“This song sums up the s**t you put up with when you’re in a new band,” Tyler said. While “Dream On” didn’t become quite the monumental hit that it was destined to be until a little later on (it only reached Number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. following its 1973 release), its lifespan and iconic recognizability has endured for nearly 50 years (via Express).
In a sense, “Dream On” is melodically emblematic of everything dreams are made of. The song kicks off with a chilling guitar lick that is both patiently calculating and ferociously assertive. It has high points and low points, until it erupts into a crescendo of majestic instrumentation that is titanic, celebratory, and radiant. Ergo, the promise comes true. “It’s about the hunger to be somebody: Dream until your dreams come true.” Tyler explained (per I Love Classic Rock).
