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The Drunkard's Dream

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Language
English
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This song originated in England where it is known as "The Husband's Dream." It was very popular in the American South where it was recorded several times in the 1920s. Synopsis - "The singer meets (Dermot) and expresses surprise at how healthy and prosperous he looks. Dermot explains that he had had a dream which showed him the consequences of his actions. Awakening in relief, Dermot has reformed his ways." The earliest recording appears to be Riley Puckett's June 15, 1925 performance.

The original performances started out "Oh don't you look so much better now, your clothes are neat and clean....". The Stanley Brothers' 1962 recording opened "Oh Edmund you look so pleasant now, your clothes look neat and clean..." so typically performances now will reference Edmund (or Ed) in the opening line.

Note 1 - There is a work on SHS called The Drunkard's Hell that generally begins "It was on a dark and stormy night...". It can have performances named "Drunkard's Dreams", including a 1928 recording by Posey Rorer and The North Carolina Ramblers, The Drunkard's Dream.

Note 2 - There is another similarly themed song first recorded in 1928 by Ted Chesnut called The Drunkard's Doom that is typically known as I Saw a Man at the Close of Day after Grayson & Whitter's 1929 recording.
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