Prologue/You Are What You Feel/Any Dream Will Do

Song Meaning

This prologue sets a stage of contrasting dreams and realities, framing the core idea that "you are what you feel." The narrator acknowledges that some people plan grand futures while others "hide their hopes and their heads in the sand." Yet, the narrator offers a simple philosophy: if you can "think it, want it, dream it, then it's real." This sets up a hopeful, almost magical, belief in the power of internal desire to manifest external reality, suggesting that the emotional state is paramount. The central tension emerges with Joseph's narrative, which directly challenges this optimistic premise. He recounts a vivid dream of wearing a "golden coat" and seeing the "dawn was breaking," a moment of apparent triumph or clarity. However, this is violently interrupted by "a crash of drums, a flash of light," causing his "golden coat flew out of sight" and leaving him "left alone." This dramatic shift from vibrant imagery to darkness and isolation suggests that dreams, even those strongly felt, can be fragile and subject to harsh, unexpected disruptions. The most striking craft element is the juxtaposition of Joseph's personal dream with the children's echoing, almost detached, responses. While Joseph describes the vivid details of his experience and its abrupt end, the children's "Aah" responses feel like a distant, less engaged echo. This contrast highlights the solitary nature of Joseph's internal experience and the potential disconnect between his profound emotional journey and the world's more passive observation, even as he repeats "Any dream will do." Ultimately, the lyrics are effective because they present a relatable dichotomy between aspirational belief and harsh experience. The initial assertion that "you are what you feel" is powerful, but Joseph's story introduces a poignant counterpoint. The repetition of "Any dream will do" after his dream shatters suggests a resignation, a willingness to settle for less when the grander vision is lost, making the initial hopeful message feel more complex and tinged with melancholy.