I was walkin to the corner drug store
and what should I happen to see
there were picket lines
and the people were a shoutin’
“Down with democracy”
as I strolled on by someone grabbed my arm and said
“buddy where do you stand”?
I said “I stand wherever I choose my friend
and you best let go of my hand”
as I walked away on a sunny day, I swear IA heard him scream
“you know you’re leanin’ on my dream”
“Hey man you’re leanin on my dream”
Got home and turned on the tv set
and sat me down to eat
and a man came on
talkin’ bout the coppers
they were blockin’ off another street
Seems some folks was raisin’ cain
and a riot had broke out
and they flashed the camera on the guy who had stopped me
I watched him runnin’ about
as the cops were draggin him away
I heard on of ’em scream
“you know you’re leanin’ on my dream”
“these kids are leanin’ on my dream”
oh yeah
well I got up and turned off the tv set
and to tell you I was feelin’ mean
an I thought a while
tryin to make some sense
out of everything that I have seen
I was addin’ the score when there’s a knock on the door
was a letter addressed to me
It read “greetings from the president, united states”
I fell down on my knees
The next day I was on the picket line
and Lord you should have heard me scream
“you know you’re leanin’ on my dream”
“hey man you’re leanin’ on my dream”
Walking Through a Tumultuous Time
“Leaning On My Dream” by Bob Seger offers a vivid snapshot of social unrest and personal conviction. The song opens with the narrator witnessing protests and picket lines, immediately setting a scene of divided ideals and public discord. Seger’s storytelling highlights the tension between individual freedom and collective dreams, as the protagonist is confronted simply for being present. The refrain, “you’re leaning on my dream,” echoes the universal struggle to protect one’s beliefs in a world filled with competing visions.
From Observer to Participant
As the story unfolds, the narrator transitions from a passive observer to an active participant. After seeing the protester he met earlier get arrested on television, the protagonist reflects on the chaos and confusion of the times. The twist arrives when he is drafted, prompting a shift in perspective. By the end, he finds himself on the picket line, passionately defending his own dream. Seger skillfully illustrates how quickly circumstances can force personal involvement in societal change.
Song Credits
- Artist: Bob Seger
- Songwriter: Bob Seger