# Origin of "dreamers awake" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 26, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dreamers-awake/431308 "2007-12-26T19:22:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sequent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Sequent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sequent)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dreamers-awake/431308/1 "2007-12-26T19:22:55Z")
For some reason I have an association in my head between the phrase “dreamers awake” and the Christmas carol “[O Holy Night](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_holy_night),” but I can’t find any information as to why that might be. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dreamers-awake/431308/2 "2007-12-26T20:32:04Z")
I don’t know the answer, but if it has anything to do with Christmas, it makes ME think of [the Carol of the Old Ones.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ftld7Ohojg) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dreamers-awake/431308/3 "2007-12-26T21:12:51Z")
Bach wrote a canata, “Sleepers, wake”, based on an earlier chorale of that name. [Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wachet_auf,_ruft_uns_die_Stimme) But I’ve never heard of any link to “O Holy Night”. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dreamers-awake/431308/4 "2007-12-26T21:14:37Z")
[Dreamers Awake, This Holy Day?](http://www.witherspoonsociety.org/2006/lemosy_hymns.htm#dreamers%20awake) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dreamers-awake/431308/5 "2007-12-26T21:14:56Z")
[QUOTE=thelurkinghorror] I don’t know the answer, but if it has anything to do with Christmas, it makes ME think of [the Carol of the Old Ones.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ftld7Ohojg) [/QUOTE] How…appropriate… ---
**Author:** ![Sequent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Sequent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sequent)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dreamers-awake/431308/6 "2007-12-26T21:15:41Z")
Haha, yes, I know just how you feel. A friend showed that to me the other day…hilarious. Did a bit more digging, and the phrase could have come from the song “[Beautiful Dreamer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_dreamer).” But I would still like to categorically rule out any association with Christmas carols. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sequent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Sequent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sequent)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dreamers-awake/431308/7 "2007-12-26T21:18:57Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] [Dreamers Awake, This Holy Day?](http://www.witherspoonsociety.org/2006/lemosy_hymns.htm#dreamers%20awake) [/QUOTE] Thanks, **Contrapuntal** , that must be it. Holy Night, Holy Day…oh well. Mystery solved. ---
**Author:** ![Sequent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Sequent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sequent)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dreamers-awake/431308/8 "2007-12-26T21:34:05Z")
The copyright on the hymn is dated 2005/2006; I’m thinking the song has to be older than that. The referenced passages (Psalm 126:1; Isaiah 61:1 ff.) don’t contain the key phrase, either. Still, I’m pretty sure this has to be the hymn I’ve been thinking of.