Meaning of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics
by SMF· Published · Updated
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” is a famous 1983 single by British music duo Eurythmics. The “sweet dreams” referred to in this track are actually the personal motivators we all have in our individual quests for fulfillment.
');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; })();The recurring theme throughout the song is a never-ending search for contentment. Indeed no matter where on the Earth the singer may find herself, she is always surrounded by people who are consumed by their “sweet dreams”, and as such, aspire to live out their fantasies.
And these aspirations seem to manifest themselves in one of two ways. Either a person is taking advantage of someone else, or they are being taken advantage of.
Ultimately though, “Sweet Dreams” has an uplifting message. Why? Because in it, the duo encourages listeners to stay optimistic and not to give up on accomplishing their goals.
“Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something”
In Annie Lennox’s 2001 biography titled Annie Lennox: The Biography, Lennox shed more light on the meaning of “Sweet Dreams”. According to her, the lyrics focus on mankind’s quest to find fulfillment in life. And in doing so, mankind is motivated by their “sweet dreams”.
The Birth of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”
According to Lennox, the song was written after she and her partner/colleague David A. Stewart had a fight. The fight was so bitter that Lennox was left extremely depressed. It was at that moment that Stewart started working on his synthesizer to produce the song’s beat and riff.
Lennox (who was in the same room with him while he worked) was so overcome by misery that she lay on the floor barely paying any attention to what he was doing.
However, upon hearing the amazing sound he suddenly began producing, Lennox instantly got interested. She threw away her misery, stood up from the floor and joined Stewart to work on his creation. Before long, the couple knew they had just created a major hit.
Annie Lennox Breaks Down “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
According to Lennox, she was “desperately unhappy”at the time this song was written. One of the major causes of her happiness was because her goals/aspirations to make it in the music industry were not coming to pass. She poured part of this unhappiness into the song.
She revealed that from the first line, “Sweet Dreams” is devoid of happiness. She described that line as “dark” and referred to the whole song as one that expressed exactly how she felt at that time. And how did she feel? According to her, she was “hopeless and nihilistic” then.
Lennox further revealed that the line in which she sings about traveling the world and “the seven seas” and seeing “everybody searching for something” is about how mankind is always in “this perpetual state of seeking”.
One of the most misinterpreted set of lyrics in this track is where Lennox sings about some people wanting to be used/abused by you and your wanting to be used/abused by them.
Many misinterpret it to be about a weird intimate affair. However, Lennox insists those lines have nothing do with romance or a freaky intimate affair.
In the music video of the song, Lennox deliberately chose to wear a suit. According to her, she did that to appear as the “opposite of the cliche of the female singer”. She said she wanted to appear “as strong as a man”.
Facts about “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”
“Sweet Dreams” was penned by the members of Eurythmics (Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart). Stewart handled its production.
');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; })();RCA Records released this track as a single from the duo’s second studio album titled Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).
In total, this album produced four singles. Of all four singles, “Sweet Dreams” was the most successful.
Lennox and Stewart were in a romantic relationship when they wrote and released “Sweet Dreams”.
RCA initially didn’t want to release the song as a single. Why? The label felt since it didn’t have a chorus, it wasn’t going to be a successful single.
Interestingly enough, the song went on to become the duo’s biggest hit as well as on of the most successful songs of the 1980s.
What was the release date of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”?
RCA Records released “Sweet Dreams” in the United Kingdom on January 21, 1983. Few months later, it was released in the United States.
The Eurythmics
The British band, Eurythmics originated from London, England, and was formed in 1980. With a line-up consisting of Scottish singer Annie Lennox and David Allan Stewart, their sound was steered in the genre direction of synth-pop, dance-rock, and new wave.
The duo were initially members of a group called The Tourists which disbanded in 1980, the very year this band started their career.
The Eurythmics released 8 studio albums, one soundtrack album, and won 11 awards, some from the MTV Video Music Awards, Brit Awards, and the Grammys with 38 other nominations.
They sold over 75 million records all around the globe and earned their UK Music Hall of Fame induction in 2005. The duo has disbanded and reunited a couple of times up until 2019.
SERAPHINE says:
“I have come to realize that some of the best songs emerge from the depths of the greatest crises, as they possess a raw, genuine, and unpretentious quality. They encapsulate the essence of reality, resonating with profound authenticity. ‘Sweet Dreams Are Made of This’ is undoubtedly one of those gems, consistently sounding good, true, and refreshingly honest. It speaks to the core of human existence, encompassing the full spectrum of emotions, whether it be love, hate, joy, or depression. I have heard that Annie Lennox was battling depression when she co-composed this song with David. Her state of mind at the time obviously added an extra layer of depth and personal connection to its lyrics as well as its melody.”
ALEXANDER RAYNOLDS says:
“You know, that line from the song, “some of them want to be abused“, it hits me hard. It’s like a reflection of my own perception of the world. I see the world and life in general through this rather dark and pessimistic lens. In my mind, everything seems to revolve around this notion of using and being used. I can’t help but see kindness as a disguise, a façade that people put on, but deep down, it’s all about personal gain. It’s as if anyone who shows tender emotions towards another is just exploiting our innate vulnerability, our emotional side, for their own benefit.
It challenges the very essence of altruism and leaves me questioning the sincerity of human interactions. But somehow, it resonates with me, because it feels real. It’s like acknowledging the darker side of humanity, the intricate web of motives and hidden agendas that underlies our interactions. It’s not a pleasant thought, but it’s one that I can’t shake off.
Perhaps it’s as a result of the experiences I’ve had or the observations I’ve made. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism, a way to protect myself from getting hurt. But there’s something about that line in the song that encapsulates this worldview, this belief that life is a constant struggle for power and survival. I don’t know if it’s the right way to see things, and I certainly don’t wish it upon anyone else. But for me, it’s a reflection of the complexity and ambiguity that I perceive in human nature.”
EMMA says:
“Back in the 1980s, when ‘Sweet Dreams’ was officially released, I was just a young boy residing in New York City. Even at that tender age, I was captivated by the song and its accompanying music video. I saw Annie Lennox as an incredibly talented and remarkable artist, without giving much thought to her sexual preferences. As I grew up, I became aware of the attention society placed on her sexuality, leading to controversies surrounding her choice of clothing and short hair. Personally, I’ve always considered these matters irrelevant when it comes to appreciating an artist’s talent and artistry. I believe more attention should be placed on the art rather than the artist.”
