When The City Sleeps
Barclay James Harvest Lyrics

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In the shining sun
My images they run
Confusing all I've done before I've begun
And every city scene
Becomes a roaring stream
A nightmare and a dream rolled into one

But when the city sleeps

I'm up and on my feet
Along the darkened streets
Hear me run

Through the empty town
Running, laughing, down
No-one else around, to bother old me
By factories I sway
My shadows seem to play
To do this in the day, I'd never be free

But when the city sleeps

Overall Meaning

, I'm up and on my feet
Along the darkened streets
Hear me run

The lyrics of the song When The City Sleeps by Barclay James Harvest are about finding solace and freedom in the stillness of a sleeping city. The opening lines reflect the state of confusion in the singer's mind, where the images of the city are so overwhelming that they jumble up his thoughts even before he undertakes anything. The city, normally bustling with people, becomes a roaring stream, suggestive of chaos and confusion. The singer considers the city a nightmare and a dream rolled into one, implying the dual nature of the urban world with its bright and dark sides.

However, the singer finds respite from the madness of the city when it sleeps. He is up, on his feet, and running along the darkened streets, where nobody else is around to disturb him. The empty streets become a playground for him, and he runs and laughs, liberated from the pressures of urban life. By the factories, the shadows seem to play, as he savors the moments of freedom. This sense of freedom would never be possible during the day when the city is bustling with life.

The song could be interpreted as a metaphor for the human struggle for tranquility amidst the chaos of daily life. The night time, when the city sleeps, represents a fleeting moment of calm and reflection. In contrast, during the day, the routine of life and the pressures of society can weigh heavily on a person’s psyche.

Line by Line Meaning

In the shining sun
In broad daylight

My images they run
My thoughts race uncontrollably

Confusing all I've done before I've begun
Making me unsure of my actions

And every city scene
Every part of the urban landscape

Becomes a roaring stream
Feels like a chaotic waterway

A nightmare and a dream rolled into one
An amalgamation of both good and bad experiences

But when the city sleeps
During the calm and quiet of the night

I'm up and on my feet
Active and on the move

Along the darkened streets
Walking through dimly lit roads

Hear me run
I am jogging audibly

Through the empty town
Passing through a deserted city