‘Dreamer’ is a hit single from British band Supertramp's 1974 album Crime of the Century. It peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1975. In 1980, it appeared on the band's live album Paris. This live version was also released as a single and hit number 15 on the US charts, number 36 in the Dutch Top 40, and number one on the Canadian Singles Chart. When ‘Dreamer’ had been released in 1974, its B-side ‘Bloody Well Right’ was more popular in North America leading it to chart instead, at No. 35 in the US and No. 49 in Canada, with ‘Dreamer’ only charting in Canada, that being at No. 75.
‘Dreamer’ was composed by Roger Hodgson on his Wurlitzer piano at his mother's house when he was 19 years old. At that time, he recorded a demo of the song using vocals, Wurlitzer, and banging cardboard boxes for percussion. Hodgson recalled, "I was excited – it was the first time I laid hands on a Wurlitzer." Hodgson also said: “I was sitting at the keyboard in my mother’s house and it was something that just flew out of me. I just sang words and the words that came out were very close to what’s in the final song. I was banging boxes and light shades and I created this magical demo.’
Cash Box called it a "funny little song" and said that it "maintains the group's stance on instrumentation, lyrics and structure while offering a great deal of commercial potential." Record World said that "The song is memorable, the style right for a mass audience." Record World later said that "the cute vocals and swirling, pulsating keyboards are contagious." Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso rated it as Supertramp's 10th best song, calling it a "diaphanous slice of sentiment" in which it became apparent that Supertramp had found its own "art-pop sound." Gary Graff of Billboard rated it as Supertramp's all-time greatest song, praising its twists and hooks.
Songwriters – Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson
Producers – Supertramp, Ken Scott
SONG LYRICS
[Intro][Verse 1: Roger Hodgson]
Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Well, can you put your hands in your head? Oh no!
I said, dreamer, you're nothing but a dreamer
Well, can you put your hands in your head? Oh no!
[Hook: Roger Hodgson]
I said, "far out, what a day, a year, a life it is!"
You know, well, you know you had it comin' to you
Now there's not a lot I can do
[Verse 2: Roger Hodgson]
Dreamer, you stupid little dreamer
So, now you put your head in your hands, oh no!
Woo!
[Hook: Roger Hodgson]
I said "Far out, - What a day, a year, a life it is!"
You know, well, you know you had it comin' to you
Now there's not a lot I can do
[Bridge: Roger Hodgson, Rick Davies & Rick Davies & John Helliwell]
Well, work it out someday
If I could see something
You can see anything you want, boy
If I could be someone
You can be anyone, celebrate, boy
Well, if I could do something
You can do something
If I could do anything
Can you do something out of this world?
Take a dream on a Sunday
Take a life, take a holiday
Take a lie, take a dreamer
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream along
Dreamer, come on and dream and dream along
Come on and dream and dream along (a little)
Dreamer, come on and dream and dream along
Come on and dream and dream along
[Outro: Roger Hodgson]
Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Well, can you put your hands in your head? Oh no!
I said, dreamer, you're nothing but a dreamer
Well, can you put your hands in your head? Oh no!
Oh no!