I Have Dreamed (song)

"I Have Dreamed" is a show tune from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I. In the original Broadway production it was sung by Doretta Morrow and Larry Douglas. It has since become a standard, with many artists recording the song. The tune has been accused of similarities to Alfred Newman's track, "The Hill of the Brilliant Green Jade", from the 1944 film The Keys of the Kingdom starring Gregory Peck,^[1] though only 7 notes are the same.

In the show, the characters of Lun Tha and Tuptim sing of how they have dreamt of their true love blossoming, as they prepare to escape from the King's palace. This is in contrast to the subdued mood of the song "We Kiss in a Shadow", when they fear that the King would know about their love.

"I Have Dreamed" was added to the score of The King and I during its out-of-town tryout run. The song was recorded for the soundtrack of the 1956 film version of The King and I but ultimately no footage was shot to feature "I Have Dreamed," with the song being featured in the film only in the incidental music prior to the "We Kiss in a Shadow" sequence. However "I Have Dreamed" is featured on the movie soundtrack album.

Recorded versions

• Ronnie Aldrich
• Thomas Allen
• Julie Andrews (1994) - Broadway: The Music of Richard Rodgers
• June Angela and Martin Vidnovic for the 1977 Broadway revival recording of The King and I
• Jane Ira Bloom
• Boston Pops Orchestra
• Peabo Bryson with Lea Salonga (1992) for the 1992 Hollywood Bowl studio cast recording of The King and I
• Chad & Jeremy (Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1965 (see 1965 in music)
• Donna Cruz
• Bill Cunliffe
• Bobby Darin
• Sammy Davis Jr.
• Doris Day (Richard Rodgers identified hers as the most beautiful rendition he had ever heard)
• Trudy Desmond
• Connie Evingson
• Sergio Franchi covered this song on his 1964 RCA Victor album The Exciting Voice of Sergio Franchi^[2]
• Connie Francis
• David Friesen
• Wilbur Harden
• Fred Hersch
• Lena Horne
• Betty Johnson
• Dick Johnson
• Tom Jones
• Andre Kostelanetz
• Nancy Lamott
• Julius LaRosa
• The Lettermen
• Keith Lockhart
• London Philharmonic Orchestra
• Mantovani
• Johnny Mathis
• Howard McGillin
• Dave McKenna
• Helen Merrill
• Glenn Miller Orchestra
• Matt Monro
• Doretta Morrow with Larry Douglas for the original Broadway cast recording
• Patrice Munsel
• Kelli O'Hara
• Greg Phillinganes
• Herb Pomeroy
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
• "Little" Jimmy Scott
• Jeanette Scovotti
• Doc Severinsen
• Marc Shaiman - arranged for the film The American President
• Cybill Shepherd
• David Silverman
• Kaz Simmons – Take Me Home (2005)
• Frank Sinatra - The Concert Sinatra (1963)
• Barbra Streisand- recorded in 1985 as part of a King and I medley that incorporates elements of “We Kiss In a Shadow” and concludes with “Something Wonderful.”
• Bryn Terfel (1996) - Something Wonderful: Bryn Terfel sings Rodgers and Hammerstein
• Scott Walker
• Gerald Wiggins
• Andy Williams

References