Rock poetry

Among all rock groups, the Moody Blues regarded themselves as poets. The band's spin off group, the Blue Jays had a similar approach to writing.

I Dreamed Last Night is a fine example of their writing and has superb lyrical composition - but does it stand as a poem? As a song it appeals to universal themes of longing and lost love - but is the writer telling his own story or is it merely a collection of disjoined thoughts and convenient rhymes?

Oh I dreamed last night I was hearing, hearing your voice
and the things that you said well they left me, left me no choice
And you told me we had the power
And you told me this was the hour
that you don't know how
if I could show you now


 Well I dreamed last night you were calling, calling my name
You were locked inside of your secrets,
calling my name 
And you told me lost was the key 
And you told me how you long to be free, 
that you don't know how 
Oh let me show you now


 Like a bird on a far distant mountain, 
                like a ship on an uncharted sea,
you are lost in the arms that have found you
 Don't be afraid, 
love's plans are made 
Oh don't be afraid 


 If there's a time and a place to begin love
 It must be now
 Let it go
 Set it free 


Oh I dreamed last night I was hearing, hearing your voice.
Why did you say those things that have left me, 
        left me no choice?
When you told me we had the power 
why did you tell me now was the hour? 
But you don't know how 
Oh let me show you now 


 Like a bird on a far distant mountain,
               like a ship on an uncharted sea, 
you are lost in the arms that have found you 
Oh don't be afraid 
Love's plans are made 
Don't be afraid


 If there's a time and a place to begin love
 It must be now 
Let it go
 Set it free 


Oh I dreamed last night I was hearing, hearing your voice