverse musical genres. Its anthemic nature and uplifting message make it an excellent choice for learners to connect with English on an emotional level while exploring an unexpected blend of electronic and soul music.

[English]

I’m a dreamer Don’t tell me not to dream

I got freedom And that’s everything to me

It don’t matter What I’ve got or where I go

I’ll find shelter a million miles from home

It ain’t easy to keep going when it’s hard

Keep shining in the dark When you wanna fall apart

But I’m a dreamer Don’t tell me not to dream

I’m a believer As long as I got something to believe in

As long as I got something to believe in

As long as I got something to believe in

As long as I got something to believe in

As long as I got something to believe in

I’m a lover Don’t tell me who to love

I’m a runner cause I’ve got somewhere to run

I just listen to the voices in my head

When they tell me I’ll always have something to believe in

As long as I got something to believe in

As long as I got something to believe in

As long as I got something to believe in

As long as I got something to believe in, yeah (You got to believe)

You know you got to believe (You got to believe)

I got to believe (You got to believe in)

(You got to believe) Yeah, I got to believe

Ooh yeah (You got to believe)

Hey hey, come on (You got to believe in)

Ooh, you got to, we got to, she got to, he got to (You got to believe)

You got to believe, hey hey (You got to believe in)

In the morning, in the evening (You got to believe)

Late at night, you got to believe (You got to believe)

(You got to believe in) Yeah

I don't believe, I don't believe You got to believe

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dreamer /ˈdriːmər/ B1	noun - a person who dreams; someone who is not practical or realistic
dream /driːm/ A1	verb - to experience images, emotions, or sensations during sleep noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ B1	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance
shelter /ˈʃeltər/ B1	noun - a place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger verb - protect (someone or something) from bad weather, danger, or attack
going /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/ A1	noun - departure verb - moving or travelling
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - not easy; requiring effort
shining /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/ B1	verb - emitting or reflecting light
dark /dɑːrk/ A2	adjective - with little or no light
believer /bɪˈliːvər/ B1	noun - a person who believes in something
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of
lover /ˈlʌvər/ B1	noun - a person who loves someone
runner /ˈrʌnər/ A2	noun - a person who runs
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
voices /ˈvɔɪsɪz/ A2	noun - the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth

Key Grammar Structures

• Don't tell me not to dream

  ➔ Negative Imperative

  ➔ This uses "Don't" + base form of the verb to give a negative command or instruction. It expresses a prohibition. "Don't tell" is the core structure.

• And that’s everything to me

  ➔ Pronoun reference and emphasis

  ➔ "That's" refers back to the concept of "freedom." "Everything to me" emphasizes the extreme importance of this freedom to the speaker.

• What I’ve got or where I go

  ➔ Indirect Questions with "What" and "Where"

  ➔ These are examples of indirect questions functioning as noun clauses. "What I've got" functions as the subject of a sentence (even though the full sentence is omitted for brevity). "Where I go" also functions similarly. The word order is subject + verb, not the interrogative order.

• It ain’t easy to keep going when it’s hard

  ➔ Cleft sentence with "It" and subordinate clause with "when"

  ➔ "It ain't easy" is a form of a cleft sentence where "to keep going when it’s hard" is emphasized. The "when it's hard" clause acts as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause.

• As long as I got something to believe in

  ➔ Conditional Clause with "As Long As"

  ➔ "As long as" introduces a condition. The main clause (which is implied but not explicitly stated - the singer will keep going) is dependent on the fulfillment of the condition: having something to believe in. It's a more emphatic version of 'if'.

• I’m a runner cause I’ve got somewhere to run

  ➔ Cause/Effect with "cause"

  ➔ "Cause" (because) connects the reason (having somewhere to run) to the action (being a runner). It explains the motivation.

• I just listen to the voices in my head

  ➔ Relative Clause (implied)

  ➔ The phrase "the voices in my head" is functioning as a noun phrase that includes a reduced or implied relative clause. A full relative clause would be "the voices that are in my head." The verb 'are' and the relative pronoun 'that' have been omitted for brevity.

• You know you got to believe

  ➔ Modal Verb "got to" (have to)

  ➔ "Got to" is an informal contraction of "have got to," which functions as a modal verb expressing obligation or necessity. It is essentially equivalent to "have to." In the sentence structure, it indicates a strong need or requirement for belief.