Robert Stoner “American Dream”
Americana Highways presents this premiere of Robert Stoner’s song “American Dream,” the title track from his forthcoming album due out later this summer. This song, though, will be released on May 2. American Dream was produced, mixed and mastered by Ben Bernstein in Oakland, California. The cover art was done by Robert.
“American Dream” is Robert Stoner on guitar and vocals, Kirby Hammer on piano, with harmony vocals by Maya Elise and Lily Stoner.
This is an undemanding, reflective song, laden with uncertainty and the observation that folks hoping to achieve the American dream often do not have much to show for it. The words are imagery among the hushed acoustic guitar and piano melodies: “The wind blows hard, it’s telling about tomorrow / It lets us know what we don’t want to hear / wonder where we’ve been and where we’re going… / Bring me home where the sun still shines and the water line is lying deep below. / Let me know what’s yours and mine in the summertime and where I need to go… lost in an American Dream.” The vocals are fittingly haunting, especially when the harmonies intertwine.
This song deals with the many nuanced feelings associated with the word “American Dream”: the strong promise of upward mobility and freedom from oppression that is conveyed; the hubris connected to our feeling that, because of our noble intentions, we can do no wrong in the world; the triumphs and failures we have had in pursuing this illusive concept of the “American Dream”; and finally the question of who will step up to preserve the promise of this Dream. – Robert Stoner
Check out his music here on BandCamp: https://robertstoner.bandcamp.com/album/year-of-pain