Formed in 2009, the act was originally a means to expand the solo project of Dustin Payseur. That same year bassist John Peña and guitarist Christopher Burke were recruited as the lineup for their initial tour. Their debut single, Daydream / Desert Sand was released in February 2010 on Captured Tracks. In May 2010, their debut album Beach Fossilswas released and met with favorable reviews.
The following years saw a number of changes to their lineup, including when John Peña left the band in 2011 to form Heavenly Beat, and guitarist Cole Smith, who left for his solo project, DIIV. In 2012, Tommy Gardner stepped in as the drummer to form their current lineup.
Clash the Truth was released in early 2013, peaking at number 40 on the Independent Albums chart. Paysuer described it as being an album about what happens after you've solved the immediate problems that come with moving away from home - "something that just doesn't feel like it makes sense yet".
In 2017, after a long break, the third album Somersault was released
Sleep Apnea
Beach Fossils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't realize
What's in your eyes
My arms are open wide
But I can't ever decide
What I wanna do
I'm starin' at the sky
My thoughts are traveling
I'm tryna listen to your words
But I can't feel my head
And it's unraveling
Sometimes I no longer know
What it means to care about
The things you wanna do
Everybody's living or they're dead
And I'm still in my bed
And I don't have a clue
I won't lie
And tell you it's alright
I won't lie
And tell you it's alright
The lyrics to Beach Fossils' song Sleep Apnea portray a sense of confusion and ambivalence towards life. The opening line, "Pardon me, I didn't realize what's in your eyes," suggests that the singer is preoccupied with their own thoughts and not fully present in the moment with the person they're speaking to. The following lines, "My arms are open wide, but I can't ever decide what I wanna do," hint at a lack of direction and purpose in life.
The singer is depicted as being lost in their own mind, trying to make sense of their own thoughts and emotions. They are "staring at the sky" and yet "can't tell which way [their] thoughts are traveling." This creates a sense of disorientation and detachment from reality. They are also "tryin' to listen to your words" but are unable to fully engage with the conversation as their mind is "unraveling."
The chorus, "I won't lie and tell you it's alright," emphasizes the singer's honesty and refusal to hide their uncertainty and anxiety. The repetition of this line reinforces the idea that the singer is struggling to find their place in the world and is not content with the way things are.
Overall, Sleep Apnea is a poignant reflection on the challenges of navigating life and finding one's path in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Pardon me, I didn't realize
I'm sorry, I wasn't aware of what's happening
what's in your eyes
What emotions or thoughts you're hiding
My arms are open wide
I'm willing to embrace or accept you
But I can't ever decide what I wanna do
I'm indecisive and can't figure out what to do next
I'm staring at the sky
I'm lost in thoughts and not focusing on reality
But I can't tell which way my thoughts are traveling
I'm confused about what I'm thinking or feeling
I'm tryin' to listen to your words
I'm attempting to hear and understand what you're saying
But I can't feel my head and it's unraveling
I'm overwhelmed and losing control of my thoughts
Sometimes I no longer know
At times, I'm unsure or ignorant of
What it means to care about the things you wanna do
I'm unsure of what it means to support your aspirations
Everybody's living or they're dead
People are either alive or dead, but neither is truly living
And I'm still in my bed and I don't have a clue
I'm still stuck in bed with no idea what to do
I won't lie
I refuse to deceive
And tell you it's alright
And pretend everything is fine
I won't lie
I refuse to deceive
And tell you it's alright
And pretend everything is fine
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: James Dustin Payseur
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eka403
Pardon me, I didn't realize
What's in your eyes
My arms are open wide,
But I can't even decide what I wanna do
I'm staring at the sky,
But I can't tell which way my thoughts are travelling
I'm trying to listen to your words,
But I can't feel my head and it's unravelling
Sometimes I don't longer know
What it means to care about the things you wanna do
Everybody's living or they're dead
I'm still in my bed
And I don't have a clue
I won't lie and tell you it's alright
@melaniec1731
Pardon me, I didn’t realize what’s in your eyes
My arms are open wide
But I can't ever decide what I wanna do
I’m staring at the sky
But I can’t tell which way my thoughts are traveling
I try to listen to your words
But I can’t feel my head and it’s unraveling
Sometimes I no longer know what it means
To care about the things you want to do
Everybody’s living or they're dead
And I’m still in my bed and I don’t have a clue
[Chorus]
I won’t lie and tell you it’s alright
I won’t lie and tell you it’s alright
@DavosSeaworth
This is clearly about a young man at a cross roads in his life adjusting from teenager to young manhood and experiencing depression on every level. Relationships, jobs, family deaths etc.
Dustin was in his mid 20's when he wrote this song. He's like 35 now and still suffers from depression but he is quite the success story. He grew from making music in his room by himself to playing gigs with people he would have never met and creating his own record label.
It's okay to feel low but don't ever feel that anybody is above you. Stay strong, friends.
@Justpassingby204
Really love and appreciate your comment and it’s additional context
@Justpassingby204
I’m about to turn 25 and I feel this way somewhat. Not everything is as bleak as it was, but there’s uncertainty with how my jobs will blossom into a career
@tristannaraine7581
the “anybody is above you” part hits and cuts deep into layers ❤
@TheELectricStylez
Know those moments when you're kinda sad but you're ok with it ? That's for me this song
@RogeriaMartinsSantos
Josh G. same here, mate.
@label6814
Same, nice feeling...
@narvendina
I feel the same.
@wificracker41
Cool name
@aleogarden
Yep, All The Time