You Are Cute When You Sleep
B.A. Johnston Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Are we gonna work it out, or is it Mike Tyson's punchout?

'Cause you have been looking at me like you're gonna kill me in my sleep

Because you are so very cute, but crazy as a Fruit Loop

But this does not really matter to me because you are so sweet when you dream.


And I love you when you sleep and move your body close to me.

I'm wondering if in your dreams you still think that I am a creep

And if you're still mad at me.



Because I love you very much

As much as Jared from Subway sucks

So move your body close to me,

And let me hug you as you sleep.



Oh, are we gonna work it out, or is it Mike Tyson's punchout?

'Cause you have been looking at me like you're gonna kill me in my sleep

Because you are so very cute, but crazy as a Fruit Loop

But this does not really matter to me because you are so sweet when you dream.



Oh, you are so sweet when you dream.





You are so sweet when you dream.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of B.A. Johnston's song You Are Cute When You Sleep seem to be about a complicated relationship between the singer and the person he's addressing. The first verse seems to be asking whether they will be able to work things out or if it's going to be an all-out fight like the video game Mike Tyson's Punchout. The second part of the verse implies that the person has been giving the singer some scary looks that make him fear for his life. However, the singer is undeterred because he finds the person very cute, even though he acknowledges that she's "crazy as a Fruit Loop". He then goes on to say that her craziness doesn't really matter to him, because he loves how sweet she is when she is asleep.


In the second verse, the singer talks about his love for the person when she's asleep and how he wonders if she still thinks of him as a creep even in her dreams. He then asks if she's still mad at him, highlighting that there might be unresolved issues between the two of them.


The chorus repeats the questions from the first verse about whether they will be able to work things out and whether the person is going to kill the singer in his sleep. However, the singer doesn't seem too worried because he again emphasizes how cute and sweet the person is when she's dreaming.


Overall, the lyrics seem to be about a relationship that is possibly in trouble, but the singer is still enamored by the person, even with their flaws. The song has a dark sense of humor that juxtaposes the fear of being killed with the sweetness of a sleeping partner.


Line by Line Meaning

Are we gonna work it out, or is it Mike Tyson's punchout?
Are we going to resolve our issues or are we going to fight it out like a boxing match?


'Cause you have been looking at me like you're gonna kill me in my sleep
You have been giving me hostile looks as if you want to harm me while I am asleep


Because you are so very cute, but crazy as a Fruit Loop
You are charming and adorable, but your behavior is erratic and unstable


But this does not really matter to me because you are so sweet when you dream.
Despite your troubling behavior, I find comfort in the fact that you are peaceful and content when you are asleep


And I love you when you sleep and move your body close to me.
I cherish the moments when you snuggle up close to me while you are sleeping


I'm wondering if in your dreams you still think that I am a creep
I am curious if you still have negative thoughts about me even in your dreams


And if you're still mad at me.
And if you are still angry with me


Because I love you very much
I have an immense amount of affection for you


As much as Jared from Subway sucks
Reinforcing the intensity of my love, comparing it to the level of how terrible Jared from Subway is


So move your body close to me,
Come closer and snuggle up to me


And let me hug you as you sleep.
Allow me to embrace and hold you tenderly while you are sleeping


Oh, you are so sweet when you dream.
Expressing the warmth and tenderness I feel towards you when you are sleeping peacefully


You are so sweet when you dream.
Repeating the sentiment of how adorable and charming you are when you are asleep




Contributed by Oliver W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions