Sleepyhead
Alkaline Trio Lyrics


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All you've been asking for's been placed in front of you
The headaches, the shaking,
The boredom the boardroom brings
You're scratching at itching
Brought by the spiders beneath your skin
The answer in question is over before it begins

Hey there sleepy smile,
I see you've brought your bedroom eyes
Not assuming you want to keep 'em,
I'm assuming you reckon you won't

All you've been asking for's been placed in front of you
The headaches, the shaking,
The boredom the boardroom brings
You're scratching at itching
Brought by the spiders beneath your skin
The answer in question is over before it begins

Hey there sleepy smile,
I see you've brought your bedroom eyes
Not assuming you want to keep 'em,
I'm assuming you reckon you won't

Nothing to see here but the rain
There's nothing to hold you but the flames
Nothing to see here but the rain
There's nothing to hold you but the flames

Nothing to see here but the rain
There's nothing to hold you but the flames
Nothing to see here but the rain
It's raining flames

Earth to sleepy smile,
Where'd you take those bedroom eyes?




Not assuming you want to keep 'em,
I'm assuming you reckon you won't

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Alkaline Trio's song "Sleepyhead" reflect the feelings of despair, hopelessness, and entrapment in monotony. The opening lines suggest that everything the singer was hoping for has been placed right in front of them, but it has not brought them any happiness or satisfaction. The headaches, shaking, itching, and boredom are all physical manifestations of the mental stress and dissatisfaction they feel, which they cannot seem to escape. The line, "The answer in question is over before it begins," suggests that they are stuck in a cycle of searching for answers that they cannot find.


In the next verse, they address someone who they call "sleepy smile." This person is likely someone the singer knows who also feels trapped and unhappy. They note that the person has brought "bedroom eyes," which suggest exhaustion and possibly depression. The singer assumes that the person does not want to keep the eyes, indicating that they feel no one wants to stay in this state of mind forever.


The final lines of the song mention rain and flames, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the turbulence and chaos in life. The singer addresses "sleepy smile" again, asking where they have taken their "bedroom eyes." The use of the phrase "Earth to sleepy smile" suggests that the singer feels like the person is not fully present or engaged with the world around them.


Overall, "Sleepyhead" is a poignant exploration of the feelings of being trapped in a cycle of dissatisfaction and searching for answers that never come. The use of physical symptoms of mental distress highlights the impact of these feelings on a person's well-being.


Line by Line Meaning

All you've been asking for's been placed in front of you
Everything you've been asking for has been given to you.


The headaches, the shaking,
You're experiencing physical symptoms like headaches and shaking.


The boredom the boardroom brings
You're feeling uninterested in the mundane environment of the office.


You're scratching at itching
You're physically itching, perhaps due to anxiety or the sensation of something crawling under your skin.


Brought by the spiders beneath your skin
The cause of your itching could be imagined 'spiders' beneath your skin, producing a creepy sensation.


The answer in question is over before it begins
You feel like the answer to your problems is always out of reach or nonexistent.


Hey there sleepy smile,
Addressing the person who looks like they're tired or uninterested.


I see you've brought your bedroom eyes
You have a seductive or sleepy look in your eyes.


Not assuming you want to keep 'em,
I'm not assuming you want to maintain this look or mood.


I'm assuming you reckon you won't
I'm assuming that you don't think you'll keep this look or mood.


Nothing to see here but the rain
There's nothing interesting or exciting going on around you.


There's nothing to hold you but the flames
The only thing that can motivate or inspire you are fiery passions or desires.


It's raining flames
Your passions or desires are consuming and overwhelming you.


Earth to sleepy smile,
Trying to get the attention of the person who seems disengaged or detached.


Where'd you take those bedroom eyes?
Asking where their alluring or sleep-deprived look went.


Not assuming you want to keep 'em,
Reiterating that I'm not guessing that they want to keep that mood or appearance.


I'm assuming you reckon you won't
Thinking that they don't expect to sustain that look or emotion.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL MICHAEL ANDRIANO, DEREK R. GRANT, MATTHEW THOMAS SKIBA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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