The Dream Before

Laurie Anderson's song "The Dream Before" reimagines the classic fairy tale characters Hansel and Gretel, placing them in a contemporary setting in Berlin. This juxtaposition of old and new serves as a metaphor for the collision between past and present. Hansel and Gretel, now adults, are depicted as disillusioned figures, grappling with the mundanity of modern life. Hansel's lament about wasting his life on their 'stupid legend' and his confession of love for the wicked witch adds a layer of irony and complexity, suggesting that the narratives we cling to can sometimes be more confining than liberating.

The song delves deeper into philosophical territory with its exploration of history. Anderson uses the metaphor of an angel being blown backwards into the future, a concept borrowed from Walter Benjamin's interpretation of Paul Klee's painting,