Establishing the mood with a vibrant and intricate piano performance, expanding with textured drums and guitars, Noel David opens Hey Dr. Freud with a high octane energy as he sings, “I’m back at school, and I’m having the worst time, someone found out that I failed the first time, a man of my age repeating 10th grade, must be a dream…”
The opus expands with a series of strange and surreal dreams experienced by Noel David, or in this case Leon’s Imagination, which serves as the title of the accompanying album – his alter ego with the artist’s name reversed!
Each verse takes us into a different bizarre situation – being back in school as an adult, riding a purple train with a royal conductor, and driving a truck without being able to reach the pedals. The overarching sentiment suggests that Leon feels out of control and confused, unsure what these dreams say about his inner thoughts.
Throughout the song, the talented artists repeatedly calls out to Dr. Freud, the famous psychoanalyst known for studying the unconscious mind. He asks if his dreams reveal something deeper, and questions whether he should be locked in a padded cell.
We appreciate the mention of the “id”, suggesting that Leon wonders if his wild dreams come from suppressed feelings or impulses. They question whether he is “a nut,” further highlights his fear that something may be wrong with him.
The soundscape brings to life a sentiment of escapism, in line with the prose, but also allows for introspection. It even boasts a fade out, which is something that we don’t experience enough in recent releases – this again manifests a nostalgic mood.
Noel David is a singer, songwriter, and pianist based in Rhode Island whose musical journey began in college and took him from Michigan to performing in New York City in 1980. Though he later pursued a corporate career, he continued writing music and playing in bands.
In 2020, after moving to Rhode Island, Noel began recording his best original songs from the past 40 years with Grammy-nominated producer George Dussault. The result was the 2025 album Leon’s Imagination, named after Noel’s childhood nickname. Hey Dr. Freud is the final track on the record, and stands out for its surrealist humour and sonic dimensionality.
We have added Hey Dr. Freud to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Noel David, including the entirety of Leon’s Imagination!