"Sonny's Dream" (also known as "Sonny") is a

folk song Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be c ...

written by Newfoundlander Ron Hynes in 1976. It tells the story of a man who wishes to fulfill his dreams, but is bound to his rural homeland by his family, particularly his lonely mother. Hynes wrote the song while on a roadtrip with his band in western Canada and based it on his uncle, Thomas "Sonny" O'Neill, who had taught him how to play guitar and had pushed him play music professionally. It was first recorded by

The Wonderful Grand Band The Wonderful Grand Band is a Canadian music and comedy group formed in 1978 in St. John's, Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. History The group was founded in 1978, and included comedians Greg Malone (actor), Greg Malone and ...

on their eponymous album, but appeared re-recorded on their second album ''

Living in a Fog The Wonderful Grand Band is a Canadian music and comedy group formed in 1978 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. History The group was founded in 1978, and included comedians Greg Malone and Tommy Sexton. They released their first album ...

'' in 1981. Subsequent to the songwriter Ron Hynes' death, a crowd was organized for a singalong in Bannerman Park, St. John's in remembrance and celebration of his life. The song is popular not only in

Atlantic Canada Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic provinces (french: provinces de l'Atlantique), is the region of Eastern Canada comprising the provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec. The four provinces are New Brunswick, Newfoundlan ...

, but in some parts of the United States and has been covered by many other artists, including Hamish Imlach,

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Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...

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Jean Redpath Jean Redpath MBE (28 April 1937 – 21 August 2014) was a Scottish folk singer, educator and musician. Career Jean Redpath was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, to musical parents. Her mother knew many Scots songs and passed them on to Jean and her ...

, and Corey Hart.

Scottish and Irish versions

The song was heard by Scottish artist Hamish Imlach while on a trip to Canada, who modified it somewhat and played it in folk-clubs in Britain. There it was heard by

who recorded it and passed it on to other artists in Ireland. A version titled "Sonny" was recorded by

Mary Black Mary Black (born 23 May 1955) is an Irish folk singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both traditional folk and modern material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland. Background Mary Black was born into a m ...

for the compilation album, '' A Woman's Heart'', which became the best-selling album in Irish history.

List of cover versions

Chart performance

References

Ron Hynes songs 1976 songs 1981 singles Canadian folk songs Songs written by Ron Hynes {{folk-song-stub

Scottish and Irish versions

List of cover versions

Chart performance

See also

References