The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of

Carly Simon

About The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of

"The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" is the third single from Carly Simon's 1987 album Coming Around Again. The song was written by Simon and produced by John Boylan. Simon performed the song at her iconic 1987 concert Live From Martha's Vineyard. The song is one of Simon's biggest latter period AC hits, and as a result is included on multiple compilations of her work, which include 1995's 3-disc box set Clouds in My Coffee, the UK import The Very Best of Carly Simon: Nobody Does It Better, the 2-disc retrospective Anthology, 2004's single disc Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits, and 2014's Playlist: The Very Best of Carly Simon. The title references the line "The stuff that dreams are made of" from The Maltese Falcon, and, second-handedly, Shakespeare: In Act IV of The Tempest, Prospero says "We are such stuff / As dreams are made on, and our little life / Is rounded with a sleep". Though no official video was produced for the single, a clip of Simon performing the song at her 1987 beach concert on Martha's Vineyard was released. 


Year:
2003
62 
#1

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Take a look around now
Change the direction
Adjust the tuning
Try a new translation
Don't look at your man in the same old way
Take a new picture
Just because you don't see shooting stars
Doesn't mean it isn't perfect
Can't you see...

It's the stuff that dreams are made of
It's the slow and steady fire
It's the stuff that dreams are made of
It's your heart and soul's desire
It's the stuff that dreams are made of

So what's this about your best friend?
She's got a brand new shiny boy
And they're moving out to Malibu
To play with all his pretty toys
And you feel closed in by the same four walls
The same old conversation
With the same old guy you've know for years
But use your imagination
And you will see....

It's the stuff that dreams are made of
It's the slow and steady fire
It's the stuff that dreams are made of
It's your heart and soul's desire
It's the stuff that dreams are made of

What if the Prince on the horse in your fairytale
Is right here in disguise
And what if the stars you've been reaching so high for
Are shining in his eyes

Don't look at yourself in the same old way
Take another picture
Shoot the stars off in your own backyard
Don't look any further
And you will see
It's the stuff that dreams are made of....

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Carly Simon

Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 hits include "You're So Vain", "Nobody Does It Better", and "Coming Around Again". Her 1988 song "Let the River Run" was the first to win a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for a song written and performed by a single artist. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994. more »

8 fans

Written by: CARLY SIMON

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Song Creation
"The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" was written by Carly Simon herself for her twelfth studio album, "Coming Around Again," released in 1987.
Chart Performance
This song didn't make a significant impact on the charts. However, it was still appreciated by her fans.
Theme
The song's lyrics suggest a reflective and slightly melancholic mood, looking back on past relationships and realizing their importance only in hindsight.
Music Video
A music video was made for the song featuring Carly Simon playing the piano in a studio and singing. It shows her emotion and storytelling style through her performance.
Album Success
"Coming Around Again," the album the song is from, was a major commercial success marking a comeback for Carly Simon. It reached no. 1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, her highest-charting album since "Hotcakes" in 1974.
Live Performance
Carly Simon performed "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" live during her concert at Martha's Vineyard in 1987. This performance was included in the "Live From Martha's Vineyard" DVD.
Background
Despite not achieving a high chart position, the song remains a fan favorite, thanks to its introspective lyrics and Simon's stirring delivery.
Co-Producer
The song was co-produced by Carly Simon along with Bill Payne and Russ Kunkel. They helped shape the mature, reflective sound of the track.
Influences
Simon's songwriting on "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of", like much of her work, was influenced by her relationships and personal experiences.
Album Review
Rolling Stone gave the "Coming Around Again" album 4 out of 5 stars, stating that it was "Simon's best collection of material in more than a decade." Although "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" was not singled out for praise, its mature themes and polished sound contributed to the album's overall success.
Movie Reference
The song title shares a phrase from the classic film "The Maltese Falcon" where Humphrey Bogart's character refers to the elusive bird statue as "the stuff that dreams are made of." Both the movie and song share themes of retrospective longing and unattainable desires.

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