Ben Jorgensen created Armor for Sleep in 2001 and Nash Breen and PJ DeCicco later joined the band after leaving fellow New Jersey band Prevent Falls. He stated that the name of the band comes from his early experiences of writing music and not being able to sleep. After distributing demos Albany, New York-based indie label Equal Vision signed the band and released their first two concept albums: Dream to Make Believe, released in 2003, and What to Do When You Are Dead, released in 2005.
What to Do When You Are Dead spawned the popular singles "Car Underwater" and "The Truth About Heaven," receiving lots of airplay with their music videos. Each song on the album tells the story of the protagonist's suicide as well as his journey through the afterlife. The story goes through moments of personal introspection at the positive and negative aspects of his life while he quietly visits important locations of his past life without disturbing anyone. Analyzing the lyrics of each track, you can see him progress through the KΓΌbler-Ross 5-stage model of grief management as he initially denies his situation, then wishes for a reversal, and finally accepts his fate. The album ends with the character finally coming to grips with his decision, and his spirit continues on, having completed his business in this life. Initial copies of the CD came with a bonus DVD that featured live footage of the band as well as the music videos for "My Town" and "Dream to Make Believe," both from Dream to Make Believe. It also included a making-of documentary and a small booklet titled "What to Do When You Are Dead: A Comprehensive Guide to The Afterlife" which featured satirical ways to cope with death should you unexpectedly perish. A remix by Machine Shop of "Remember to Feel Real" was featured on Snakes on a Plane: The Album in August 2006. A new song, "End of the World," was featured on Transformers - The Album. That song would be on their third and final album, Smile for Them, released through their new label Sire/Warner Bros..
Armor for Sleep released their first single from Smile for Them, "Williamsburg," on September 18, 2007, through iTunes. "Hold the Door" also received indie radio airplay. They played on Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour in 2008 on the US leg Revolution Stage to promote the album.
The band's final release, The Way Out Is Broken, was an EP released digitally on September 5, 2008. Fans were able to purchase download cards during the band's run on Projekt Revolution to use to download the EP on the release date.
On October 28, 2009, it was officially announced that Armor for Sleep would disband. Ben Jorgensen wrote a statement on AltPress.com informing fans of the inevitable, after the band had been inactive and not performing for over a year. Ben Jorgensen has since taken on a solo project and was associated with God Loves a Challenge with Sierra Shardae. PJ DeCicco has also moved on playing in Love Automatic with former Senses Fail bassist Mike Glita.
The band has embarked on multiple reunion tours, and played multiple reunion shows, the first of these being at Bamboozle 2012. They played three more shows following the festival appearance and then disbanded again. The band then announced an eight city tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their album What To Do When You Are Dead. On February 24, 2020, the band announced they would be reuniting for a summer tour with nineteen tour dates to celebrate the 15th anniversary of What To Do When You Are Dead. The tour was later postponed due to COVID-19, and later in year postponed dates for 2021 were announced.
Armor For Sleep officially returned with their new single How Far Apart on July 7, 2022. The band has signed back on to Equal Vision Records and are set to release their fourth full length album The Rain Museum in early September 2022.
Walking At Night Alone
Armor for Sleep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get to hear your voice again
If this is a dream maybe you'll stay with me
Stay with me please stay with me
This is where we met
We're back here again
Don't leave me alone
I can't stand the way the world feels
When I'm walking alone
Don't leave me alone
Don't leave me alone
I can't stand the way the world feels
When I'm walking alone
Can you please keep talking to me now?
Tell me all about your new friends
And don't think I can't hear you now
I'm listening I'm listening
And this is where we met
We're back here again
(Back here back here again)
Don't leave me alone
Don't leave me alone
I can't stand the way the world feels
When I'm walking alone
Don't leave me alone
Don't leave me alone
I can't stand the way the world feels
When I'm walking alone
The world seems like a miss
When it won't let go of me
But when it's gone I don't feel
When it's gone I don't feel alive
The world seems like a miss
When it won't let go of me
But when it's gone I don't feel
When it's gone I don't feel alive
Don't leave me alone
Don't leave me alone
I can't stand the way the world feels
When I'm walking alone
Don't leave me alone
Don't leave me alone
I can't stand the way the world feels
When I'm walking alone
The world seems like a miss
When it won't let go of me
But when it's gone I don't feel
When it's gone I don't feel alive
When it's gone I don't feel alive
Armor for Sleep's song "Walking at Night Alone" is a melancholic track that speaks to the feelings of loneliness and isolation that can often accompany nighttime walks. The singer of the song appears to be walking with someone they care about deeply, as they express a desire for that person to stay with them, to speak to them, and to provide them with company. The lyrics reference this person's "new friends," suggesting that there may be a sense of jealousy or insecurity on the part of the singer, who fears losing the companionship of someone they cherish.
The "world" itself is also a repeated point of reference in the song, as the singer sings that they "can't stand the way the world feels when [they're] walking alone." There is a sense of alienation here, a feeling of being disconnected from the world at large, which is further emphasized by the repeated refrain of "Don't leave me alone." It's as if the singer sees the person they're walking with as a lifeline, a means of tethering themselves to reality and avoiding the overwhelming sense of emptiness that comes with being alone.
Overall, "Walking at Night Alone" is a poignant exploration of loneliness, isolation, and the human need for connection. It speaks to the power that even a single person can have to alleviate those feelings, and to the importance of valuing the relationships we have in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Holding my breath walking alone with you
I am nervous and excited to be walking with you, and I am so focused on this moment that I am holding my breath.
I get to hear your voice again
I am happy to be spending time with you and listening to your voice.
If this is a dream maybe you'll stay with me
I am enjoying our time together so much that I hope it never ends, even if it is just a dream.
Stay with me please stay with me
I am begging you not to leave me and to stay with me forever.
This is where we met
We are in a place that has special meaning to us because it is where we first met.
We're back here again
We have returned to this meaningful place and it feels like coming home.
Can you please keep talking to me now?
I am enjoying our conversation so much that I hope it continues for as long as possible.
Tell me all about your new friends
I am interested in learning about the people in your life and how you spend your time.
And don't think I can't hear you now
I am paying attention to every word you say and I don't miss a thing.
I'm listening I'm listening
I am completely focused on what you are saying and I want to hear everything.
Don't leave me alone
I am afraid of being alone and I don't want you to leave me.
I can't stand the way the world feels
Being alone in the world feels scary and overwhelming to me.
When I'm walking alone
Being alone and walking through the world is a difficult experience for me.
The world seems like a miss
When I am alone, the world feels like it is not quite right, like something is missing.
When it won't let go of me
The world feels like it is holding onto me and won't let me go, even when I want to escape.
But when it's gone I don't feel
When the world does let go of me and I am alone, I feel numb and disconnected from my emotions.
When it's gone I don't feel alive
Being alone makes me feel like I am not truly living, like I am just existing.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ben Jorgensen, Nash Breen, Peter James Decicco, Anthony Diionno
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
hmm
holding my breath walking at night with you
i get to hear your voice again
if this is a dream, maybe you'll stay with me
stay with me, please stay with me
this is where we met
we're back here again
don't leave me alone
don't leave me alone
i can't stand the way the world feels
when i'm walking alone
[x2]
can you please keep talking to me now
tell me all about your new friends
i know you don't think i can hear you now
but i'm listening, i'm listening
and this is where we met
we're back here again
(back here back here again)
don't leave me alone
don't leave me alone
i can't stand the way the world feels
when i'm walking alone
[x2]
love seems like a mess
when it won't let go of me
but when it's gone i don't feel
when it's gone i don't feel alive
[x2]
don't leave me alone
don't leave me alone
i can't stand the way the world feels
when i'm walking alone
[x2]
love seems like a mess
when it won't let go of me
but when it's gone i don't feel
when it's gone i don't feel alive
when it's gone i don't feel alive
Heitor
One of the best albums from the 2000's, definitely one of my favorite albums EVER. β€
x Kroll x
100% agree
My gamertag is (xArmorForSleepx)
x Kroll x
This band will never get old....
Republo Crat
Ever.
Stream On
Their music really is super comforting
Don Hammond
Who knew an album about a ghost filled with longing and regrets could be so oddly soothing
Justin B
Played this song at my little brothers wake,I can't overstate how much this band got me through the hardest times
Aaron Runk
No matter how much time passes this is still a solid album! Good vibes only
Agent Scorpion
Really good song transitions on this album
SoySauce HairDye
2005 was a good year for song transitions. Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites also had good song transitions.