Hewerdine (born Mark Hewerdine) moved to Cambridge as a child, but returned to London in his late teens, and worked in a record shop. Suffering from agoraphobia, it was not a happy time of his life, and he was fired from his job after being wrongly accused of theft. Returning to Cambridge, he teamed up with a friend with similar experiences and started to write songs. They formed the short-lived Placebo Thing, later renamed The Great Divide. They were heard by Mike Scott of The Waterboys, who recommended them to Ensign Records, where they cut two commercially unsuccessful singles. In 1985 Hewerdine, working once again in a record shop in Cambridge, formed The Bible, recruiting jazz drummer Tony Shepherd. They released an album of songs through the independent Norwich label Backs Records called Walking The Ghost Back Home.
The Bible became a fairly successful independent band, with a cult following spread mostly through word of mouth and live performances. Two tracks from the first album, Graceland and Mahalia were released as singles, but did not achieve very significant sales. The album however was very well received by music pundits, and this brought the band to the attention of Chrysalis Records. Signing to Chrysalis, Graceland and another track, Honey Be Good were (re)released as singles, and reached the lower end of the UK singles chart. A new album, Eureka followed, but failed commercially. In 1988, Hewerdine decided to leave the group and pursue solo projects. Calum MacColl and Neill MacColl from the group went on to form Liberty Horses.
At around this time Hewerdine met US "new country" singer Darden Smith, and this set him off in a new direction. Working together, he and Smith released a collaborative album, Evidence. Hewerdine also worked simultaneously on new solo songs, largely based on his earlier traumatic experiences in London. Eventually these were distilled down to produce the Ignorance album, released in 1992. Invited by Tori Amos to play support promoting these songs, Hewerdine managed to find a new audience and Ignorance and a single from the album, History, did relatively well commercially.
As Hewerdine's star rose, he started to write for other artists, among them Eddi Reader, Clive Gregson and Christine Collister. The Bible reformed for a tour in 1994. Further solo album releases followed, such as 1996's Baptist Hospital and 1999's Thanksgiving. Meanwhile Hewerdine was asked by long-time friend Nick Hornby to contribute music to the soundtrack for the movie version of his book High Fidelity, whose subject (working in a record shop) was also very close to Hewerdine's experiences.
Hewerdine continues to write and perform his own songs. Harmonograph, released on MVine/Red Grape Records in February 2006, is a collection of his songs written for other artists such as Eddi Reader and Hepburn, recorded by Hewerdine for the first time. 2008 saw two mini CD releases - Toy Box 1 and Toy Box 2 with art work by Hewerdine's grandmother. Hewerdine continues to tour regularly, playing a set featuring songs from through out his career from The Bible to Toy Box.
Sleep
Boo Hewerdine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then closes again as the day becomes night
We are all slaves to the sun
Everyone
Everyone
The billionaire in his tower of greed
There is no one who's so strong
Everyone
Everyone
Has to sleep
And though you might think that you are in love
Somehow it comes from that star up above
Even the words of this song
Everyone
Everyone
Has to sleep
But life is a dream
And we dream our lives away
Everyone
Everyone
And from the moment that we are all born
We're marathon dancers who sway until dawn
Until the music has gone
Everyone
Everyone
Has to sleep
But life is a dream
And we dream our lives
Dream our lives away
Everyone
Everyone
Has to sleep
In Boo Hewerdine's song "Sleep," the lyrics reflect on the universal nature of sleep and how it affects everyone, regardless of their status or circumstances. The song opens with a gentle image of a daisy opening and closing with the rhythm of day and night, symbolizing the cycle of sleep and wakefulness that all living beings experience. The repetition of the line "We are all slaves to the sun" emphasizes the idea that sleep is a natural and necessary part of life that we all must submit to.
The lyrics then shift focus to different individuals, highlighting the contrast between a billionaire consumed by greed in his tower and the commonality of needing to rest and sleep. The line "There is no one who's so strong" suggests that even the most powerful and driven individuals are ultimately beholden to the need for rest. The recurring refrain of "Everyone has to sleep" drives home the message that sleep is a fundamental aspect of human existence that transcends societal divisions.
The song delves into the concept of love and its connection to the celestial bodies, implying that even our deepest emotions and connections are influenced by forces beyond our control. The acknowledgment that love "comes from that star up above" aligns with the overarching theme of interconnectedness and shared experiences. The repetition of "Everyone" throughout the song serves as a reminder of the common humanity that binds us all, regardless of our differences.
The final verses of the song touch on the fleeting nature of life and the transient quality of existence. The metaphor of life as a dream underscores the impermanence of our experiences and the ephemeral nature of human existence. The image of marathon dancers swaying until dawn evokes a sense of movement and purpose, eventually leading to a moment of stillness and rest. The closing lines emphasize the inevitability of sleep as a unifying force that shapes our lives and ties us together in our shared need for rest and renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
The daisy that opens at first ray of light
Comparing the cycle of a daisy opening and closing with how we are all influenced by the sun's light to wake up and sleep
Then closes again as the day becomes night
Describing how the daisy closes at night, paralleling how we all have to sleep when the day ends
We are all slaves to the sun
Acknowledging that we are all dependent on the sun for our daily rhythms and sleep patterns
The billionaire in his tower of greed
Highlighting how even the wealthiest are still bound by the need to sleep
Stayin' up late just to get what we need
Emphasizing that we all have to balance our desire to be productive with the necessity of sleep
There is no one who's so strong
Recognizing that sleep is essential for everyone, regardless of their strength or power
And though you might think that you are in love
Suggesting that even the intense emotions of love are influenced by our need for sleep and the rhythms of nature
Somehow it comes from that star up above
Imagining that our emotions and experiences are connected to the universal influence of the sun
Even the words of this song
Acknowledging that even the act of creating a song is influenced by the need for rest and rejuvenation through sleep
But life is a dream
Reflecting on the transient and illusory nature of existence
And we dream our lives away
Suggesting that our experiences and perceptions are shaped by the dreams we have during sleep
And from the moment that we are all born
Highlighting that the cycle of sleep and wakefulness begins from the moment of our birth
We're marathon dancers who sway until dawn
Metaphorically describing how we are like dancers moving through the night until it is time to rest
Until the music has gone
Symbolizing the end of the day when it is time to let go of wakefulness and embrace sleep
But life is a dream
Reiterating the idea that life is fleeting and full of illusions
And we dream our lives
Emphasizing the role of dreams in shaping our experiences and perceptions
Dream our lives away
Highlighting the importance of sleep and dreams in our daily lives
Has to sleep
Stressing the universal need for sleep and rest
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARK NICHOLAS HEWERDINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind