"Dreams Go By" is a song written and performed by

Harry Chapin Harold Forster Chapin (; December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and hunger activist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s. Chapin, a Grammy ...

. The song was included on his 1975 album, Portrait Gallery. The song is about life passing by, and your dreams not coming true. The song became a top 40 adult contemporary hit, peaking at #33 on the

Billboard Adult Contemporary The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by stat ...

, where it stayed for two weeks. ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' said that "the kind of delayed gratification that parents have been urging upon children since time began takes on a distinctively different hue here in this family-based classic" and that "broken dreams are pieced back together with much Chapin insight."

Chart performance

Weekly charts

References

{{authority control 1974 songs Elektra Records singles Harry Chapin songs Songs written by Harry Chapin Song recordings produced by Paul Leka