The song "A Dream" by Lou Reed and John Cale tells the story of a narrator's experience in a dream. The lyrics depict a very cold fall night where the narrator has a disturbing dream involving two individuals named Billy Name and Brigid. The dream takes place in the narrator's house at around two o'clock in the morning. Meanwhile, the narrator's dogs, Amos and Archie, start barking and make the narrator angry. In the dream, the narrator wakes up from the barking and tries to capture the beauty of the snowflakes falling by taking pictures, but fails to adjust the camera settings correctly. Feeling frustrated, the narrator considers calling Fred or Gerry for help but realizes they are likely still at dinner. Reluctant to talk to anyone, the narrator decides to venture out into the hallway with a flashlight due to recent troubles in the neighborhood. To their surprise, the narrator finds Billy and Brigid playing under the stair case, creating a small meadow-like area reminiscent of a park. The narrator contemplates writing an article about this in their magazine, but feels unsure if it would be well-received. The snowflakes and the voices of Billy and Brigid having fun make the narrator yearn to join in on the enjoyment. The narrator tries to call out to Billy but receives no response. They also encounter John Cale, who has been visiting the narrator's office to exercise together. The narrator mentions that Ronnie has claimed they have a muscle but expresses confusion about John's meanness since joining Alcoholics Anonymous. The narrator reflects on the Velvet Underground, their first album, and the lack of monetary compensation they received for it. The narrator continues attempting to reach out to Billy and John, feeling invisible and ignored by them. They then come across Lou Reed, who recently got married without inviting the narrator. The narrator expresses their anger towards Lou, mentioning the lack of job opportunities in Lou's music videos. Despite this resentment, the narrator also admits to being proud of Lou's success. The dream takes a darker turn as the narrator confronts the physical pain they are experiencing from scars and a corset they wear to keep their insides intact. Memories of being pronounced dead by doctors and the difficulty of finding veins for medical procedures haunt the narrator. These thoughts make the narrator feel like an old grouch and unable to do anything. The dream concludes with a sense of loneliness, as nobody calls or comes to the narrator's aid. The meaning of the song "A Dream" revolves around themes of isolation, longing for connection, and the frustrations and disappointments that can arise in relationships. The dream serves as a reflection of the narrator's subconscious thoughts and desires.
