Bob Seger System

Leanin on My Dream

1970 · Capitol SKAO-499 · Los Angeles, California

Artist
Bob Seger System
Title
Leanin on My Dream
Release
Mongrel
Year
1970
Label
Capitol # SKAO-499
Language
English
Country
Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre
Rock · Rock · R&B
Primary theme
Peace, Protest & Anti-War

Annotation

Leanin on My Dream (Seger, Bob) (Capitol Records # SKAO-499). Released as a single in France: Leanin on My Dream / Song to Rufus (Capitol Records # 2C006 80618). Draft song. Reference to protests and demonstrations. Protagonist walks past demonstration, thinking it's irrelevant to him. Goes home to watch TV. Then received a letter from Uncle Sam drafting him to war. He subsequently joined in the demonstration. "I was walkin to the corner drug store and what should I happen to see There were picket lines and the people were a shoutin' "Down with democracy", as I strolled on by someone grabbed my arm And said "buddy where do you stand"? I said "I stand wherever I choose My friend and you best let go of my hand", as I walked away on a sunny day I swear I heard him scream "you know you're leanin' on my dream"... Got home and turned on the tv set and sat me down to eat And a man came on talkin' bout the coppers they were blockin' off another Street, seems some folks was raisin' cain and a riot had broke out... I was addin' the score when there's a knock on the door, was a letter Addressed to me, it read "greetings from the President, United States" I fell down on my knees, the next day…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Draft Songs

Leanin on My Dream (Seger, Bob) (Capitol Records # SKAO-499). Released as a single in France: Leanin on My Dream / Song to Rufus (Capitol Records # 2C006 80618). Draft song. Reference to protests and demonstrations. Protagonist walks past demonstration, thinking it's irrelevant to him. Goes home to watch TV. Then received a letter from Uncle Sam drafting him to war. He subsequently joined in the demonstration. "I was walkin to the corner drug store and what should I happen to see / There were picket lines and the people were a shoutin' / "Down with democracy", as I strolled on by someone grabbed my arm / And said "buddy where do you stand"? I said "I stand wherever I choose / My friend and you best let go of my hand", as I walked away on a sunny day / I swear I heard him scream "you know you're leanin' on my dream"... / Got home and turned on the tv set and sat me down to eat / And a man came on talkin' bout the coppers they were blockin' off another street / Seems some folks was raisin' cain and a riot had broke out... / I was addin' the score when there's a knock on the door / Was a letter addressed to me / It read "greetings from the President, United States" / I fell down on…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

American rock band formed in 1968 in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area of Michigan, led by Bob Seger (b. Detroit, 1945); recorded the anti-war hit '2+2=?' (1968); disbanded 1971. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Anti-War · Demonstration · Draft

In collections

Draft Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs