Go To Sleep
Avett Brothers The Lyrics
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Wipe the blood from you face and your hands
Forgive yourself if you think that you can
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
Twenty-one days lost at sea I fought
For twenty-two years non-stop I've talked
Through the desert, pissed drunk, and confused I walked
Lay back, lay back, go to sleep my man
Wipe the blood from you face and your hands
Forgive yourself if you think that you can
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
Well the wind and the trees are ganging up on me
They sing my funeral song in harmony
Well I just want to walk home on the drunk I need
But they keep singing and singing and singing to me
La, La, La, La, La, La (I hear them singing)
La, La, La, La, La, La (Singing for me)
La, La, La, La, La, La (Oh!)
Well I wish things were different, true, and deep
But everything that's so shallow is everything about me
If only I could just take all my money and leave
I hope the people on the ground will understand
I hope the people out there will understand
Lay back, lay back, go to sleep my man
Wipe the blood from you face and your hands
Forgive yourself if you think that you can
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
La, La
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
La, La
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
In "Go to Sleep," the Avett Brothers sing about a man who has experienced a lot of hardship and is struggling to find peace within himself. The song starts with the singer telling the man to lay back and go to sleep while wiping the blood from his face and hands, suggesting that he has been through some sort of physical trauma. The singer then encourages the man to forgive himself but leaves it up to him to decide if he can.
The verses of the song provide more context to the man's struggles. We learn that he was lost at sea for twenty-one days and has been non-stop talking for twenty-two years. He has also walked through the desert drunk and confused, spitting out a tooth in his hand. The man is clearly struggling with some deep emotional and mental turmoil.
In the chorus, the Avett Brothers sing about the wind and the trees singing the man's funeral song, implying that he feels like he is on the brink of death. He just wants to go home, but the world around him seems to keep singing to him, reminding him of all the pain he has endured. The song ends with the singer hoping that the people around the man will understand him and encouraging him to go to sleep.
Overall, "Go to Sleep" is a song about the struggle to find peace and forgiveness in the face of turmoil and pain. The imagery of the wind and the trees singing the funeral song is haunting, emphasizing the man's internal struggles. The song encourages listeners to empathize with those who are struggling and to extend forgiveness and understanding when possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay back, lay back, go to sleep my man
Relax and rest, allow yourself to be at peace
Wipe the blood from you face and your hands
Forgive yourself for any perceived wrongs or mistakes you may have made; let go of any guilt or hurt you may be feeling
Forgive yourself if you think that you can
Let go of self-blame and understand that everyone can make mistakes and that forgiveness is key to moving forward
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
Allow yourself to fully rest and let go of any stress or worries
Twenty-one days lost at sea I fought
Describes a difficult and trying experience
For twenty-two years non-stop I've talked
Describes a life lived with a lot of communication, either talking to others or constantly talking to oneself
Through the desert, pissed drunk, and confused I walked
Describes a difficult journey through a challenging time where the singer may have been coping with alcohol and confusion
I spit a tooth in the palm of my hand
This line implies a physical altercation occurred, where the artist may have lost a tooth during a fight; it also represents a painful and difficult experience
Well the wind and the trees are ganging up on me
The artist is feeling overwhelmed by external forces that seem to be working against them
They sing my funeral song in harmony
The artist feels like the world is against them and that they are metaphorically dying
Well I just want to walk home on the drunk I need
The singer may be feeling lost and seeking solace in alcohol
But they keep singing and singing and singing to me
The artist feels like they can't escape their problems, and they are constantly being reminded of their struggles
Well I wish things were different, true, and deep
The singer wishes their life was more meaningful and filled with deeper connections and purpose
But everything that's so shallow is everything about me
The singer feels like their life may lack significance or purpose; they may also feel judged by others for having a lifestyle they perceive as shallow or meaningless.
If only I could just take all my money and leave
The singer feels like there is no escape from their current situation, and the thought of starting a new life is a comforting one
I hope the people on the ground will understand
The artist wishes for understanding and empathy from those around them
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
The refrain is repeated at the end to reinforce the idea of rest, letting go, and moving on
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Robert Crawford, Scott Avett, Timothy Avett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind