Chapter 1: The Power of Music and Reflection

What could be more delightful than an entire pub filled with patrons singing "Dreams" by The Cranberries on St. Patrick's Day?

Amidst that lively atmosphere, I conceived the idea of having my students explore the theme of dreams, drawing inspiration from Henry David Thoreau and Dolores O'Riordan. To support their original theses, I gathered insights from a variety of sources, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Guardian, Hollywood Reporter, HookTheory.com, and the lyrics from the official music video, as well as the closing reflections of Thoreau's Walden.

Aye, friends, am I the Master of Shenanigans or what? To be fair, I also penned my thoughts on this theme. This is it, and I must admit, I was genuinely excited.

O'Riordan, who hailed from Limerick, left us too soon in 2018 at the age of 48. I vividly recall that somber day, as do my daughters, who grew up listening to her music. In fact, I charmed my wife with their debut album from 1993, shortly after we met on April 2, 1994.

One YouTube commenter poignantly remarked, "She had the voice of an angel, and a face to match. The world became a little darker with her passing. Farewell, Celtic Princess." David Browne of Rolling Stone noted that O'Riordan was found deceased in a London hotel room on January 15th, at the age of 46.

U2 expressed in a collective statement, "She had such strength of conviction, yet she could speak to the fragility in all of us" (Browne). Dr. Adam Combe later revealed that O'Riordan drowned due to alcohol intoxication, with therapeutic levels of medication found in her system. No note was discovered, and authorities stated her death was not suspicious (The Guardian).

This song, this band, and this remarkable woman embody the essence of Ireland — filled with soul, nostalgia, and tenderness.

As I sat in the pub, listening to my daughter's boyfriend's band—a trio featuring him on bass—they performed a laid-back rendition of "Dreams." I wondered if I could keep up with the singer. While I am a tenor, my soprano falsetto can sometimes lead to comedic results.

The crowded pub erupted in song:

"Then I open up and see

The person falling here is me."

The establishment was adorned with Kelly green decorations, and cardboard shamrocks occasionally bumped into my head. The Cranberries' music prompted me to reflect on my own life and the yearning for more.

This led me to think of Thoreau. Could it be? Henry David Thoreau appearing in a pub in Wantage, New Jersey? Indeed! I joined in:

"Oh, my life is changing every day

In every possible way

And oh, my dreams

It's never quite as it seems

Never quite as it seems."

How true this is for me—and perhaps for you too, friends? Rapid changes abound: my daughters, now 26 and 22, are carving out their own paths. I find myself living part-time in the mountains, far removed from the South Jersey suburbs. Soon, my wife will earn her doctorate.

So much has transformed. Within a year, I might leave public education behind, opening doors to new careers and adventures.

While at the pub, I resonated with the lyrics about dreams materializing, coupled with Thoreau's wise counsel from Walden:

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

And here I am, in what once felt like a distant dream: a loving wife, a fulfilling career, two wonderful daughters, writing, lakes, and mountains. How does this become reality? Is it luck? Fate? Charisma? Hard work? Self-belief?

Perhaps it's a blend of all these elements. Yet, O'Riordan and Thoreau emphasize a critical point: the importance of embracing change and allowing ourselves to awaken to new perspectives and personal freedom. After all, I wouldn’t have been teaching Thoreau and others for 25 years without the unwavering support and inspiration from my wife, Mary Jane Murphy.

Thoreau self-published 800 copies of Walden, selling 200 while leaving 600 in the attic. Was he not a success? Are we not reading his words today? Did he not live life on his own terms, defying societal expectations of a Harvard graduate? His influence endures.

O'Riordan's early death feels hauntingly reminiscent of the video in which she ethereally floats through water and mystical, greenish-blue heavens. I like to believe she experienced more in her brief years than many would in two centuries.

How many people squander precious minutes, hours, days, and weeks of life? Thoreau referred to this as the "quiet desperation" of modern existence. We often start digging our own graves before we truly begin to live.

Reconciling Thoreau's radical ideas from 1850 with the experiences of a young Irish woman navigating a male-dominated world in 1993 is no small task. Yet, there remains a "different way to be." Why is it considered selfish to sing, "I want more, impossible to ignore, impossible to ignore"? Is it about accumulating more possessions, or about seeking greater opportunities, experiences, time, or acknowledgment?

This quote from Thoreau has always resonated with me:

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."

Both the song and Thoreau's writing convey a message of hope, joy, and belief in the individual. In O'Riordan's case, as in any romantic endeavor, there exists the vulnerability of opening one's heart: "You have my heart, but don't hurt me."

"Dreams" is structured simply, with its chord progression analyzed in E Major and G Major. Yet, the song's elegance lies in its simplicity, with an unusual absence of a chorus that surprisingly works, and her haunting vocals reminiscent of Irish mythology.

Andrew Unterberger, a noted rock critic for The Hollywood Reporter, cited ten reasons why "Dreams" is exceptional. Here are five key points:

• The verse harmonies.
• The vocal breaks.
• The outro.
• The heartbeat percussion.
• The synths.

Unterberger observes that "Dreams" has aged remarkably well and remains one of the band's most memorable (and frequently covered) songs.

Indeed, a chorus of affirmations rang from the crowded pub on St. Paddy's Day, friends. Dream big. Live the life you envision. Thoreau and O'Riordan certainly did.

Chapter 2: Reflections on Life and Legacy

The first video, Dreams About Crossing The River - Bridge Crossing Biblical Meaning, explores the symbolic significance of crossing rivers in dreams, offering insights that resonate with the theme of transformation and life’s journeys.

The second video, These Dreams Indicate Witchcraft Activities Going On In Your Life, Beware, delves into the darker aspects of dreams and their potential meanings, prompting viewers to reflect on their subconscious experiences.