When Susan Boyle, the Scotish spinster that became a soprano sensation the world over, sang ”I Dreamed A Dream” for the musical Les Miserables the irony was inescapable.

The lyrics shown below speak of a dream lost; of promise unfulfilled.  It was an ironic choice given that it was her performance of that song that propelled her to instant international internet fame.  A song about broken dreams seemed then to help her realize a dream. 

As good as her performance was, the world fell in love with the image of Susan Boyle.  A shy, single, never-been-kissed middle-aged woman living alone with her cat Pebbles in some pastoral Scotish village who simply wanted to entertain.  She was so completely herself on stage when we first met her that everyone watching could instantly associate with her. 

However, she was ill-equipped to deal with the scale of the fame her performance won her.  In the weeks preceeding the finals of Britain’s Got Talent tabloids were full of reports of her crying, raging, swearing, and fighting fits.  Those reports did not conform to the world’s image and so support receded.

Despite the stress and strain the world’s expectations must have placed on her she soldiered on and delivered another fine performance of the song we all so loved. 

This time, however, all irony was washed away.  Sadly, this time the lyrics of this song perfectly conveyed the circumstances Susan was living. 

I dreamed a dream

in times gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that god would be forgiving

Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he’ll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I’m living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

 

I’m not sure she was ever truly concerned with winning the competition.  Her stated goal was to be a professional singer, and that can still be achieved, but her expected loss must still have come as a soul-crushing surprise.  So much so she voluntarily entered a treatment center for much needed rest after a tumultuous month. 

Here’s hoping she finds the peace she needs, and that her dream to entertain was not lost with the show.