After words of praise from Rolling Stone magazine ("By reviving the dream of rock as an art and then re-inventing it, Pratt has forever changed the face of rock"), he tried a more commercial approach. Having converted to Christianity and settled in the Netherlands in 1987, he continued to make records and perform at big Christian pop music festivals.
Pratt returned to Boston after an absence of 13 years in 2004. The continually-prolific Pratt has been trying to make a comeback with a new band as well as solo appearances at regional festivals (such as South By Southwest in 2006). Despite his reputation as a one-hit wonder of the 1970s, Pratt has released more than twenty studio albums.
I'm Only Sleeping
Andy Pratt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lift my head, I'm still yawning
When I'm in the middle of a dream
Stay in bed, float up stream (Float up stream)
Please, don't wake me, no, don't shake me
Leave me where I am, I'm only sleeping
I don't mind, I think they're crazy
Running everywhere at such a speed
Till they find there's no need (There's no need)
Please, don't spoil my day, I'm miles away
And after all I'm only sleeping
Keeping an eye on the world going by my window
Taking my time
Lying there and staring at the ceiling
Waiting for a sleepy feeling...
Please, don't spoil my day, I'm miles away
And after all I'm only sleeping
Ooh yeah
Keeping an eye on the world going by my window
Taking my time
When I wake up early in the morning
Lift my head, I'm still yawning
When I'm in the middle of a dream
Stay in bed, float up stream (Float up stream)
Please, don't wake me, no, don't shake me
Leave me where I am, I'm only sleeping
Andy Pratt's song "I'm Only Sleeping" follows the singer's desire to stay in bed, float and daydream. The song expresses his wish to be left alone and not be disturbed by anyone. The lyrics describe the singer waking up early in the morning, lifting his head while still yawning and feeling like he's in the middle of a dream. The singer finds comfort in his sleeping state and doesn't want to be woken up or shaken. He thinks of himself as someone who's not lazy but understands that people around him think he is, but he doesn't care as he believes they're crazy.
In the second verse, the singer watches the world go by through his window, taking his time and staring at the ceiling as he waits for a sleepy feeling. The chorus repeats the singer's wish to be left alone and not to have his day spoiled as he is miles away in his dream world.
The song captures the dreamlike quality of the singer's state of mind, and his perspective on what's happening to him in the present reality. The written lyrics and Pratt's delivery of the song create a feeling of enjoyable insularity, where the singer is content to exist in his dreamlike haze, free from the pressures of the world around him.
Line by Line Meaning
When I wake up early in the morning
At the start of the day, when I just open my eyes
Lift my head, I'm still yawning
I'm still drowsy and need more sleep
When I'm in the middle of a dream
During a dream sequence in which I am engrossed
Stay in bed, float up stream (Float up stream)
Continue to imagine or dream and travel through thoughts effortlessly
Please, don't wake me, no, don't shake me
Resist the urge to disturb my rest or break my flow of thought
Leave me where I am, I'm only sleeping
Let me stay relaxed in bed because I'm only resting
Everybody seems to think I'm lazy
Many people assume that I'm idle
I don't mind, I think they're crazy
I am indifferent to their thoughts about me and find their outlook nonsensical
Running everywhere at such a speed
Other people rushing around constantly
Till they find there's no need (There's no need)
Until they realize that there is no valid reason to hurry
Please, don't spoil my day, I'm miles away
Don't interrupt my peaceful moment since I'm somewhere else entirely in my thoughts
And after all I'm only sleeping
After all, it's just restful sleep
Keeping an eye on the world going by my window
Observing the world pass by outside my window as I relax
Taking my time
Going at my own pace
Lying there and staring at the ceiling
Reclining and gazing at the ceiling
Waiting for a sleepy feeling...
Anticipating the sensation of sleepiness approaching
Ooh yeah
Exclamation of agreement or satisfaction
When I wake up early in the morning
At the start of the day, when I just open my eyes
Lift my head, I'm still yawning
I'm still drowsy and need more sleep
When I'm in the middle of a dream
During a dream sequence in which I am engrossed
Stay in bed, float up stream (Float up stream)
Continue to imagine or dream and travel through thoughts effortlessly
Please, don't wake me, no, don't shake me
Resist the urge to disturb my rest or break my flow of thought
Leave me where I am, I'm only sleeping
Let me stay relaxed in bed because I'm only resting
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul Mccartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kimberly Bodet
Great cover with an original sound. Andy Pratt has unparalleled talent.
Otto Greenleaf
First to comment. Sounds like a new wave version of The Beatles "I'm Only Sleeping". Good cover. Cheers!
Bruce Rogers
Andy was always under the radar and got almost no radio play except for "Avenging Annie". What a shame. He had a lot to offer. Saw him and his band when they played Philly at the Electric Factory (smaller venue than some theaters)
. One of the tighter outfits I heard in all the concerts I attended back in the day
Rene Stehouwer
Nice song