Dreams to Dream

Dreams to Dream is a song by James Horner and Will Jennings, based on a short instrumental piece from An American Tail (which can be heard in the Orphan Alley scene), appearing in the 1991 animated film An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. There are two versions of that song, one with Cathy Cavadini performing Tanya's version and the other being Linda Ronstadt performing the finale version, both for that film. Released as a single on MCA in late 1991, the song climbed to #13 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart but did not cross over to the Hot 100. The music video features Ronstadt performing the song intercut with clips from Fievel Goes West. The composition was nominated in 1992 for a Golden Globe award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture.

In the film, Tanya sings this song as she's performing chores for her family. Cat R. Waul overhears her and becomes captivated by her voice, bringing her to his saloon to be a singer.

Lyrics

I lose my way, no one cares.  

Tanya sings "Dreams to Dream"

The words I say, no one hears.  

My life it seems, is a world of dreams.  

Deep in the night, you'll find me.  

Dream and you're right behind me.  

Stay if you will stay  

We'll dream the night away.  

Dreams to dream in the dark of the night  

When the world goes wrong, I can still make it right  

I can see so far in my dreams  

I'll follow my dreams  

Until they come true.  

There is a star waiting to guide us  

Shining inside us when we close our eyes. 

Come with me, you will see what I mean,  

There's a world inside no one else ever sees.  

You will go so far in my dreams,  

Somewhere in my dreams,  

Your dreams will come true.  

Don’t let go, if you stay close to me 

In my dreams tonight, you will see what I see 

Dreams to dream, as near as can be 

Inside you and me, that always come true, 

Inside you and me, that always come true.

Trivia

• The movie version, sung by Cathy Cavadini as Tanya, leaves out the first seven lines.
• According to her website, Cathy Cavadini was chosen to voice Tanya by James Horner himself, who liked her singing voice. A previous voice actress had already voiced Tanya, and had to be dubbed over by Cavadini.
• The song was covered by Vikki Watson in An American Tail: A Musical Adventure With Fievel and Friends.
• The song is sung by Cathy Cavadini again in the Fievel's American Tails episode "The Legend of Mouse Hollow".
• The only time the song was performed without Tanya's involvement at all was in the An American Tail Live Show, where it is sung by Fievel and Tiger.