Street of Dreams - Live in London 2002

Song Meaning

This track paints a vivid picture of a nocturnal escape, beckoning listeners to a place of intense experience when sleep fails. The opening lines set a scene of discomfort – "If you can't sleep tonight / And if a fever grips you tight" – and offer a singular solution: "There's a place we must explore / Open wide the door." This immediately establishes a sense of urgency and mystery, suggesting a journey into the subconscious or an alternate reality that offers solace or profound sensation. The core tension lies in the narrator's self-identification as "haunted men" who must "hold our heads up" while traversing this "street of dreams." This duality suggests a conscious effort to maintain dignity and resolve amidst potentially unsettling or overwhelming experiences. The lyrics describe this place as a haven for "the dead beats and the dispossessed / Seekers of unlikeliness," implying it's a realm for those who exist on the fringes, finding beauty "with the beast tonight." The most striking aspect is the repeated assertion of emotional intensity. The "street of dreams" is characterized by "A thousand doorways open there / A thousand voices sweet and clear," leading to "Emotions felt with a passion / Never felt before." This hyperbole emphasizes the overwhelming, almost hallucinatory nature of the experience, where the ordinary rules of feeling are suspended, and the self is confronted with raw, unadulterated sensation. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their evocative, almost incantatory quality. The recurring refrain of holding one's head up high on this strange street, coupled with the nonsensical yet compelling "Oh, way, oh ay oh" vocalizations, creates an atmosphere of defiant embrace. It suggests that confronting the unknown, even the "haunted" aspects of oneself or reality, can lead to a uniquely powerful and unforgettable state of being.