It was two weeks after the day she turned eighteen
All dressed in white, going to the church that night
She had his box of letters in the passenger seat
Sixpence in her shoe
Something borrowed, something blue
And when the church doors opened up wide
She put her veil down trying to hide the tears
Oh, she just couldn't believe it
She heard the trumpets from the military band
And the flowers fell out of her hands

Baby, why'd you leave me, why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

The preacher man said let us bow our heads and pray
Lord, please lift his soul and heal this hurt
Then the congregation all stood up
And sang the saddest song that she ever heard
Then they handed her a folded-up flag

And she held on to all she had left of him
Oh, and what could've been
And then guns rang one last shot
And it felt like a bullet in her heart

Baby, why'd you leave me, why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

Baby, why'd you leave me, why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
Oh, I'll never know
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

Oh, this is just a dream
Just a dream, (yeah, yeah)


Lyrics submitted by dontwasteyoursong

Just a Dream Lyrics as written by Hillary Lindsey Gordie Sampson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Just A Dream song meanings
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43 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    The first time I heard this song, it brought tears to my eyes. Lyrically, the best song on the album, and one of Carrie's best songs of all time.

    This song is about an 18 year old girl who was about to get married. Her fiance was in the military, fighting war, and just before the wedding, he was killed.

    I think it can be an inspiring song, regarding loosing something/someone.

    philiascorpioon October 26, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Hi ScriptedLove, I did a little research today and I think this is the history behind the "sixpence in her shoe" line:

    ask.yahoo.com/20031027.html

    dontwasteyoursongon October 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    im pretty sure your lyrics are wrong. i think its...Six pins.. and a shoe, something borrowed, something blue

    and: And the flowers fell out of her hand.

    :] this song is amazing and flawless. it made me cry. My grandpa was in the military.. and the whole folded up flag thing happened at his funeral. this song certainly hits home... in a very personal way.

    ScriptedLoveon October 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song it so sad and one of my favoriteon the album. so sad, it brought tears to my eyes. :( Good job Carrie! nice song!

    snickers281on October 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    jesus. whenever i listen to this song i can't stop myself from crying. it scares the hell out of me. my boyfriend left to join the army at the end of last year and just left for iraq. i don't know how i would live if this happened to him. amazing lyrics, and a really powerful song. i like it...just scares me to death :/ and definitely triggers some emotions...

    AliveNOutofControlon October 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a nice song, I think it's like the next Jesus Take the Wheel.

    slwwalkeron November 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ohhohh. thats helps alot. thanks for doin the research. those two lines were really buggin me because i have noo idea what carrie was talkin about :DD haha.

    ScriptedLoveon November 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ohhohh. thats helps alot. thanks for doin the research. those two lines were really buggin me because i have noo idea what carrie was talkin about :DD haha.

    ScriptedLoveon November 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I just heard this song today, and fully listened to the lyrics and I was in awe. I'e never heard such an inspiring peace ever, that caused me to cry. It was really inspirational, and I believe it hits home for everyone. It doesn't have to be war-time, but a simple car accident to trigger emotions. But dealing with the life we have now, it makes you think of how precious life is.

    I have no one I know in the war in Iraq, but I guess the reason I teared up was to imagine myself in that position; I couldn't handle it, either. It would be too painful. I really like this song, and I hope she chooses it for a single. It would really be evoking to her audiences. ^^;

    Girlish_Intentionzon November 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    wow, such sad lyrics. she thought she'd be going to church for her wedding, not her fiance's funeral. powerful song.

    amster8on November 11, 2007   Link

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