Peak
2
Weeks
36
Score
7,414
Chart Year
1966
This lazy, laid back celebration of love on a summer's day originated with John Sebastian's attempt to rewrite the Supremes' "Baby Love," though it turned into something quite different. John Sebastian "We had no way of knowing what a nice long shelf life some of that material was gonna have. At the time, we were certainly aiming only for the next few months. That's really what we were trying for, a Top Ten record right now, right then. Everything else is unexpected." (courtesy: theharbinger.org. This song started The whole New Vaudeville Bandwagon in the late 1960s of which Sgt. Pepper was the most well known example. This song influenced the Beatles, as John Lennon's jukebox included both this and "Do You Believe In Magic?." This song was a major influence on Paul McCartney's Beatles composition "Good Day Sunshine." Films and TV shows to include this classic as part of their soundtrack include: 1989 film Field of Dreams, the pilot episode of the TV series Men of a Certain Age, 1994 film The War, the "John Lennon's Jukebox" episode of the TV series The South Bank Show, 1967's Poor Cow, and 1970 film Summer in the City. One of our research team members ranted about something involving the Grim Reaper frolicking to this song in a TV commercial. Yes, that's a Jeep Cherokee commercial with the Grim Reaper enjoying a relaxing day off to the tune of The Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream", and anybody else suffering from the same fits of half-remembered nostalgia can now see it at that link and rest in peace, at last. How authentic is the Baby Boomer street-cred of Lovin' Spoonful lead John Sebastian? So much so that he was born in 1944 in Greenwich Village, New York, and his tie-dyed denim jacket is on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, since they were inducted into it in 2000. More trivia: John Sebastian is the godson of actress Vivian Vance, who played Ethel Mertz in the classic TV series I Love Lucy. Other artists to cover this song include: Chet Atkins, David Cassidy, Art Garfunkel (on the album named Daydream - Songs from a Parent to a Child), Rick Nelson, The Sweet, and The Sandpipers.
What a day for a daydream What a day for a daydreamin' boy And I'm lost in a daydream Dreamin' 'bout my bundle of joy And even if time ain't really on my side It's one of those days for takin' a walk outside I'm blowin' the day to take a walk in the sun And fall on my face on somebody's new mowed lawn I've been havin' a sweet dream I been dreamin' since I woke up today It's starrin' me and my sweet dream 'Cause she's the one that makes me feel this way And even if time has passing me by a lot I couldn't care less about the dues you say I got Tomorrow I'll pay the dues for droppin' my load A pie in your face for bein' a sleepy bulltoad And you can be sure that if you're feelin' right A daydream will last along into the night Tomorrow at breakfast you may pick up your ears Or you may be daydreamin' for a thousand years What a day for a daydream Custom made for a daydreamin' boy And now I'm lost in a daydream Dreamin 'bout my bundle of joy
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 26, 1966 | 76 | 50 |
| 2 | Mar 5, 1966 | 53 | 73 |
| 3 | Mar 12, 1966 | 25 | 101 |
| 4 | Mar 19, 1966 | 10 | 116 |
| 5 | Mar 26, 1966 | 6 | 120 |
| 6 | Apr 2, 1966 | 4 | 122 |
| 7 | Apr 9, 1966 | 2 | 124 |
| 8 | Apr 16, 1966 | 2 | 124 |
| 9 | Apr 23, 1966 | 4 | 122 |
| 10 | Apr 30, 1966 | 9 | 117 |
| 11 | May 7, 1966 | 19 | 107 |
| 12 | May 14, 1966 | 29 | 97 |
| 13 | May 21, 1966 | 21 | 105 |
| 14 | May 28, 1966 | 17 | 109 |
| 15 | Jun 4, 1966 | 17 | 109 |
| 16 | Jun 11, 1966 | 15 | 111 |
| 17 | Jun 18, 1966 | 13 | 113 |
| 18 | Jun 25, 1966 | 11 | 115 |
| 19 | Jul 2, 1966 | 10 | 116 |
| 20 | Jul 9, 1966 | 8 | 118 |