5. #9 Dream by John Lennon Lyrics Meaning – Deciphering the Lyrical Labyrinth of Lennon’s Dreamscape

Lyrics

So long ago
Was it in a dream?
Was it just a dream?
I know, yes I know
It seemed so very real
Seemed so real to me

Took a walk down the street
Through the heat whispered trees
I thought I could hear
Hear
Hear
Hear

Somebody call out my name (John)
As it started to rain
Two spirits dancing so strange
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse

Dream, dream away
Magic in the air
Was magic in the air?
I believe, yes I believe
More I cannot say
What more can I say?

On a river of sound
Through the mirror go round, round
I thought I could feel
Feel
Feel
Feel
Music touching my soul
Something warm, sudden cold
The spirit dance was unfolding
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse
Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse

Floating through the ethereal soundscape of ‘5. #9 Dream,’ John Lennon invites us into a world that exists at the precipice of reality and imagination. Pulsing with a dreamy, surreal quality, the song is a testament to Lennon’s prowess as a sonic alchemist and a poet whose words dance between the consciously tangible and the enigmatic.

This song, detaching itself from conventional meaning, plunges listeners into a state of introspection, reminding us of the ephemeral nature of dreams and the intrinsic desire to find meaning in the abstract. The continuous refrain, ‘Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse’, serves as a mantra, echoing the universal quest for connection and understanding within the subconscious realm.

Diving Into the Dreamscape: The Unfolding Narrative of ‘5. #9 Dream’

Stepping beyond the mere auditory experience, ‘5. #9 Dream’ unfurls as a narrative that is as much about the experience of the dream as it is about the content. Lennon, with a touch of his inherent mystique, paints a picture of an alternate reality where the laws of physics bend and the soul is free to explore. Within the lyrics, the journey down the street cloaked in heat and whispered trees sets the stage for a transcendent experience.

The invocation of a name and the emergence of rain initiates a turning point; the dreamer is called to attention and the boundaries begin to blur. The line ‘Two spirits dancing so strange’ underscores the merging of worlds, highlighting the peculiar yet familiar sensation often found in the depths of a dream.

The Mystery of ‘Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse’: An Unraveling Chorus

Possibly the most intriguing aspect of ‘5. #9 Dream’ lies in its enigmatic chorus. The words ‘Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse’ elude straightforward interpretation, encouraging a multitude of analyses. Some suggest it’s gibberish, a playful exploration of sound over sense, while others imbue it with personal meaning, transforming it into a cryptic message awaiting decoding.

The phrase acts as a spell or charm, enchanting the listener and embedding itself within the memory. It is a testament to Lennon’s ability to craft lyrical hooks that need not rely on transparency to engage the audience. This mysterious incantation creates a space for personal reflection, as if Lennon planted a seed for us to water with our own experiential understanding.

Nostalgia’s Echo: The Timeless Quality of ‘5. #9 Dream’

The opening lines, ‘So long ago/Was it in a dream?/Was it just a dream?’, evoke a sense of nostalgia, a longing for a time or experience that slips away as one reaches for it. Despite being a creation of the mid-70s, the song transcends its era, resonating deeply with audiences across generations.

John Lennon’s reflective questioning lingers, prompting us to ponder our own distant memories and the phantasmal quality of moments past. It’s as if each listen unearths a yearning for something indescribable, a wistful ache that is both deeply personal yet universally shared.

The Soundtrack of a Dream: Musical Alchemy at Its Finest

The dreamlike state of the narrative is accentuated by the harmonious synthesis of the music itself. Melodic guitar licks intertwine with ethereal string arrangements, forming a river of sound that carries the listener through Lennon’s mirrored corridor of experience.

When Lennon sings of ‘Music touching my soul/Something warm, sudden cold,’ he reflects the oftentimes conflicting emotions that music can inspire. He masterfully captures the transient beauty and haunting impermanence of a song, akin to a fleeting dream we struggle to remember upon waking.

The Lingering Question: What Does ‘5. #9 Dream’ Really Mean?

In seeking meaning within ‘5. #9 Dream’, we may find ourselves akin to alchemists attempting to transmute lead into gold. Lennon, a musical alchemist in his own right, created a song that seems to resist definitive interpretation, inviting each listener to draw from the well of their own consciousness.

Perhaps the song’s true meaning is to serve as a reminder that not all that is experienced can be rationalized, and that there is beauty in surrendering to the mystery. In this sense, ‘5. #9 Dream’ is more than just a song; it’s a journey into the unknown spaces of our minds, and an homage to the enigmatic power of dreams.