The band’s key member is guitarist/singer/composer Kevin Shields, a reclusive perfectionist and radically inventive guitarist/engineer. The band’s other original member is drummer/studio maven Colm Ó Cíosóig; during their heyday MBV also included singer-guitarist Bilinda Butcher and bassist Debbie Googe. Their band shares its name with a low-budget Canadian slasher film.
MBV influences include The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, Cocteau Twins, late-1970s Wire, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and independent artists such as The Pastels. Kevin Shields has also named The Beach Boys and The Ramones as a personal influence.
After leaving Creation Records in 1992 and signing with Island Records, the band fell into a creative black hole. Rumors spread among their fans of albums being recorded and then shelved. Debbie Googe left the band to form Snowpony; she had not played bass on their recordings since You Made Me Realise. Colm Ó Cíosóig eventually left and formed a band with Hope Sandoval, formerly of Mazzy Star, called Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions. Kevin Shields sporadically collaborated with other artists, most notably Experimental Audio Research, Curve, and Primal Scream. He revealed in a fall 2003 National Public Radio interview that Island Records quit financing his My Bloody Valentine endeavors after he spent half a million pounds of their money.
As of 2006, many rumors mentioned the possible reformation of MBV for a new studio album, but none of these were true. On November 15 2007, My Bloody Valentine announced three upcoming live gigs in the UK for 2008. On June 13 and 14, the band played in public for the first time in thirteen years, offering a pair of "Live Rehearsal" presentations at the ICA in London and officially starting their series of comeback performances. The band went on to play a slew of festivals in Summer and Fall of 2008. Following their appearance at the 2008 All Tomorrow's Parties festival, the New York Times reported that Shields was planning to complete the unfinished album.
On 2 February 2013 they self-released the self-titled album m b v as a download with both vinyl and CD copies shipping on 22nd Feb 2013. The Huffington Post reported that it caused such a public stir that the official MBV website crashed when fans attempted to access the site to purchase a copy.
When You Sleep
My Bloody Valentine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I don't know what's real
Once in a while
And you make me laugh
And I'll see you tomorrow
And it won't be long
Once in a while
Then you take me down
Then you walk away
When you say 'I do'
Oh, I don't believe you
I can't forget it
No
When you sleep tomorrow
And it won't be long
Once in a while
When you make me smile
When you turn your long blond hair
When I look at you
Oh, I don't know what's real
Once in a while
And you make me laugh
And I'll sleep tomorrow
And it won't be long
Once in a while
Then you take me down
When you walk away
The lyrics of My Bloody Valentine's song "When You Sleep" appears to be about the confusion and uncertainty that comes with relationships. The first verse talks about the singer's inability to discern what is real when they look at the other person. They also mention that the other person's ability to make them laugh is a rare occurrence for them. The second verse continues this idea, with the singer anticipating the next time they will see the other person and hoping they won't have to wait too long. However, they also acknowledge that sometimes the other person will bring them down and then leave.
The chorus is the most telling part of the song. The line "When you say 'I do'/Oh, I don't believe you" suggests that the singer doesn't have faith in the other person's commitment to the relationship. They can't forget this doubt, even though they want to. The second half of the chorus talks about the other person sleeping and making the singer smile, but it's clear that this happiness is temporary and fleeting.
Overall, "When You Sleep" seems to be a melancholy reflection on the ups and downs of relationships. The singer experiences moments of joy with the other person but is constantly grappling with doubts and insecurities. The wavering tone of the music adds to the sense of unease and unpredictability in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
When I look at you
I feel unsure about the reality of the situation
Oh, I don't know what's real
I am confused about what I am perceiving
Once in a while
Occasionally
And you make me laugh
You bring me joy
And I'll see you tomorrow
I will meet you again soon
And it won't be long
It will happen quickly
Then you take me down
You emotionally hurt me
Then you walk away
You leave me alone to deal with the pain
When you say 'I do'
I am skeptical of your commitment
Oh, I don't believe you
I think you are lying
I can't forget it
This has left a lasting impression on me
No
I cannot ignore this feeling
When you sleep tomorrow
As you rest in the near future
When you make me smile
When you give me joy
When you turn your long blond hair
As you move your hair in a particular way
And I'll sleep tomorrow
As I rest in the near future
Once in a while
Occasionally
Then you take me down
You emotionally hurt me
When you walk away
You leave me alone to deal with the pain
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kevin Shields
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind