Dream On
Dream On
Kyle Pederson (2026)
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: piano
Text: Ben Rector
Commissioned by: Coon Rapids High School, directed by Amy Johnson
Do you ever get scared?
Do you ever get sad?
Do you forget the childhood dreams that you had?
Hoped it'd be better but things turned out bad
and all went wrong
You don't have to climb mountains or walk on the moon
Fill up your heart like a great big balloon
If you can't sleep at night just remember this tune
Sing along
Dream on
Dream on
Even when you're afraid all your dreams may be gone
Just dream on
Dream on
When the world says you're crazy
just tell them they're wrong
and dream on
When I was younger I played make believe
Now when I close my eyes I just fall asleep
If you live long enough life will make you believe
that they're gone
Dream on
Dream on
To infinity and far beyond
Maybe they'll take you fabulous places
Maybe you'll wakeup right where you belong
Ben Rector
COMPOSER NOTE:
Ben Rector is one of my favorite singer/songwriters, and this song resonated with me the first time I heard it. It struck me as the perfect balance between wistful and hopeful--acknowledging the challenges and discouragement life throws at us, but reminding us that a dream is an incredibly powerful thing that can carry us to places of joy, courage, and belonging. I wanted this choral setting to provide opportunities to hear from students/singers--so there is an optional section where members of the choir can read poetry, share their own dreams, or even present images that resonate with them (the premiering choir sang this at their final concert of the year, and each senior shared a baby picture followed by their senior picture...a very moving example of the power of dreams.)
