“American Dreams” by Luke Beling – A Song Feature

 

     When a person opts into an environment, there is a presumed credibility allotted to the person’s commentary about important aspects of that environment. Luke Beling was born on South Africa’s Sunshine Coast, then moved to a rural area of Kentucky at age 19. He now resides in Hawaii. His song “American Dreams” is specifically directed at the expectations of living in the United States, but Beling notes that the message applies more broadly to “often-empty things society encourages us to chase."
 
     Adding to the credibility, Beling links his song to a quote from Bruce Springsteen, the artist who released the highly acclaimed title track “Born in the U.S.A.” Years later, Springsteen said, "I have spent my life judging the distance between American reality and the American dream." Like the Springsteen song, “American Dreams” might be mistaken for a positive commentary, if the focus is on the vocal and melodic energy, rather than the lyrics. Beling begins “American Dreams” with invigorating percussion and piano. When the vocals enter, a steady kick drum drives the song forwardly. 
 
     Many of the verses of “American Dreams” carry a vagueness that enables personal interpretation, as is the situation with many well-written and insightful lyrics. But some lines are clear and poignant, such as “This sweatshop ‘til you die // It ain’t for you and I.”
 
     Luke Beling provides the lead vocals, alone with acoustic and electric guitar. The Bandcamp site for “American Dreams” identifies other contributors as Nate Barnes (drums), Erin Flood Fortier (backing vocals), Sam Howard (bass), Tyler Fortier (backing vocals, keys, piano), and Glen Yoder (electric guitar). While talking about the song, Beling explained:
  “I wrote ‘American Dreams’ a little over a year ago. The song quickly became the spark and guidepost for my upcoming album, ‘This Parlor Trick Life.’ For better or worse, the American dream (and its premise for non-Americans) is perhaps the most quintessential pursuit in our search for happiness. As a former immigrant and now a present-day citizen, I’m excited to share my take.”
 
     “American Dreams” by Luke Beling

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luke.beling/
Website: https://lukebeling.com/
Bandcamp: https://lukebeling.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “American Dreams” by Luke Beling
We’re the rats in the dark
The weeds in the yard
The banged-up Buick in that little used car lot
 
We’ve been pushing the plough
Sniffing dimes on the ground
Restless girl when we look at the moon and the stars
 
This parlor trick life
It ain’t for you and I
No
 
We got backs to the wall
We got nothing’s for sure
We got baby something more
Than American dreams
 
We got one-light parades
We got nothing’s for trade
We got baby something today
Not American dreams
 
Baby tell me you see
What they want us to be
A box full of bones for those junkyard dogs to eat
 
Let me breathe on your coals
Burn through your soul
Oh I’m just as scared but we got no more life to bleed
 
This sweatshop til you die
It ain’t for you and I
No
 
We got backs to the wall
We got nothing’s for sure
We got baby something more
Than American dreams
 
We got one-light parades
We got nothing’s for trade
We got baby something today
Not American dreams
American dreams
Not American dreams
 
Man, the game’s a ruthless tyrant
So hard to keep him silent
All the steel-tipped shoes
The five o’clock news
The girls wishing for the diamonds
 
Let’s jump the train to nowhere
We’ll tell him when we get there
We got barefoot feet
Dead-end streets
No more pans to grease
 
We got backs to the wall
We got nothing’s for sure
We got baby something more
Than American dreams
 
We got one-light parades
We got nothing’s for trade
We got baby something today
Not American dreams
American dreams
Not American dreams
(American dreams)
American dreams
Not American dreams
(American dreams)
American dreams