LISA closes Alter Ego with Dream, a song that lingers in the spaces between past and present.
As the only ballad on an album filled with high-energy anthems and confident declarations, Dream stands apart, not as an afterthought but as a deliberate shift in tone.
While tracks like Rockstar and New Woman flex her versatility and power, Dream pulls everything inward, leaving behind the bravado for something raw and unresolved.
It feels less like a performance and more like a confession, a quiet moment where LISA lets down the walls and sits with her own memories.
A Song Wrapped in Uncertainty
The lyrics are filled with questions, none of which get answers. “Are you happy? Are you sad?” she sings, as if grasping for any connection to a person who is now just a memory.
The reference to that night in Tokyo hints at something specific, a moment that left a mark but never received closure.
Rather than spelling everything out, the song leaves gaps, allowing listeners to project their own experiences of love and loss into the story.
Musically, Dream is shaped by the delicate touch of producers Shintaro Yasuda and her0ism, whose signature atmospheric production adds depth without overwhelming the song’s emotions.
Soft synths and a shimmering keyboard line create a dreamlike quality, making the track feel like a hazy recollection rather than a direct confrontation.
The rhythmic foundation remains steady, providing just enough momentum to prevent the song from feeling weighed down by its sadness.
LISA’s vocal performance is clear and melodic, carrying an emotional sincerity that feels effortless.
Her voice moves smoothly over the melody, delivering each line with precision.
The harmonies in the chorus add richness to the sound, reinforcing the theme of memories overlapping with reality.
Breaking Down the Lyrics
The song begins with LISA questioning a past relationship, asking “Are you happy? Are you sad?”
The uncertainty is palpable, as she tries to understand whether the other person has moved on.
The reference to that night in Tokyo suggests a pivotal moment in the relationship, one that left her wondering if things could have turned out differently.
The chorus acts as a portal to the past, with LISA singing, “Whenever I close my eyes, it’s taking me back in time” and anchoring Dream with a timestamp: “Like it’s 2019, baby.”
As the song progresses, LISA grapples with the emotional distance between herself and the person she is addressing.
She repeatedly sings, “don’t know where you sleep lately,” reinforcing the idea that while she remains stuck in the past, the other person has moved on.
The line in the bridge, “Playin’ three nights on the stereo, like a movie scene, DiCaprio” has sparked speculation among fans that it could be a nod to Dominic Fike’s Three Nights, a song LISA was seen enjoying at Coachella.
Whether intentional or not, it adds another layer to the song’s introspective storytelling.
This is not just a passing reference but a deliberate call to a specific moment, one that fans have linked to a rumored relationship.
Whether the inspiration is real or not, the detail makes the song feel personal, like flipping through an old photo album and getting stuck on a single image.
But Dream is not just about one person. It captures the way time alters perception, turning past moments into something softer or more painful depending on when we revisit them.
Whenever I close my eyes, it’s taking me back in time, she sings, not in a nostalgic way, but as if she is caught in a cycle, unable to move forward while the other person already has.
The repetition of don’t know where you sleep lately reinforces that distance, making it clear that while she is still caught in the past, reality has moved on without her.
The Unanswered Question
By the time the final chorus arrives, the song shifts from longing to something quieter: It’s bittersweet; Can we be friends at least?
It is not a dramatic plea but a quiet acknowledgement of an ending that was never fully addressed.
The song does not offer closure, and that is something that makes it relatable.
Some stories remain unfinished, lingering in the background as unresolved thoughts that never fully disappear.
A Song That Feels Like a Place You Once Knew
There is something about Dream that feels like walking through a familiar street after years away.
It captures the strangeness of revisiting something that once felt like home but no longer belongs to you in the same way.
As the closing track on Alter Ego, it does not tie things up neatly.
Instead, it lingers, hovering between past and present, refusing to settle into either.
The song remains open-ended, much like the memories it describes—clear in feeling but just out of reach, always pulling you back for another listen.
Dream belongs to the latter. It is not just about reminiscing but about being stuck in a moment that no longer exists.
As the closing track on Alter Ego, it does not offer resolution or a sense of completion.
Instead, it leaves listeners with the same feeling of lingering uncertainty that fills its lyrics, making it a song that continues to resurface, just like the memories it describes.
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LISA Dream Lyrics
Verse 1
I’ve been thinking
That I got no idea what you’re thinking
Are you happy? Are you sad?
Are you always gonna hate me for that night in Tokyo?
When it ended, I kinda hoped that it’d be open-ended
But you never looked back
Well, I guess you can’t hold on to something once you let it go
Pre-Chorus
But I know a place where we can be us
I know it ain’t real, but it’s real enough
From sun going down to sun coming up
It’s like you’re here with me
Chorus
Whenever I close my eyes
It’s taking me back in time
Been drowning in dreams lately
Like it’s 2019, baby
Whenever I’m missing you
Call you up, but I can’t get through
Don’t know where you sleep lately
But I’ll see you in my dreams, maybe
We can catch up, drive down our old street
If all that we were is all that we’ll ever be
It’s bittersweet
At least a girl can dream
Verse 2
I guess that I’m taking what I can get
‘Cause I don’t get nothing new from your friends
If you got the harder side of the break
Then why is it harder for me to take?
There’s so much I might never get to say-ay
Pre-Chorus
But I know a place where we can be us
I know it ain’t real, but it’s real enough
From sun going down to sun coming up
It’s like you’re here with me
Chorus
Whenever I close my eyes
It’s taking me back in time
Been drowning in dreams lately
Like it’s 2019, baby
Whenever I’m missing you
Call you up, but I can’t get through
Don’t know where you sleep lately
But I’ll see you in my dreams, maybe
We can catch up, drive down our old street
If all that we were is all that we’ll ever be
It’s bittersweet
At least a girl can dream
Bridge
I know it’s only in my mind (Ooh)
Playin’ three nights on the stereo
Like a movie scene, DiCaprio
Oh, I put my makeup on just to fall asleep (Ah)
It’s like you’re here with me
Chorus
Whenever I close my eyes
It’s taking me back in time
Been drowning in dreams lately
Like it’s 2019, baby
Whenever I’m missing you
Call you up, but I can’t get through
Don’t know where you sleep lately
But I’ll see you in my dreams, maybe
We can catch up, drive down our old street
If all that we were is something we’ll never be
It’s bittersweet
Can we be friends at least?