So often the biggest dreams start from the darkest situations — when we’re down and out and desperate to find a way forward. And so it goes in “The Dream” sung by Croatia’s Eurovision 2019 star Roko Blažević.
Written by Jacques Houdek, who represented Croatia at Eurovision 2017, the song melds a classic, big ballad melody with Roko’s stunning pipes. He may just be 19, but he’s hitting the high notes and taking things higher. With lyrics from Andrea Curic and Charlie Mason — the man behind “Rise Like a Phoenix” — it tugs on heartstrings in two tongues. Whether in English or Croatian, though, the message behind “The Dream” lyrics remains the same: love is the bedrock of dreams and dreaming.
What’s the meaning of the “The Dream” lyrics?
Roko’s song alludes to the slogan of this year’s contest “Dare To Dream”. But it wasn’t born of the song contest, but instead of the real world — where we all face struggles, including the fight to have a dream at all.
In the opening verses, the lyrics encourage people to develop and pursue dreams as a starting point. Most goals start out as a wish or hope — and you need belief to will it into reality. When others doubt him, Roko knows to rely on himself. “I have a dream — a dream as beautiful as it is extreme,” he sings. “I know it’s not as crazy as it may seem, so I don’t ever wanna give up on this dream.”
The repetition of the word “dream” sets the rhythm to his mission — he’s looking for love and he won’t stop until he finds it. But, as the video makes clear, this love isn’t limited to romance or lust. It can involve overcoming tragedy — from wars to natural disaster — and remembering that love can anchor you in the harshest of times. As he sings: “We have lived the darkest night, waiting for this day, now the time for us is right to arise and say…”
The switch to Croatian toward the end of the song imbues it with added sincerity and a sense of depth. The message here is that you can only be human if you experience love. It’s what saves us and strengthens us as we pursue our dreams.
“The Dream” Lyrics and Translation — Roko Blažević
I have a dream
A dream as beautiful as it is extreme
I know it’s not as crazy as it may seem
So I don’t ever wanna give up on this dream
Open your heart
And you’ll arrive right where the dream has to start
To pull a world together out of the parts
And turn this war into a hopeful work of art
We have lived the darkest night
Waiting for the day
Now the time for us is right
To arise and say
I dream of love
You dream of love
Angels of God
We all dream of love
I dream of love
You dream of love
Angels of God
We all dream of love
Svijetu nisi dužan ti
Ništa donijeti
Jedino si čovjek kad
Možeš voljeti
(You are not obligated
To bring anything to the world
You are only human when
You can love)
Kao heroj
Kao heroj
I moj i tvoj
Ljubav je heroj
(Like a hero
Like a hero
And a prayer
Love is the hero)
Kao heroj
Kao heroj
I moj i tvoj
Ljubav je heroj
(Like a hero
Like a hero
Both yours and mine
Love is the hero)
What do you think of the lyrics to “The Dream”? Does it inspire you to pursue your dreams? Let us know in the comment section down below!
The instrumental part in the middle of the song has really bad production quality. I would rate Super Mario Bros theme higher than this.
Disagree
p.s. His live performance was unreal yesterday! #goodjob
You can talk anything you want, but you can not dispute Roko’s vocal and his strength in the voice, if this is not good then I do not know what it is… Good luck Croatia #loversgonnalovehatersgonnahate
I think (almost) nobody is disputing Roko’s vocal talent. People are being critical on the lyrics, instrumental or staging. Even those who really dislike the song agree on him being an amazing singer.
I don’t like religion on songs. That makes me dislike his entry.
The chorus reminds me of the day Oprah screamed: “You get a car! You get a car! Everybody gets a car!”.
everyone needs to stop using that TRAGIC promo picture of him as a header for every article. it looks like he’s chewin on a piece of manure
Photoshop smoothing going too far
I tried watching the music video with a straight face, I swear I tried. But just the sight of Roko trying to look edgy and woke causes uncontrollable spasms of laughter. And those overdramatic cry faces, boy, they belong to the memes. The lyrics don’t help either. I know it’s an easy target, but like c’mon, they were created by the master of cheese, mister Jaques Houdek himself! “Hopeful works of art”, “angels of God”, “love is a hero”, I can’t handle that much cheese! So in the battle of cheesy lyrics, for me it’s Croatia – Denmark 1:0.
I don’t want to offend anyone but I felt I was watching a movie set in a mental asylum/
I agree with what Roko says in an interview. The message of the song isn’t cheesy. Love isn’t cheesy. However, the way they decided to present it and oversimplify it very much is. With Denmark, it’s more nonchalant and it feels breezy and childish. One can more easily take in the cheesy lyrics, because the presentation doesn’t feel as preachy.
”I moj i tvoj” doesn’t translate into ”and a prayer”, but ”both yours and mine”. Thanks for sharing the lyrics, Wiwibloggs. You know I’ve been highly critical on this song, but I like Roko and of course, I wish him a great time in Tel Aviv and all the best.
We all dream of Love, Mr. Vanilla Bean. 🙂
lol at the cringy joke attempts
See ya next year Croatia.