DREAM BABY (HOW LONG MUST I DREAM)^©

Home demo version

Sweet dreams baby
Tell me how much must I dream
Sweet dreaming baby
Baby how much have I dreamed

Page last updated: 19 Apr 2008

Written by Cindy Walker, DREAM BABY (HOW LONG MUST I DREAM) was originally released by Roy Orbison in 1962. Check out Roy Orbison's original version for more details.

Between Spring 1981 and Spring 1982, Bruce Springsteen spent much time laying down home demos at Thrill Hill East, his home studio in Colt's Neck, NJ. Much of these non-professional home recordings have surfaced on The Lost Masters bootleg series in 1996. On one of these recordings, Springsteen can be heard singing the refrain of the Roy Orbison song DREAM BABY. The above lyrics are for that 32-seconds warm-up take, and according to Brucebase, it was recorded sometime between mid-Sep and Dec 1981 at Thrill Hill East. It can now be found on the bootlegs The Lost Masters Vol. I (Labour Of Love) and How Nebraska Was Born (Godfather Records).

Six years later, Springsteen would share vocals with Roy Orbison on DREAM BABY during the "A Black & White Night" TV special that was later released as album and home video. Check out the live 30 Sep 1987 version for more details. Check out also Roy Orbison's original version.

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake from BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Liner notes from the How Nebraska Was Born bootleg booklet:

Springsteen plays with country & western, trying to emulate Hank Williams. He sings a refrain of an old Roy Orbison song that he will sing together with the Texan hero in Sep 1987 during a tv show called "The Coconut Groove Session" (later an album and a home video called "A Black and White Night").