"A Hatful of Dreams" is a song featured in the 2023 musical fantasy film Wonka, directed by Paul King and starring Timothée Chalamet as the young Willy Wonka. It is performed by Chalamet in the opening scene of the film, as Wonka arrives in a European city with nothing but a few coins and a hatful of dreams. The song expresses Wonka's optimism, ambition, and imagination, as he sings about his desire to create the most amazing confectionaries in the world.
Background[]
The song was written by Neil Hannon, who also composed the original score for the film. Hannon said that he was inspired by Roald Dahl's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which features Wonka as a character who loves chocolate and invents fantastical machines. He also said that he wanted to capture Wonka's spirit of adventure and creativity in his music. As a result, he collaborated with Chalamet to create a vocal performance that matched the character's personality and tone.
Lyrics[]
Willy:
After seven years of life upon the ocean,
It is time to bid the seven seas farewell,
And the city I've pinned seven years of hopes on
Lies just over the horizon, I can hear the harbor bell!
Land, ahoy!
Got a tattered overcoat and battered suitcase!
Got a pair of leaky boots upon my feet
Got to drag myself up by my one good bootlace!
Gotta work my rotten socks off if I want to make ends meet!
I've poured еverything I've got into my chocolate
Now it's time to show the world my recipes
I've got twelve silver sovereigns in my pocket
And a hatful of dreams!
There's a famous restaurant on every street here,
There's Brandino's and the Bar Parisienne
Map Seller:
Restaurant map, sir?
Willy:
Thank you!
Got a little map to tell me where to eat here...
Had a dozen silver sovereigns, now I'm somehow down to ten!
Want the finest produce? This is where they stock it!
Fruit Seller:
That's three sovereigns, mate.
Willy:
Though the prices are suspiciously extreme!
Fruit Seller:
Break my pumpkin, you pay for it.
Willy:
I've got five, six, seven--
...six silver sovereigns in my pocket
And a hatful of dreams!
Shoeshine Boy:
Brush your coat, sir?
Willy:
No, thank you.
Shoeshine Boy:
Cologne?
Willy:
No, leave me alone!
At last! The Galeries Gourmet!
I knew that we'd see it one day
It's everything you said, Mamma, and oh! So much more!
Everywhere you look another famous chocolate store
Here's my destiny! I just need to unlock it
Will I crash and burn or go up like a rocket?
I've got nothing to offer but my chocolate
And a hatful of dreams!
In this city, anyone can be successful
If they've talent and work hard -- or so they say
But they didn't mention it would be so stressful
Just to make a dozen silver sovereigns last more than one day!
Young Mother:
Could you spare a sovereign for a place to sleep, love?
Willy:
Of course, here, take all you need.
Young Mother:
Thank you.
Willy:
I've got one silver sovereign in my pocket
And a hatful of dreams!
