Album: Man of La Mancha (Don Quixote) Soundtrack

To Each His Dulcinea (To Every Man His Dream)

Lyrics by Joe Darion
This song is sung by the Priest of the "middle level" of the play, where Cervantes is Alhonso Quiana who has come to believe that he is the knight Don Quixote and has devoted his life to justice in the lovely lady Dulcinea (who may only exist in his mind). The Priest is sympathetic to Quiana's state and sees both the comforts and the dangers of dedication to a dream.


To each his Dulcinea ...

That he alone can name,
To each a secret hiding place:
Where he can find the haunting face --
To light his secret flame ...

For with his Dulcinea beside him so to stand,
A man can do quite anything:
Outfly the bird upon the wing --
Hold moonlight in his hand ...

Yet if you build your life on dreams,
It's prudent to recall:
A man with moonlight in his hands --
Has nothing there at all ...

There is no Dulcinea ...

She's made of flame and air,
And yet how lovely life would seem:
If every man could weave a dream --
To keep him from despair.

To each his Dulcinea ...
Though she's only flame and air ...