Gene Eugene's mystical voice—often mistaken for R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe—remained the least-changing element in a band that Thom Jurek of allmusic has described as "inventive and artfully canny." Adam Again's style was rock and acoustic with strong hints of funk and traces of soul running throughout. The band never achieved commercial viability and quit touring and recording together in 2000 after Eugene died in his recording studio, the "fabulous" Green Room.
Sleepwalk
Adam Again Lyrics
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It was something...it was something big,
I wanted something...I wanted something big,
It was something... it was something big.
I was down, I moved 'round,
I looked up, I got up,
Wanted in, I begged in,
Something...I wanted something big,
It was something...it was something big,
I wanted something... I wanted something big,
It was something...it was something big.
Where am I? What am I?
Is it I? Am I in? Am I in?
Wanted in, wanted in,
I said nothing to promote this dream,
I found something, but I could not lean to the needs, all the needs,
The shy, dry seed,
Will it wish? Will it miss? Will it cry and bleed?
I wanted something...I wanted something big,
It was something...it was something big,
I wanted something...I wanted something big,
It was something... it was something big,
I wanted something...I wanted something big,
It was something...it was something big,
I wanted something...I wanted something big,
It was something... it was something big.
The lyrics of "Sleepwalk" by Adam Again convey a sense of searching for something big that is missing in the singer's life. The song is about wanting to find purpose and meaning within oneself, but struggling with the search. The repeated line "I wanted something...it was something big" conveys the sense of a deep yearning to find what is missing in life, the search for something that would fill the emptiness inside, but not knowing what that something is.
The verse "Wanted in, I begged in, I said, 'Please, please, I need to get on, I need to get it; I need to need what the sick find has healed'- look for me in this, in this" speaks to the desperation of the singer to find something, and despite not knowing exactly what they need, they beg for inclusion in finding it. The following verse asks the deep question of "where am I?" and "what am I?", which speaks to the sense of confusion and disorientation in the search, and the difficulty of understanding oneself and where one fits in the larger world.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanted something...I wanted something big,
The singer expresses a strong desire for something significant and life-changing in their existence.
It was something...it was something big,
The desired outcome is not a trivial or small matter, but something of significant proportions.
I was down, I moved 'round,
The singer was feeling emotionally low and was restless or constantly shifting their position or circumstances.
I looked up, I got up,
The artist made a conscious choice to shift their gaze upwards and motivated themselves to take action and get back on their feet.
Wanted in, I begged in,
The artist attempted to gain entry or access to something they desired and was willing to plead or beg for it to happen.
I said, "Please, please, I need to get on, I need to get it; I need to need what the sick find has healed" - look for me in this, in this.
The singer expresses a deep need for something that has already been discovered by others who were in a similar state or condition. They urge the listener to pay attention to their words to understand what they are going through.
Where am I? What am I?
The singer expresses confusion and a sense of disorientation about their current situation and what their purpose is.
Is it I? Am I in? Am I in?
The artist questions their own identity and whether they are an active participant in their own life or just a passive observer.
Wanted in, wanted in,
The artist reiterates their desire to gain access to something that has been elusive or out of reach so far.
I said nothing to promote this dream,
The artist did not actively spread the message of their dream or goal to others, perhaps out of fear of judgement or failure.
I found something, but I could not lean to the needs, all the needs,
The singer discovered something that could potentially fulfill their desire, but they were unable to fully embrace and fulfill all the requirements or needs necessary to achieve it.
The shy, dry seed,
The idea or goal the artist has is compared to a timid and withered seed that needs nourishment and support to grow and thrive.
Will it wish? Will it miss? Will it cry and bleed?
The singer wonders if their dream or goal will come to fruition and if it will bring joy, longing, or pain and hardship along the way.
I wanted something...I wanted something big,
The singer repeats the opening phrase to emphasize the strength of their desire and the scale of what they hope to achieve.
It was something...it was something big,
The singer reaffirms that the goal they are striving for is significant and not to be taken lightly.
I wanted something... I wanted something big,
The artist repeats the phrase to stress the importance of their desire and the urgency they feel to obtain it.
It was something...it was something big,
The repeated line once again highlights the magnitude of the ambition and how deeply it ties into the artist's sense of self and purpose.
Contributed by Caleb R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.