Only a Dream in Rio

Album: That's Why I'm Here (1985)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Taylor wrote this song about his experience performing at the inaugural Rock in Rio festival in 1985. The 10-day festival drew well over a million fans, and featured performances by Queen, AC/DC, Scorpions, Iron Maiden, and many top local musicians. (There more more mellow acts - including George Benson - on the two days Taylor performed).

    Performing at the festival, Taylor was struck by the enthusiasm and engagement of the crowd, which sang along to his tunes. This experience marked a turning point in Taylor's life, as he was once again struggling with drug addiction and had been in and out of rehab. He says coming off the stage, he felt like he finally "landed on his feet" and was able to get sober for good.
  • In the middle of this song, Taylor repeats the lyrics in Portuguese, the official language of Brazil. In this section he is accompanied by the Brazilian musicians Eliane Elias, Kenia Gould, and Zbeto. Taylor's trumpet player Randy Brecker also sings on this part.
  • The "Concrete Christ" Taylor mentions is the famous Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks the city of Rio.

Comments: 3

  • Larry Holder from CaliforniaJames Taylor is my brother of another mother
  • Dave from So CalDoug is correct. The Portuguese lyrics are a lovely Brazilian celebration of the sun as "mother."
  • Doug from Maine In the middle of the song, Taylor does not repeat the lyrics in Portuguese. He adds altogether different lyrics.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."