“When I Live My Dream;” Focuses on the infinite possibilities of the future, and the positive outlook which can be had by anyone for their future. Bowie outlines the simple dreams of the normal man; dreams which, whilst common, are nonetheless significant to any who can claim ownership of them. The song is a tacit look at the paradoxical qualities of futuristic hopes – for how can something which is someone’s whole life be unimportant in relationship to them, whilst it remains somewhat meaningless on a world scale. It indirectly addresses the questions of life values, and the decisions which people make in relation to one another, and in relation to the future generations.
I enjoyed the bright message which the song openly carries about a future worth waiting for, and of the bountiful prospects which you can realise if you only bother to try. Bowie’s voice throughout the song is lilting and continues the cockney accent of his previous tracks. “When I Live My Dream” is an un-pretentious song which highlights the value of love within a life which cannot hope to achieve anything outside the sphere of inter-personal relationships. It offers a chance of redemption to those who scorn the maker of the dream – “I’m content to let you pass me by,” with the idea that the present qualms and concerns have no hold over the future. It is equally important in painting a more whimsical picture of Bowie, as it toys with the idea of a lackadaisical attitude toward all of the troubles which face people, recanting its message of “I will love my dream,” but not without a hint of irony that this laidback nature seems to pass the responsibility of achieving the dream over to others, ensuring its disambiguation or lack of fruition.