About the song
“The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of” is a notable track from Carly Simon’s thirteenth studio album, *Coming Around Again*, released in 1987. This song stands out as a significant entry in Simon’s discography, particularly within the Adult Contemporary genre. Written by Simon herself and produced by John Boylan, the song reflects her continued evolution as an artist, blending emotional depth with her signature melodic style.
The title of the song pays homage to the classic 1941 Warner Bros. film *The Maltese Falcon*, echoing a line from the movie. This reference adds a layer of sophistication and cultural resonance to the track, aligning it with Simon’s often literary and cinematic inspirations.
Despite the absence of an official music video for “The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of,” Carly Simon’s performance of the song at her 1987 HBO concert special, *Live from Martha’s Vineyard*, was widely appreciated. A clip from this performance was aired on VH1, giving the song a degree of visibility and further cementing its place in Simon’s catalog.
“The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of” achieved notable success on the charts. It reached No. 8 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, where it enjoyed a lengthy stay, remaining on the chart for 17 weeks. Additionally, the song made its mark internationally, peaking at No. 28 in Ireland and entering the UK chart at No. 99, where it held its position for one week.
The song has been included in several of Carly Simon’s greatest hits compilations, reflecting its enduring appeal. It appears on the three-disc box set *Clouds in My Coffee* (1995), the UK import *The Very Best of Carly Simon: Nobody Does It Better* (1998), the two-disc retrospective *Anthology* (2002), the single-disc *Reflections: Carly Simon’s Greatest Hits* (2004), and Sony Music’s *Playlist: The Very Best of Carly Simon* (2014). These inclusions highlight the song’s lasting impact and its place as one of Simon’s significant Adult Contemporary hits.
Video
Lyrics
Take a look around now .
Change the direction
Adjust the tuning
Try a new translation
Don’t look at your man in the same old way
Take a new picture
Just because you don’t see shooting stars
Doesn’t mean it isn’t perfect
Can’t you see
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of
It’s the slow and steady fire
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of
It’s your heart and soul’s desire
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of
So what’s this about your best friend?
She’s got a brand new shiny boy
And they’re moving out to Malibu
To play with all his pretty toys
And you feel closed in by the same four walls
The same old conversation
With the same old guy you’ve know for years
But use your imagination
And you will see
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of
It’s the slow and steady fire
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of
It’s your heart and soul’s desire
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of
What if the Prince on the horse in your fairytale
Is right here in disguise
And what if the stars you’ve been reaching so high for
Are shining in his eyes
Don’t look at yourself in the same old way
Take another picture
Shoot the stars off in your own backyard
Don’t look any further
And you will see
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of
It’s the slow and steady fire
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of
It’s your heart and soul’s desire
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of