Don't Dream It's Over

1986 single by Crowded House

"Don't Dream It's Over" is a song by rock band Crowded House, recorded for their 1986 self titled debut studio album. The song was composed and written by New Zealand frontman Neil Finn and released in October 1986

In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) ranked "Don't Dream It's Over" second on its list of the Top 100 New Zealand songs of all time and seventh on its list of the Top 100 Australian songs of all time. In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Don't Dream It's Over" was ranked number 65. The song has been recorded by other artists, including Paul Young, Sixpence None the Richer, and New Zealand artist Stan Walker—the latter producing a Māori version titled Moemoeā ("Dream").

"Don't Dream It's Over" is written and composed in the key of E flat major and is set in the time signature of common time with a tempo of 82 beats per minute.

AllMusic described the song as a "majestic ballad". Cash Box said "The easy going and pretty song camouflages a pained longing. Neil Finn's voice, recognisable from his stint with Split Enz, is reedy and expressive and full of irony."

The music video for the song was created by Australian film production company Meaningful Eye Contact and was directed by Alex Proyas. It was filmed in Moore Park, New South Wales and at an abandoned theatre in Balmain. The video features some surreal special effects such as household objects—including shattering crockery—and film reels that float in the air, with lead singer Finn playing a guitar and walking through the same house during different time periods while his bandmates are either performing household chores or playing various backing instruments. It was nominated for Best Group Video and Best Direction at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, and earned the group a Best New Artist award.

In 1991, English musician Paul Young covered "Don't Dream It's Over" on his first compilation album, From Time to Time – The Singles Collection (1991). Young's version, released by Columbia, was produced by Dan Hartman, and featured Paul Carrack singing the fourth chorus and performing the keyboard and synthesizers.

"Don't Dream It's Over" was the second radio single released in promotion of the album Divine Discontent by Sixpence None the Richer. The commercial single release features the B side "Don't Pass Me By," which was recorded during the sessions for Divine Discontent. Their version was also included in the 2003 compilation album Smallville: The Talon Mix.

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref. (Reference)United States21 January 2003Hot adult contemporary radioReprise Records, Reprise, Squint Entertainment, Squint17 February 2003Contemporary hit radio, Contemporary hit, Adult contemporary music, adult contemporary radio

Italian singer songwriter Antonello Venditti interpreted an adaptation in Italian entitled Alta marea (High tide), inspired by Monte Argentario and recorded for his 1991 album Benvenuti in paradiso (Welcome to Heaven), which remains one of his most remembered songs to this day. A 16 year old Angelina Jolie appears in the video.

"Don't Dream It's Over" was prominently featured in the 1994 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's novel The Stand.