Beautiful Dreamer

For other uses, see Beautiful Dreamer (disambiguation).

"Beautiful Dreamer"
First edition
Music by	Stephen Foster
Lyrics by	Stephen Foster
Published	New York: Wm. A. Pond & Co. (March 1864)
Written	1862 (?)
Language	English
Form	Strophic

"Beautiful Dreamer" is a parlor song by Stephen Foster (1826-1864). It was published posthumously in March 1864 by Wm. A. Pond & Co. of New York. The first edition declares on the title page that "Beautiful Dreamer" is "the last song ever written by Stephen C. Foster. Composed but a few days prior to his death". Carol Kimball, the author of Song, points out however that the copyright date on the first edition is 1862, and this suggests, she writes, that the song was composed and readied for publication two years before Foster's death. There are at least 20-odd songs, she observes, that all claim to be Foster's last, and it is unknown which is indeed his last. The song is set in a 9/8 rhythm with a broken chord accompaniment.

The song tells of a lover serenading a 'Beautiful Dreamer', who is oblivious to all worldly cares and may actually be dead. Foster's work features many dead young women including Annie, Laura Lee, and Jeanie. Helen Lightner writes, "This sentimental ballad is folk-like in character with its repetitious but lovely melody and its basic harmonic accompaniment ... The quiet and calm of this mood is portrayed by the monotony of the arpeggiated accompaniment, by the repetitiveness of the melodic pattern, and by the strophic form itself."

Lyrics

1.
Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away!
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

2.
Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea,
Mermaids are chanting the wild lorelei;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.
Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Recordings, film, and television

"Beautiful Dreamer" by Currier and Ives

The song has been recorded by Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter & his Orchestra; Steve Conway with Jack Byfield & his Orchestra; Thomas Hampson with Jay Ungar (mandolin), David Alpher (piano), and Molly Mason (guitar); John Leyton; Roy Orbison on the album In Dreams (a top ten Australian single in 1964); and in 1963 by The Beatles. In an unusual twist Jim Reeves recorded a version of the song whilst on tour in South Africa in 1962. Reeves' version was sung in Afrikaans under the title Bolandse Nooientjie. Although Reeves could not speak Afrikaans, this was remedied by the South African composer and songwriter Gilbert Gibson who would stand behind Reeves and whisper the words of the song to Reeves who would then sing the same words into the microphone.

It has been heard in various guises in many films including Gone with the Wind; Duel in the Sun; Mighty Joe Young; The Death Collector; Batman (1989); The Secret Life of Walter Mitty; the animated An American Tail; Drop Dead Gorgeous; Friends 'Til The End; Office Space; the Marx Brothers's Go West; The Old Chisholm Trail; and The Naked Spur.

In television the song has cropped up in episodes and programs that include "The Berenstain Bears and the Talent Show" and "The Berenstain Bears and the Female Fullback"; Garfield and Friends; Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman; Saved by the Bell; Drake and Josh, SpongeBob SquarePants, That's So Raven; Rugrats; Cat in the Hat; Peter Gunn; Little House on the Prairie; Our Gang(Little Rascals); The Twilight Zone and Leonardo.