Bed Is for Sleeping
Bonnie Lyrics

The lyrics to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Matt Sweeney's song Bed Is for Sleeping are rich in metaphor and meaning. The opening lines, "Bed is for sleeping, Love is for making, You know love I am yours for the taking" immediately suggest a physical and emotional intimacy between two people. The singer is willing to give themselves fully to the other person and make a commitment to them. Also, the use of "bed" and "sleeping" symbolizes rest and comfort, and then the lyrics shift towards the importance of love and companionship, which is an important interpretation.

The following lines expand on the themes introduced in the first stanza. "My eyes are for seeing, The wind is for blowing, And you see love I am yours for the knowing" speaks to the idea that our senses are meant to be used and experienced fully, just as the singer wants to be present and fully connected to their partner. "Night is for dreaming, Sleep is for bedding, I will dream with you the night on our wedding" continues the metaphor of rest and intimacy. The love the singer feels will not only go beyond the physical, but will permeate their dreams and desires.

The closing lines, "You have a splinter, and I have a thimble, I will pull it in with movements so nimble, And tears are for falling, Smiles are for breaking, Houses for burning, And kisses for faking, And where are you going? And why are you leaving? Left on the walkway, To swallow my grieving" suggests that the relationship may be coming to an end. However, the metaphor still holds true, as the splinter and thimble can represent the little ways the two tried to help and care for each other. Tears, smiles, and burning houses may represent the highs and lows of the relationship. The final lines suggest that one partner is leaving and the other is left to grieve alone.