David Nail is one my favorite musicians, and it was difficult for me to pick which song I wanted to analyze. But almost any time I hear The Sound of a Million Dreams come out of my speakers it’s as if time pauses for a moment. What I love about his music, and this song in particular, is the open and raw honesty that he expresses. He is in my opinion one of the most underrated country musicians.

“’The Sound of a Million Dreams’ is another hit from the 32-year-old that is better than 95 percent of songs on the radio, but easy to miss in today’s fast food culture. Nail has yet to release a single one could call catchy, or hooky and the result has been critical praise, but commercial struggles.”

“David Nail, ‘The Sound of a Million Dreams’ – Song Review.” Taste of Country, 6 Feb. 2012, tasteofcountry.com/david-nail-the-sound-of-a-million-dreams-song/.

Although David Nail is both a writer and a performer, he did not write The Sound of a Million Dreams. The song was written by Phil Vassar, another country music singer and writer, and Scooter Carusoe, a well known lyricist in the country music industry. The song was released by David Nail in March 2012 and made it to number 38 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Lyrics

“Seger was singin' words I could believe in
And Mainstreet was my street that night
So I called up Samantha
And asked her the chance of us runnin' out neath the moonlight
Well she’s not with me now, she can always be found
When I rewind the radio dial
And like it was then I feel her on my skin
And I'm back there for a while”

Even if you don’t know who Bob Seger is or if you’ve never been to Mainstreet. These words still convey a picture and probably bring up a memory. Because for everyone of us there are songs that have people and memories tied to them; and every time we rewind the radio dial we’re back in that place again.

Often songs are written in a vague way so that the listener can fill in the blanks with their story and who they are. To me the lyrics in this song are more specific and leave less room for imagination. For instance in the chorus, I don’t know anything about how it feels to write a song.

“So I labor for hours 'cause I know the power of a song 
When a song hits you right
Poured my soul into stories of life
Hopin' someone will hear one tonight.

Maybe my voice will cut through the noise
And stir up an old memory
And out of these piano keys
Comes the sound
The sound of a million dreams”
 

But even though I can’t relate to writing a song, the chorus still always hits me right in the heart. Because I do know what it’s like to struggle for my dreams. I know what it’s like when a song is exactly what I needed to hear, and I know what it’s like to hear a song that makes an old memory come flooding back.

“Lyrically, Carusoe’s writing retains simplicity while being just specific enough to conjure a beautiful and emotionally vivid image. While his songs vary in style, he shines most when it comes to emotionally driven ballads, capturing even the most painful moments in an understated way that makes them both heart-wrenching and relatable.”

“Scooter Carusoe – Songs You’ll Love Based on the Hits.” The Shotgun Seat, 9 Aug. 2015, theshotgunseat.com/scooter-carusoe/.

Texture

The simplicity of this song is part of what makes it so beautiful. It has a homophonic texture that predominantly utilizes the piano for the harmony. The slide guitar is added as an accent after the first first verse and chorus, used occasionally throughout the rest of the song. It has such a haunting sound that it perfectly follows up the lyrics and creates more depth and emotion.

Melody

The melody of this song displays conjunct motion. The notes remain in close proximity to each other and there are no big changes between notes. I feel like this helps put more of the focus on the lyrics. The biggest change in pitch is between the verses and the chorus. This changes helps express the struggle that the lyrics describe and creates a more intense feel.

Rhythm

The rhythm of this song, or the beat, could potentially be difficult for a beginner to pick out. It follows a 4/4 meter, but this isn’t necessarily obvious. Part of the reason for this is the use of the piano as the main source of accompaniment. It’s difficult to describe without being technical, but many of notes played by the piano occur in quicker succession and only account for one beat. The use of rests, or quick pauses, also give the rhythm an uneven feel. This more complex feeling rhythm keeps the song interesting and accentuates the lyrics.

Timbre

One of the things I enjoy most about this song is how the instruments are used. David Nail’s voice and the piano are the main sounds you are hearing. The piano has a clear warm sound that allows a lot of expression and the pianist does a really good job of using that. David Nails voice is soulful and smooth, and even though he didn’t write this song it feels like he did. It feels like he’s talking about his own life and memories.

I love the use of the slide guitar. It has such a unique sound that really adds to the melancholy feel of the song. The guitar in this song is perfectly used accentuate and add variety to a simple melody.

Summing it up

The simplicity of elements combine to create a beautifully haunting song that describes how music can define moments of our life. I love the limited and precise use of the guitar and percussion, while the piano’s lilting accompaniment predominates. David Nail has a rich smooth tone to his voice and he’s able to capture and portray the emotions of the lyrics exceptionally well. On more than one occasion this song has brought a tear to my eye.

“I like people to know what I’m talking about. I’m not one of these guys who try to be cute and leave you with all these different scenarios. I want you to know where it’s taking place [and] who I’m talking about. … I just think all that makes it a lot more interesting.”

David Nail

Sources

• “Scooter Carusoe – Songs You’ll Love Based on the Hits.” The Shotgun Seat, 9 Aug. 2015, theshotgunseat.com/scooter-carusoe/.
• “David Nail, ‘The Sound of a Million Dreams’ – Song Review.” Taste of Country, 6 Feb. 2012, tasteofcountry.com/david-nail-the-sound-of-a-million-dreams-song/.
• Morris, Edward. “David Nail Scores First No. 1 Single by Plumbing the Power of Songs.” CMT News, 11 Jan. 2012, http://www.cmt.com/news/1677112/david-nail-scores-first-no-1-single-by-plumbing-the-power-of-songs/.