Sonny's Dream Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords
Song Meaning: "Sonny’s Dream" by Ron Hynes"Sonny’s Dream" is a beloved folk song written by Ron Hynes, a Canadian singer-songwriter from Newfoundland. Written in 1976, the song has become a classic in folk and country music, especially in Canada and Ireland. Its universal themes of longing, duty, and unfulfilled dreams have touched listeners worldwide.
Themes and Storyline:
Cultural Context:"Sonny’s Dream" has resonated with listeners, particularly in communities where family obligations and rural isolation are common. Its heartfelt lyrics and timeless themes have made it a popular cover choice for artists across genres and countries.
Musical Style:"Sonny’s Dream" is typically performed as a folk ballad, with a simple guitar accompaniment that allows the storytelling and emotions to shine through. Its understated melody complements the reflective and bittersweet tone of the lyrics.
Interpretation and Impact:
Conclusion:"Sonny’s Dream" is a powerful exploration of love, duty, and the sacrifices we make for family. Its poignant lyrics and universal themes of longing and responsibility have made it a beloved anthem for generations of listeners. Whether heard in Newfoundland, Ireland, or beyond, the song’s emotional impact continues to endure.
Themes and Storyline:
- Dreams vs. Responsibility:
The song tells the story of Sonny, a young man living in a small rural community. While he dreams of adventure and exploring the world beyond his small home, he feels obligated to stay and care for his aging mother.- "Sonny, don't go away, I am here all alone" reflects the deep emotional bond and reliance between Sonny and his mother.
- Parental Love and Sacrifice:
Sonny’s mother worries about losing him, knowing that life in their isolated home would be lonely without him. Her plea for him to stay speaks to the sacrifices parents often make and the tension between their hopes for their children’s happiness and their own fears of being left behind. - Unfulfilled Longing:
Sonny’s internal conflict is palpable. He dreams of a different life but feels torn between his desire for freedom and his loyalty to his mother. This internal struggle is a central theme of the song, making it relatable for those who have felt trapped by circumstances or familial obligations.- "He’s not much of a man, but he’s all that she’s got" highlights Sonny’s predicament: he is both the hope and the burden of his family.
- Isolation and Rural Life:
The setting is crucial to the story. The song paints a picture of a small, isolated place where opportunities are limited, further emphasizing Sonny’s yearning for a broader world and the dreams he may never fulfill.
Cultural Context:"Sonny’s Dream" has resonated with listeners, particularly in communities where family obligations and rural isolation are common. Its heartfelt lyrics and timeless themes have made it a popular cover choice for artists across genres and countries.
- Irish Connection: The song became particularly popular in Ireland, with artists like Christy Moore covering it. Its themes of duty and longing for freedom struck a chord with Irish audiences, especially those familiar with emigration and family ties.
- Newfoundland Identity: The song is often seen as a reflection of life in Newfoundland, where isolation and close family bonds are central to many communities. Ron Hynes, often called the "man of a thousand songs," wrote "Sonny’s Dream" as a deeply personal reflection of life in such places.
Musical Style:"Sonny’s Dream" is typically performed as a folk ballad, with a simple guitar accompaniment that allows the storytelling and emotions to shine through. Its understated melody complements the reflective and bittersweet tone of the lyrics.
Interpretation and Impact:
- Universal Appeal: Although rooted in a specific cultural context, the song’s themes of family loyalty, sacrifice, and unfulfilled dreams resonate with listeners worldwide.
- Enduring Legacy: "Sonny’s Dream" remains one of Ron Hynes’ most famous and enduring songs. Its timeless message and emotional depth have cemented its status as a folk classic.
Conclusion:"Sonny’s Dream" is a powerful exploration of love, duty, and the sacrifices we make for family. Its poignant lyrics and universal themes of longing and responsibility have made it a beloved anthem for generations of listeners. Whether heard in Newfoundland, Ireland, or beyond, the song’s emotional impact continues to endure.
Sonny's dream song lyrics guitar tab and sheet music. Man Of A Thousand Songs Lyrics Are Also Included. Ukulele chord shapes are included. Written by Ron Hynes (December 7, 1950 – November 19, 2015). I first heard Christy Moore sing this beauty. It later became a Huge on :Woman's Heart Album with Mary Black. The video is Christy Moore, tin whistle notes are included. The song was also recorded by Irish singer Liam Clancy, Pat O'Hara, McGinty and by Emmylou Harris Dolores Keane with Mary Black and Scottish singer Hamish Imlach. The tin whistle notes are included along with a youtube video showing how to play the song.Sonny's dream beginner piano notes now included and the pdf file, plus the tenor guitar / mandola tab.
[D]Sonny don't go away, I'm here all alone,
Your daddy's a sailer [G] never came [D] home,
[A]Nights are so long, silence goes on,
[G]I'm feeling so[D ] tired, not all that [A]strong
Sonny lives on a farm,in a wide open space,
Take off your shoes,stay out of the race,
Lay down your head by the soft river bed,
Sonny always remembers the words mammy said.
Sonny works on the land,though he's barley a man
There's not much to do,he does what he can,
He sits by the window,of his room by the stairs,
He watches the waves gently wash on the pier.
Many years have gone by,Sonny's old and alone,
His daddy the sailor never came home
Sometimes he wanders what his life might have been
But from the grave mammy still haunts his dreams.
[Repeat first verse]
Your daddy's a sailer [G] never came [D] home,
[A]Nights are so long, silence goes on,
[G]I'm feeling so[D ] tired, not all that [A]strong
Sonny lives on a farm,in a wide open space,
Take off your shoes,stay out of the race,
Lay down your head by the soft river bed,
Sonny always remembers the words mammy said.
Sonny works on the land,though he's barley a man
There's not much to do,he does what he can,
He sits by the window,of his room by the stairs,
He watches the waves gently wash on the pier.
Many years have gone by,Sonny's old and alone,
His daddy the sailor never came home
Sometimes he wanders what his life might have been
But from the grave mammy still haunts his dreams.
[Repeat first verse]
Here's the chords for the key that Christy sings the song in.
[D]Sonny [G]don't go away, [D]I'm [G]here all alone,
[D]Your [G]daddy's a sai[D]lor [C] never came [G] home,
[D]Nights are so long, silence goes on,
I'm [C]feeling so tired, [G]not all that [D]strong.
And here's the chords that Mary Black sings the song in.
[F#]Sonny lives on a farm, [C#]In a wide[F#] open space
Take off you're shoes, stay [B]out of the [F#]race
[C#]Lay down you're head by the soft river bed
Sonny [B] always remembers the[F#] words mamma[C#] Said
[D]Sonny [G]don't go away, [D]I'm [G]here all alone,
[D]Your [G]daddy's a sai[D]lor [C] never came [G] home,
[D]Nights are so long, silence goes on,
I'm [C]feeling so tired, [G]not all that [D]strong.
And here's the chords that Mary Black sings the song in.
[F#]Sonny lives on a farm, [C#]In a wide[F#] open space
Take off you're shoes, stay [B]out of the [F#]race
[C#]Lay down you're head by the soft river bed
Sonny [B] always remembers the[F#] words mamma[C#] Said
PDF of Sonny's Dream Piano Sheet Music
| sonnys-dream-sheet-music-pdf.pdf |
A B D D E F A D D E F
Sonny dont go away I'm here all alone
A f f e d A B A G A
Your daddy's a salor never comes home
e e f e e e f e
Nights are so long silence goes on
d d d B G A G F E
I'm feeling so tired not all that strong
Sonny dont go away I'm here all alone
A f f e d A B A G A
Your daddy's a salor never comes home
e e f e e e f e
Nights are so long silence goes on
d d d B G A G F E
I'm feeling so tired not all that strong
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 800 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
Sonny's dream beginner piano notes
Sonny's dream guitar tab
Sonny's Dream tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA tuning
Below Is The Full Sheet Music For Sonny's Dream In G Major
Man Of A Thousand Songs
Guitar chords by Bon Sharpe
Intro G7 C G7 C G7
He got a [C] crim-son red tat-too keeps it hid-den just a -[F]- bove his t-shirt sleeve
It's a brok-en heart and the in -[C]- scrip-tion reads 'No love songs if you [G] please',
[C] But he don't real-ly mean that, Yes it's on-ly cheek-y [F] tongue,
He stands up and sings one [C] ev'-ry night, He's the [G7] man of a thou-sand [C] songs. [G]
He knows the [C] street like he knows his last name And the [F] cit-y from the wrong side out,
He knows that time is cruel and an-y [C] man's a fool Who hides the truth be-hind his [G] mouth;
He knows The [C] Duke of Earl, he knows My Girl, And The House of the Ris - ing [F] Sun,
The o-pen-in line on his [C] mar-quee sign reads 'The [G] man of a thou-sand [C] songs'.
He knows an [G] old ho-tel where the desk clerk Will sell you your [F] soul back reas-'nab-ly [C] cheap.
Or this [G] guy you can call when you're crawl-in' the wall
And the [Am7] whole / [D] town's / [Dm7] a-sleep. [G7]
He don't [C] prom-ise what he don't de-liv-er He keeps [F] it all in the eas-y keys.
He don't dream be-yond his ex-pec -[C]- tat-ions But he got the stance down to a [G] 'T';
He got a [C] friend in the back - stage alley Got just the thing to make the night move a -[F]- long.
He's tak-in' all re-quests as you [C] might have guessed,
second time sung [G7/Ab [Am]
Guitar chords by Bon Sharpe
Intro G7 C G7 C G7
He got a [C] crim-son red tat-too keeps it hid-den just a -[F]- bove his t-shirt sleeve
It's a brok-en heart and the in -[C]- scrip-tion reads 'No love songs if you [G] please',
[C] But he don't real-ly mean that, Yes it's on-ly cheek-y [F] tongue,
He stands up and sings one [C] ev'-ry night, He's the [G7] man of a thou-sand [C] songs. [G]
He knows the [C] street like he knows his last name And the [F] cit-y from the wrong side out,
He knows that time is cruel and an-y [C] man's a fool Who hides the truth be-hind his [G] mouth;
He knows The [C] Duke of Earl, he knows My Girl, And The House of the Ris - ing [F] Sun,
The o-pen-in line on his [C] mar-quee sign reads 'The [G] man of a thou-sand [C] songs'.
He knows an [G] old ho-tel where the desk clerk Will sell you your [F] soul back reas-'nab-ly [C] cheap.
Or this [G] guy you can call when you're crawl-in' the wall
And the [Am7] whole / [D] town's / [Dm7] a-sleep. [G7]
He don't [C] prom-ise what he don't de-liv-er He keeps [F] it all in the eas-y keys.
He don't dream be-yond his ex-pec -[C]- tat-ions But he got the stance down to a [G] 'T';
He got a [C] friend in the back - stage alley Got just the thing to make the night move a -[F]- long.
He's tak-in' all re-quests as you [C] might have guessed,
second time sung [G7/Ab [Am]
