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Watch Beauty of My Dreams on YouTube Del McCoury Band, "Beauty of My Dreams"

The upbeat bluegrass tune “Beauty of My Dreams” is an original composition of the influential bluegrass musician Del McCoury. Debuted during the winter ’97 European tour, “Beauty of My Dreams” was in regular rotation in the Phish repertoire from its debut until the hiatus. 

“Beauty of My Dreams” was a setlist workhorse from its debut in 1997 through the hiatus in 2000, with forty-eight appearances in four years. Subsequently the song has become a genuine rarity, appearing on the Phish stage just once during “2.0” on 7/22/03 at Deer Creek. The song returned rather unexpectedly after a 133-show absence on 12/31/10 at Madison Square Garden.

Watch Beauty of My Dreams on YouTube Phish, "Beauty of My Dreams" – 2/16/97, Cologne, Germany. Video by trfrasier.

The next version came after even a longer gap, over six years and 227 shows later, on 10/28/16, settling in to being played about once every other year. The version from Nashville, where the McCourys have called home since 1992, on 10/7/23 featured Trey acknowledging “we’re gonna do one for Del here” before the band started it up.

For a solo acoustic interpretation of the song by Trey, visit his 5/15/99 gig from The Palace in Albany. Phish versions of the tune are straightforward and do not vary, and with only a handful of exceptions it has served a utility role in first sets. Two notable exceptions involved very special guests: on 7/1/99 in Antioch, TN the song was performed with Jerry Douglas on dobro, Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Tim O’Brien on fiddle, and a few weeks later on 7/18/99 Phish performed this tune with the original artist as they welcomed the full Del McCoury Band on stage during the festival gig at Oswego, NY, at which they had also performed on a side stage.

Almost eleven years later, TAB’s gig at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on 2/25/10 would also feature an appearance by the Del McCoury Band, performing “Beauty of My Dreams” acoustic. Next on.5/24/13, Trey Anastasio Band performed at Del McCoury’s DelFest for the first time and were joined on “Beauty of My Dreams” by Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Jason Carter and Rob McCoury. Trey noted during this sit-in that McCoury’s Blue Side of Town was a fixture in Phish’s band bus rotation in the 90s. When TAB returned to DelFest in 2017, they were joined again by Del, Ronnie, and Rob for another version of the song, again following “I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome” as it did in 2013.

Watch Beauty of My Dreams on YouTube Trey Anastasio Band “Beauty of My Dreams” with Del, Rob, and Ronnie McCoury – 5/26/17, Cumberland, MD. Video by DCRANGERFAN. 

Last significant update: 11/21/23

(McCoury)
© McCoury Music (BMI)

One day I met the beauty of my dreams
Such pretty eyes she had you know it seems
Long hair that flowed down behind
I saw it all you know I was so blind

Wound up on her side of town
Bright lights and loud music all around
I gazed into her eyes and she in mine
She had me in a trance that was so fine

Now I cry cry cry
I can't get over her though I try
I'm blue blue blue
Should have known she never could be true

The fun it didn't last for very long
I found her house the neighbors said "you're wrong"
The girl you see don't live here any more
Now I know the pain that was in store

Now all I have is a picture in a frame
She disappeared the same way she came
She made a wreck of me now I find
She's outside but always on my mind

Now I cry cry cry
I can't get over her though I try
I'm blue blue blue
Should have known she never could be true

Now I cry cry cry
I can't get over her though I try
I'm blue blue blue
Should have known she never could be true