SWEET DREAMS
Angel Olsen Lyrics

Angel Olsen's song "Sweet Dreams" is a haunting ballad about loneliness and loss. The lyrics convey an overwhelming sense of vulnerability and desperation as the singer reflects on the empty spaces she feels inside herself. The lines, "Every time I close my eyes, something small within me dies" suggest a deep sadness that permeates her thoughts even as she sleeps. The imagery of something dying inside her with every closed eye is powerful in conveying an existence where everything is uncertain.

The lines "Can't say if it's dark or bright, but it's all I've ever known" reveal that the singer is grappling with a sense of disorientation about her own emotions. There is a sense of resignation and helplessness in the lyrics as she describes these feelings of emptiness as "all she's ever known". She then talks about sleeping alone - this could be literal or metaphorical - it could refer to a physical state of sleeping without a partner or being in a state of loneliness despite having someone to share your life with.

Olsen's use of repetition in the chorus underscores the sense of isolation and detachment experienced by the singer. The concept of being "alone" is emphasized again and again, driving home the point of how pervasive and inescapable these emotions can be. The lines "And the time will come for everyone, for everyone to go," imply that eventually, everyone will fall asleep - and that could be seen as a metaphor for death. The final lines of saying goodbye and wishing sweet dreams suggest the finality of such a change.