This Country classic was written by the Tennessee songwriter Don Gibson in 1955. The song conveys the frustration and resignation that he was never going to make that girl his own but that she would always be there in his dreams.
Don Gibson wrote this song while he was working as a songwriter for Acuff-Rose publishing. It became his first hit as a songwriter when Faron Young recorded it, taking it to #2 on the Country chart in 1956.
Gibson started recording as a solo artist in 1957, and the following year scored a #1 Country hit with "Oh Lonesome Me," which he also wrote. With his solo career established, Gibson released his own version of "Sweet Dreams" as a single in 1960, taking it to #6 on the Country chart and cracking the Hot 100 at #93. Patsy Cline revived the song in 1963, making #5 Country and #44 on the Hot 100 with her version. When the Louisiana songwriter Tommy McLain recorded it in 1966, his version became the biggest mainstream hit, going to #15 on the Hot 100 tally.
Other artists who recorded the song include Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn and Emmylou Harris.
Elvin Bishop recorded this on his 2005 album Gettin' My Groove Back. His version is an instrumental featuring a slide guitar. Said Bishop: “Slide is kind of like the voice I never had. I can sing as high or as low as I want to, put as much sustain, as much treble… Tommy McLain is the record I really like. They called it ‘Swamp Pop’ in the ‘70s. He sang a really soulful version of that, it’s what I base my version on. Using my slide like his voice.” (Check out our interview with Elvin Bishop.)
lyrics
Sweet, sweet dreams of you
Every night I go through
Why can't I forget my past and live my life anew
Instead I'm having sweet dreams about you
You, you don't love me, it's plain
I should have known
You'd never wear my name
I, I should hate you, girl, the whole night through
Instead I'm having sweet dreams about you
(Instrumental)
I, I should hate you, girl, the whole night through
Instead I'm having sweet dreams about you
Instead I'm having sweet dreams about you
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