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A Dream Within a Dream

by Jesse Murray

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about

“A Dream Within a Dream” is a bilingual song, which refers to two cultures. The verses are in English and his chorus is in Spanish. Jesse did not try to hide his French; this linguistic color creates a unique atmosphere, which refers to its French-Canadian origin.

The song is inspired by a poem by Edgar Allen Poe, which suggests that life is intangible and fleeting. Like dreams, it moves at lightning speed and no one can grasp its true essence. With a reassuring voice, Jesse however created a sweet melody that clashes with the melancholy atmosphere of the text of the late American writer. As for the lonesome wolf evoked by Jesse in the lyrics " Lobo solitario en Mexico ", it is a metaphor that links the written and musical elements of the song.

“Lobo solitario en Mexico” 

When Jesse was invited to a wedding in Mexico in 2019, he had already been contemplating “A Dream Within a Dream” for some time.

Single and seeking inspiration, he decided to attend. There is no such thing as chance, only encounters. On the morning of his second day there, realizing he was alone, he was feeling melancholic but strong. He grabbed his guitar and the chorus “Lobo solitario en Mexico” was born. After that, Poe’s words flowed out of him in a new way. Months later, when it was time to record with Emre, most of the song was finished, except for the last verse. He desperately wanted to add the last paragraph to his song, but he felt that the construction of the final stanza did not allow his initial melody to flow. With only an hour left to find a solution, he began strumming his guitar. Suddenly, the last verse came to him, creating the perfect ending for the song.

Heading back to the recording session, and with the vibe of Emre’s beach-style guitar riff, the essence of the song was born: a blend between Poe’s questions on life, its meaning and relationships and the lonely French Canadian wolf walking on the beautiful shores of Mexico.

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« A Dream Within a Dream » est une chanson bilingue, qui réfère à deux cultures.

Ses couplets sont en anglais et son refrain est en espagnol. Jesse ne cache pas son accent francophone, bien au contraire. Cette couleur langagière crée une ambiance singulière, qui réfère à son origine franco-canadienne.

La pièce est inspirée d'un poème d'Edgar Allen Poe, qui laisse entendre que la vie est intangible et éphémère. Comme les rêves, elle avance à la vitesse de l'éclair et personne ne peut en saisir sa véritable essence. Avec une voix rassurante, Jesse a toutefois concocté une douce mélodie qui détonne de l'ambiance mélancolique du texte du défunt écrivain américain.

Quant au loup solitaire évoqué par Jesse dans les paroles « Lobo solitario en Mexico », il est une métaphore qui lie les éléments écrits et musicaux du morceau.

« Lobo solitario en Mexico »

Lorsque Jesse fût invité à un mariage au Mexique en 2019, il cogitait déjà la pièce « A Dream Within a Dream » depuis un certain temps. On dit qu’il n’y a pas de hasard, que des rendez-vous. En quête d’inspiration, il décida de se rendre dans ce beau pays latin.

Le matin du deuxième jour, il réalisa qu’il était bien seul. En fait, il était empreint d’une relative mélancolie. Spontanément, il prit sa guitare pour trouver réconfort dans la musique. En quelques heures, le refrain « Lobo solitario en Mexico » fut composé.

Les strophes du poète Poe coulaient désormais en lui d’une nouvelle manière.

Pendant la période d’enregistrement de la chanson « A Dream Within a Dream » quelques mois plus tard, à Calgary, il manquait toujours un couplet. Il désirait absolument ajouter la strophe finale du poème de Poe à la pièce, mais celle-ci refusait de se marier au rythme de la mélodie initiale... Dans un élan d’inspiration soudain, il empoigna sa guitare et parvint à boucler cette magnifique composition.

De retour en studio, il interpréta « A Dream Within a Dream » en y ajoutant le charmant riff de guitare livré par Emre. En introduction de la pièce, ça respire la mer. Un loup solitaire franco-canadien se promène sur le rivage d’un monde à moitié inventé. Pour le reste du tableau, une ambiance lyrique qui évoque des questionnements sur le sens de la vie et les rapports humains.

lyrics

Lobo Solitario en Mexico (bis)

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow —
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;

Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

Lobo Solitario en Mexico (bis)

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand —
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep — while I weep!

All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

Lobo Solitario en Mexico (bis)

O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?

Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

Lobo Solitario en Mexico (bis)

credits

released January 28, 2022
Composer Jesse Murray
Poem by Edgar Allan Poe
Producer Emre Cords
Cover art Sébastien Thibault

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about

Jesse Murray

Drawing inspiration from classical literature, Jesse, with his keen ear for arranging, has created a compelling English/French body of work that resonates with multiple audiences.

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