#9 Dream

R.E.M. · Other Songs - R.E.M.

It was so long ago, was it in a dream?

Was it just a dream?

I know, yes, I know, it seemed so very real

It seemed so real to me

Took a walk down the street, to the heat whispered trees

I thought I could hear, hear, hear

Somebody call out my name as it started to rain

Two spirits dancing so strange

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Dream, dream away, magic in the air

There's magic in the air

I believe, I believe, more I cannot say

So what more can I say?

On a river of sound, through the merry go round

I thought I could feel, feel, feel

Music touching my soul, something warm, sudden cold

The spirit dance was unfolding

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

Ah, böwakawa pousse, pousse

#9 Dream

Recorded in 1991, "#9 Dream" stands as a pivotal track in R.E.M.'s evolution toward a more polished, radio-friendly sound. While the band had previously explored lo-fi aesthetics and raw indie rock, this recording marked a significant shift toward cleaner production and a broader sonic palette. The song features a distinct synth-driven melody and a driving rhythm section that would become a hallmark of their later work. It serves as a bridge between their earlier experimental phases and the commercially successful era of the early 1990s, showcasing Peter Gabriel's influence on the band's textural approach. The track remains a defining example of alternative rock transitioning into mainstream acceptance during that period.