The tale of Tucker Zimmerman is one of those stories no one would believe if it was made up. From dodging the draft back in 1970, to taking residence in Belgium after being kicked out of England, his tale is one that includes being hailed by David Bowie as far back as 1970, then 52 years later being championed by Adrienne Lenker of Big Thief. In 2024, Lenker and her band collaborated with Zimmerman on Dance of Love. The fact that it’s true makes things all the more interesting. Especially since Zimmerman and his wife, Marie-Claire, died in a fire earlier this year, making Dream Me A Dream the final touchstone in a most unorthodox career.
This final chapter, Dream Me A Dream, is as original as it is unusual. Blending vintage analogue synths with acoustic guitar, ‘Sun in Scorpio’ slowly takes note of an artist in his 80s who is still creating songs that sweetly challenge the conventions of modern music. The track is an incredible reminder of a love that lasted a lifetime, as Zimmerman sings, “Tell me what does that mean/ Sun in Scorpio/ She said I control your soul/ You’re my whole don’t ya know.” Despite its seeming simplicity, incredible depths are revealed as the music bed shifts and swirls. Surprisingly, the song was written decades ago but only found a home on this release.
In contrast, ‘Dream Me A Dream’, awash in banjo and violin carries a more overtly folky tone. Yet this is an album where nothing is quite as straightforward as it seems. The first dream involves Orion coming down to walk the land. With almost Dylanesque lyrics, words and images combining to paint indelible images, like the final line where Zimmerman asks, “Dream me a dream of a dream of a dream.”
All that leads neatly into the instrumental, ‘Orion Comes Down to Walk the Land’. Synthesizers and violin evoke the previous song’s theme, putting new shades and textures on display. Though brief, the song is a breath of fresh air. For a man who ‘Don’t Feel Like Doing Nothing Today’, Zimmerman works hard tying together a variety of artists. From Bukowski and Kerouac to Tom Waits and Ronnie Spector, these artists and writers seem unable to excite his inner soul.
Zimmerman rocks out on ‘Rose of Sharon’, yet Adrienne Lenker’s unreleased ‘Stay (I Want You to Stay)’ is an eye opener. A tale of love on the downturn reveals depths of feeling and a lived in quality that is tough to match. The closing track, ‘Crosswalk’ name checks everyone from Huckleberry Finn, Lewis and Clark, even Sonny and Cher and Hubba Bubba Bubblegum.
Artists like Tucker Zimmerman don’t come around very often. Dream Me A Dream is a fitting end note to a life lived dancing to the beat of a decidedly different drummer.