Go to Sleep
Barbra Streisand;Yves Montand Lyrics


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Now that's what I call a man!What are you gonna do about Warren?
That's the first time in my life I felt like the opposite sex.
What are you gonna do about Warren? I wonder if he'll ask me
Tomorrow night. What are you gonna do about Warren? What am I

Gonna do about Warren? Oh, Warren doesn't care.Warren cares!
Warren cares, but I don't care! You have to care because you're
Engaged to him and you don't have to care about him because how
Will he know he cares about you? Then what are you gonna do?

What did you say?
When you know there's someone loving you
And you know there's someone you love too
And they're not the same, what do you do?

Go to sleep, girl! Go to sleep! Go to sleep!
Close your eyes and hide from every care
When you wake up they may not be there
But tell me how can I sleep

Tell me who could
When you see your whole life tangled up good
I could drink, I could weep
But tell me how can I sleep?

Go to sleep! Go to sleep!
And when you and someone have a date
(Which you made when you were thinking straight!)
And when you and someone stay out late
(It was bad too...)

Mmm...But I had to!
When they're not the same who gets the gate?
(This is not the way to find a mate!)
Go to sleep, girl! Go to sleep! Go to sleep!

( Go to sleep, girl! Go to sleep! Go to sleep!)
Comes the dawn I may not feel the same
(Comes the dawn he may not know your name!)
In the sunlight who can see a flame?

But tell me how can I sleep, look what I've done
Mess around with two men
Soon you'll have none
As you sow, so you reap





Which is why I can't sleep, mmm...
Go to sleep, girl! Go to sleep! Go to sleep! Go to...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Go To Sleep" are a reflection of a woman's inner turmoil as she battles with her feelings for two men - Warren and another man who she loves. She is engaged to Warren, and yet finds herself attracted to the other man. She wonders if Warren will ask her out the next night and questions what she is going to do about Warren. She wants to know how to handle her feelings because it is the first time in her life that she has felt like the opposite sex. She seems to be confused about whether Warren cares for her or not, and whether she should care for him. She talks about how tangled up her life is, and how she can't sleep because of her situation.


The song's chorus, "Go to sleep, girl! Go to sleep! Go to sleep!" seems to be a coping mechanism for her. She tells herself to close her eyes and hide from every care, and maybe when she wakes up, her problems won't be there anymore. But she is torn between her love for the other man and her engagement to Warren. She wonders what to do when you know there's someone loving you, and you know there's someone you love too, but they're not the same.


In conclusion, this song is a poignant portrayal of the internal struggles of a woman caught between her love and societal expectations. Despite its age, the message of the song is timeless and relatable to people in similar situations.


Line by Line Meaning

Now that's what I call a man!
Expressing admiration towards a male acquaintance.


What are you gonna do about Warren?
Asking for advice on how to handle a situation with an individual named Warren.


That's the first time in my life I felt like the opposite sex.
Feeling a sense of attraction to a male individual for the first time.


I wonder if he'll ask me
Contemplating the possibility of Warren asking for a date.


Warren doesn't care.
Stating that Warren does not feel invested in the relationship.


Warren cares!
Contradicting a previous statement by affirming Warren's feelings towards the relationship.


You have to care because you're engaged to him
Explaining the importance of caring about Warren due to their engagement.


And you don't have to care about him because how will he know he cares about you?
Questioning the reasoning for caring about Warren when he may not reciprocate those feelings.


Then what are you gonna do?
Asking for further advice on how to handle the situation with Warren.


When you know there's someone loving you
Referring to the presence of another individual who cares for you.


And you know there's someone you love too
Acknowledging the presence of feelings for another individual.


And they're not the same, what do you do?
Questioning how to handle feelings for two people when those feelings are not reciprocated by both parties.


Go to sleep, girl! Go to sleep! Go to sleep!
Shifting focus to a different topic and suggesting that the individual rest or relax.


Close your eyes and hide from every care
Advising the individual to forget their worries and rest.


When you wake up they may not be there
Suggesting that the individual's worries may dissipate after rest.


But tell me how can I sleep
Expressing difficulty with finding peace and rest.


When you see your whole life tangled up good
Feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of life's challenges.


I could drink, I could weep
Suggesting possible coping mechanisms for difficult emotions.


But tell me how can I sleep?
Reiterating the difficulty the individual is having with finding peace and rest.


And when you and someone have a date
Referring to the importance of a date with a partner.


Which you made when you were thinking straight!
Suggesting that the individual may have made the date while not under the influence of conflicting emotions.


And when you and someone stay out late
Alluding to the decision to prolong the date or to spend more time with the partner.


It was bad too... Mmm...But I had to!
Justifying a decision made in the impulsiveness of the moment.


When they're not the same who gets the gate?
Asking which partner will be prioritized when facing conflicting feelings.


This is not the way to find a mate!
Asserting that this method of handling romantic relationships is not ideal.


Comes the dawn I may not feel the same
Conjecturing that the individual's emotions towards a partner may change by the morning.


Comes the dawn he may not know your name!
Suggesting that a romantic partner may not remember or care for the individual by morning.


In the sunlight who can see a flame?
Questioning whether the previous night's emotions were genuine or simply sparked by the moment.


But tell me how can I sleep, look what I've done
Expressing guilt over acting impulsively and hurting those around.


Mess around with two men, soon you'll have none
Warning against the dangers of involving oneself with multiple partners.


As you sow, so you reap
Reiterating the idea that one's actions will have consequences.


Which is why I can't sleep, mmm... Go to sleep, girl! Go to sleep! Go to sleep! Go to...
Expressing that the individual cannot rest due to the turmoil caused by previous actions.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN JAY LERNER, BURTON LANE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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