EPISODE · Jan 28, 2026 · 2 MIN

Let Us Dream

from The International House of Dancakes · host Dan Warren

About fifteen years ago when we were hanging out in Austin, it came out that Disparition and I had both independently had the idea of writing musicals or concept albums about war from the perspective of those who were not fighting but were caught up in the middle of it. I don't know if anything ever came of his version, but mine has sort of languished in the back of my mind and in my "someday" projects folder since then. For mine I wanted to capture the feeling of helplessly watching the tide of it come for you, the heroic and awful things regular people do to survive in those circumstances, and the consequences that war leaves behind - scars on the landscape, scars on bodies, and the creeping realization that we are irreversibly changed by having lived through those events and what we did, or didn't do, to survive them. I think it might be pretty good, if I ever finish it. Anyway, this song was meant to be fairly early on in that story, when people are just trying to cling to those last few days or weeks of happiness before events overtake them. Just trying to burn into their brains the most vivid possible memory of what life is like when it is simple and good, knowing that it might not be either for a long time. I recorded this rough draft to see if I could shoehorn it into another project, but ultimately felt like it didn't fit. So for now it's an orphan from that war story, just sort of stuck out here on its own. Lyrics: Let us dream a while Here at the door to an uncertain future Let us dream a while Not knowing what tomorrow might bring There may come a day when we find ourselves looking back Grabbing this moment, and clutching it tight Let us dream a while, here on the edge of the night While the stars one by one come alight Let us dream a while Here on the shore of this angry ocean Let us dream a while Enjoying each other for all that we are There may come a day when we find ourselves looking back And count this the last time that we truly laughed Let us dream a while Let us dream a while Let us dream a while Oh, let us dream