Walking in My Sleep
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness Lyrics

The lyrics of "Walking In My Sleep" by Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness depict a longing for a lost love and the desire to recapture the vibrant and colorful world that existed when they were together. The song begins with the line "Sleep, sleep, even when I'm walking in my sleep," establishing a theme of longing and dreaming about the past.

The first verse mentions "ghosts on the corner," symbolizing the memories and remnants of what once was. The singer used to believe that this relationship would be forever, but now they long to return to California and give up everything to experience the world in its vivid and intense colors once again.

The chorus expresses the singer's recurring dreams and fantasies, always returning to a crowded street where they see the lost love walking. Despite the challenges and the fact that they may never fully reconcile, the singer vows to never stop trying and sees the lost love as their silver lining, even when they are going through life on autopilot. The repeated line "Even when I'm walking in my sleep" emphasizes the idea that this love and longing are constant, no matter the circumstances.

In the second verse, the scene shifts to a broken bedroom with sunlight streaming through a broken window. This imagery suggests a sense of brokenness and vulnerability. The lost love is now depicted as traveling on a highway, potentially leaving their past behind. The line "And you see the world in blinding color" highlights the contrast between the singer's monotonous existence and the lost love's adventurous and vibrant life.

The bridge of the song consists of a plea to be awakened from this dreamlike state. It expresses a desire to break free from the constant yearning and to be fully present in reality once again. The repetition of "Come on, wake me up" reinforces this longing for awakening from the dreamlike state of longing.