The Impossible Dream (The Quest)

"The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" is a popular song composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion. It was written for the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha. It is the main song from the musical and became its most popular hit.

The song is sung all the way through once in the musical by Don Quixote as he stands vigil over his armor, in response to Aldonza (Dulcinea)'s question about what he means by "following the quest". It is reprised partially three more times—the last by prisoners in a dungeon as Miguel de Cervantes and his manservant mount the drawbridge-like prison staircase to face trial by the Spanish Inquisition.

It is also an important song sung at Governor's Program for Gifted Children each year to close off the end of the session.

Recordings and live versions

8

• Richard Kiley (on the original Broadway cast album of Man of La Mancha)
• Simon Gilbert (provided the singing voice for Peter O'Toole in the 1972 film adaptation of the play, and on the soundtrack album)
• Diana Ross and the Supremes
• Keith Michell (on the 2-LP London cast album of the show)
• Robert Goulet (on the album collection Robert Goulet on Broadway)
• Cher (on the album Backstage)
• Ed Ames (on an LP)
• Tom Jones
• Jack Jones (with altered lyrics); this version hit number thirty-five the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and went to number one on the U.S. adult contemporary chart in 1966 .
• The Imperials (on the album New Dimensions (1968))
• Andy Williams (which was lip-synched by actor Simon Paisley Day on the Honda advert Impossible Dream)
• Gordon MacRae
• Elvis Presley (on his album Elvis as Recorded at Madison Square Garden) (Recorded June 10. 1972)
• Scott Walker (on his TV series in 1969 and on his album Scott: Scott Walker Sings Songs from his TV Series)
• Johnny Mathis (1969)
• Matt Monro
• The Lettermen
• Roger Whittaker
• Eddie Murphy
• Frank Sinatra (on his 1966 album That's Life)
• Jacques Brel (on the French cast album L'Homme de la Mancha)
• Maynard Ferguson (instrumental version on his album The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson (1972))
• Alex Harvey (title track of the 1974 SAHB album The Impossible Dream (SAHB Album)
• Carter USM (on their 1992 album 1992 - The Love Album)
• Lena Martell (on her album One Day at a Time - The Ultimate Collection)
• Ron Raines (on the cast recording of the 2000 Covent Garden revival of Man of la Mancha)
• Colm Wilkinson (on his album Stage Heroes)
• Plácido Domingo (on the 1996 studio cast recording of Man of la Mancha; also with Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villázon at the Berlin Concert: Live from the Waldbühne (2006), but not included on the DVD issued by Deutsche Grammophon)
• The Temptations (on their 1967 album The Temptations in a Mellow Mood)
• Anthony Warlow (on his 1990 album Centre Stage)
• Sarah Connor (on her 2007 album Soulicious)
• Rolando Villazón
• The Vogues (on their album Turn Around, Look At Me)
• Jim Nabors (3 Times: 1) On an album entitled Love Me With All Your Heart; 2) On a 1972 studio cast album of Man of La Mancha; & 3) On the Gomer Pyle TV show.)
• Luther Vandross
• Glen Campbell
• Roberta Flack
• Linda Eder (from Broadway, My Way (2003))
• Brian Stokes Mitchell (on the cast album of the 2002 revival of Man of La Mancha)
• Shirley Bassey
• Gé Korsten (on his 2004 CD The Heart & Soul)
• The Smothers Brothers (on their 1968 album Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour)
• Shani Wallis (on her album As Long As He Needs Me Kapp KS-3573)
• Christopher Lee (on his album Revelation)
• The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (recorded for the 2009 7" Impossible Dream)
• Tevin Campbell (On Rhythm Of The Games 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Album by LaFace Records)
• The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
• Rhydian Roberts
• The Carpenters (on the album Carpenters)
• Corey Benjamin Moss (Junior Players - Great Neck North)
• Georg Ots (in Estonian language) [1]
• Maria Bethânia (Brazilian version)
• Susan Boyle
• Scott Bakula (On Quantum Leap (season 2 episode "Catch A Falling Star") & in 1993 on the TV Series soundtrack).
• Donna Summer Sang this as the encore during her tours from 1987 to 1990. Several clips are on "youtube".
• Alfio (on his album Classic Rewinds)
• Florence Ballard (On her Album The Supreme Florence Ballard)
• Roy Tugbang
• Il Divo Sang this as their encore number during their 2009 World Tour.
• The Republic Tigers on the iTunes tribute album, His Way, Our Way
• Jennifer Hudson at the NAACP Image Awards
• Brian Stokes Mitchell sang this at the memorial service of Senator Edward M. Kennedy
• Bryn Terfel
• The Republic Tigers
• Joe Longthorne
• Lesley Garrett (On her album Lesley Garrett 1998)
• Donald Braswell II in the 2008 season of America's Got Talent
• Darius Danesh and Rolando in the 2010 final of ITV's Popstar to Operastar
• Jane McDonald (On her album Inspiration 2000)

Sarah Connor version

"The Impossible Dream"
Song
B-side	"Soulicious"

German singer–songwriter Sarah Connor covered the song for her cover-based album, Soulicious (2007). Released as the album's lead single on 30 March 2007, her version debuted and peaked at number eight on the German Singles Chart. It was also featured in a publicity campaign for German boxer Henry Maske's comeback fight.

Track listings

European CD single

1. "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" – 3:35
2. "Soulicious" – 3:47

European CD maxi single

1. "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" – 3:35
2. "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" (Gospel-Fight-Nite-Version) – 3:35
3. "Soulicious" – 3:47
4. "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" (Video) – 3:38

Charts

Chart (2007)	Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart	25
European Hot 100 Singles	28
German Singles Chart	8
Swiss Singles Chart	19

In popular culture

The song is strongly associated with the 1967 Boston Red Sox, as their pennant-winning season was popularly dubbed "The Impossible Dream."

In 2005, a two-minute-long television advertisement for Honda used the Andy Williams recording as a soundtrack. It was named "Television Advertisement of the Year" in the British Television Advertising Awards.

As a fitting tribute, the song was recently adopted as Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. official football anthem tune in their quest for the English Premier League which helped them reach promotion on 18th April, 2009.

The song is also spoofed by British comedian John Cleese as part of his December 1977 appearance on The Muppet Show. For the show's closing number, as the opening chords of The Impossible Dream play in the background, Kermit the Frog introduces a rather bewildered Cleese - who immediately demands to speak with Kermit. Cleese then tells the frog that he refuses to sing old show tunes. Kermit apologizes and a few seconds later, the curtain reopens, this time with Cleese dressed as a Viking, as Sweetums attempts to duet with him in Wagnerian opera. Cleese isn't thrilled with this either,so they try putting him in a Mexican maraca solo costume. When Cleese tells Kermit that "there's no way I'll do a song", the pigs and monsters he didn't want to work with are brought out on stage.

JOHN: You were supposed to be my host. How could you do this to me? Kermit - I am your guest!

CAST: (singing to "Impossible Dream") This is your guest - To follow that star...

The Pinky and the Brain episode "Mouse of la Mancha" parodies the entire play affectionately, and Richard Stone's re-working of the song features heavily, re-titled "(To Scheme) The Impossible Scheme".

Lyrics

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star