Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Nelly wears his heartbreak on his sleeve in the 2010 blockbuster hit, "Just a Dream." Nelly's true love is gone and he knows he's only got himself to blame. He didn't give her all his love and he failed to offer the ultimate symbol of his devotion.
He sings, "Now you ain't around, baby I can't think / I should have put it down, should have got that ring."
In the song's official video, Nelly is standing on the beach at Playa del Rey, Calif. Floating high above his head — symbolically out of reach — are his dream home, his custom-made Ford Mustang GT and an enormous — yes, we mean enormous — gold wedding band. Later in the dream sequence, all three symbols of his perfect life burst into flames and fall in fragments to the beach below.
Many Nelly fans speculated that the song was actually a commentary on Nelly's breakup with recording artist Ashanti.
In an interview with That Grape Juice, Nelly attempted to set the record straight: "No it's not about Ashanti. It's just a song that I and my man [Rico] came up with. It's a song that's just relatable on all levels – rich, poor, black, white, child, adult – whatever level it is. If [thinking it’s about Ashanti] is what helps people to go out and support it then so be it (giggles)."
"Just a Dream" was released as the lead single from Nelly's 2010 album 5.0. The song zoomed all the way to #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Canadian Hot 100. It charted in 21 countries and was named the "Top Streaming Song" at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards.
Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., known professionally as Nelly, was born in Austin, Texas, in 1974, and grew up in St. Louis. While in high school, he formed a band called the St. Lunatics. As an independent artist, Nelly blossomed into a world-class rapper, earning Grammy Awards in 2003 and 2004. With 21 million albums sold, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) ranks Nelly #4 on the list of the best-selling rap artists in American music history.
Please check out the official video of Nelly performing "Just a Dream." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...
"Just a Dream"
Written by Mitch J, Nelly, Rico Love, Jim Jonsin and Frank Romano. Performed by Nelly.
I was thinking bout
her, thinkin' bout me
Thinkin' bout us, what we gonna be
Open my eyes yeah,
it was only just a dream
So I traveled back, down that road
Will she'd come back, no one knows
I realize yeah,
it was only just a dream
I was at the top and now it's
like I'm in the basement
Number one spot and now
she's findin a replacement
I swear now I can't take it,
knowing somebody's got my baby
And now you ain't around
baby I can't think
I should've put it down,
should've got the ring
Cause I can still feel it in the air
See her pretty face run my
fingers through her hair
My lover, my life, my sharty, my wife
She left me, I'm tied
Cause I knew that it just ain't right
I was thinking bout
her, thinkin' bout me
Thinkin' bout us, what we gonna be
Open my eyes yeah, it
was only just a dream
So I traveled back, down that road
Will she come back, no one knows
I realize yeah, it was only just a dream
When I be ridin' I swear
I see your face at every turn
Tryna get my Usher on
but I can't let it burn
And I just hopes he knows that
she the only one I yearn for
More and more I miss
her, when will I learn
Didn't give all my love,
I guess now I got my payback
Now I'm in the club
thinking all about my baby
Hey, it's was so easy to love
But wait, I guess that
love wasn't enough
I'm going through it
every time that I'm alone
And now I'm missing, wishing
he'll pick up the phone
But she made the decision
that she wanted to move on
Cause I was wrong
I was thinking bout
her, thinkin' bout me
Thinkin' bout us, what we gonnna be
Open my eyes yeah, it
was only just a dream
So I traveled back, down that road
Will come back, no one knows
I realize yeah, it was only just a dream
If you ever loved somebody
put your hands up
If you ever loved somebody
put your hands up
And now they're gone and you're
wishing you could give them everything
Said if you ever loved
somebody put your hands up
If you ever loved somebody
put your hands up
Now they're gone and you're wishing
you could give them
everything
I was thinking bout
her, thinkin' bout me
Thinkin' bout us, what we gonna be
Open my eyes yeah, it
was only just a dream
So I traveled back, down that road
Will she come back, no one knows
I realize yeah, it was only just a dream
I was thinking bout
her, thinkin' bout me
Thinkin' bout us, what we gonna be
Open my eyes yeah, it
was only just a dream
So I traveled back, down that road
Will she come back, no one knows
I realize yeah, it was only just a dream
Credits: Screen captures via YouTube.com/NellyVEVO.
