dream on

Aerosmith · 1973

Listen carefully and fill in the missing words.

    Verse 1
Every time that I look in the (1)
All these lines on my face getting (2)
The past is (3)
Oh, it went by like dusk to (4)
Isn't that the way?
Everybody's got their (5) in life to pay, oh, oh, oh

Verse 2
I know nobody (6)
Where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody's (7)
You got to lose to know how to (8)

Verse 3
Half my life's in books' written (9)
Storing facts learned from fools and from (10)
You view the (11)
Oh, sing with me, this (12) dub

Chorus
Sing with me, sing for a year
Sing for the (13), and sing for the tear
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe (14), the good Lord will take you away

[Chorus]

Outro
Dream on
Dream on
I dream on
Dream a little, I'll dream on
Dream on
I dream on
I dream on
Dream a little, I'll dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
I'll dream on
Dream on
Dream on
I dream on
  

Dream On

Aerosmith · 1973

ClassPlan.ai

Song Worksheets

Connotation Compass

Sort these words from the song into positive, negative, or neutral categories based on their emotional associations.

1. laughter Meaning:

2. tear Meaning:

3. sin Meaning:

4. mournful Meaning:

5. clearer Meaning:

6. gone Meaning:

7. win Meaning:

8. dawn Meaning:

Genre Swap

Reimagine 'Dream On' in a different musical genre. Choose from: folk ballad, reggae, country, or electronic dance. Rewrite two lines to match your chosen genre's style and vocabulary.

Choose a genre: Country · Hip-hop · Folk · Pop ballad · Reggae

Consider how the mood, rhythm, and word choices would change. How would a folk singer or country artist express these same ideas about aging and dreams?

Did you know?

Read these facts about the song. Which one surprises you most?

🎵Dream On was Aerosmith's first major hit and the only song from their first album to reach the top 10 charts.
⭐Steven Tyler wrote this song when he was only 17 years old, reflecting on aging and mortality at a surprisingly young age.
🎸The song features a distinctive piano intro played by Tyler himself, which was unusual for a hard rock band in the 1970s.
📀Tyler's famous high-pitched scream at the end wasn't planned - it happened spontaneously during recording and they kept it.
🎤The song's themes of aging and regret resonated so strongly that it became Aerosmith's signature song across five decades.

Discussion & analysis

Discuss each question with your partner.

1Why do you think Steven Tyler wrote about aging when he was only 17? What does this suggest about youth and wisdom?
2The song says 'you got to lose to know how to win.' How do failures teach us about success in life?

3What dreams from your childhood do you still hold onto? Which ones have you had to let go of?
4Is it healthier to 'dream on' and keep hoping, or to accept reality and stop dreaming? Defend your position.

🥁 Play It! — Tap the Beat

A student taps the rhythm of a song on the desk — or hums the melody. No words. Class tries to identify the song. First correct guess wins a point for their team.