Chelsea Joy Wolfe was born in Roseville, California, and grew up in Sacramento. She is of Norwegian and German descent. Her father was in a country band and owned a home studio. By the age of 7, she had written her first poem and by the age of 9, she had written and recorded songs which she later described as "basically Casio-based gothy R&B songs."
Inspired by the dark state of the world and the strange connection between all things, she creates a unique musical blend of goth-folk, experimental rock and spiritual realm funeral songs. With influences ranging from the great minds of Ingmar Bergman and David Lynch to Soviet and end-times literature, her songs conjure visions of other dimensions, claustrophobic echo-rooms and parking garage cathedrals.
Wolfe has recorded seven full length studio albums: The Grime and the Glow, which was released on December 28th, 2010 on limited vinyl through Brooklyn’s Pendu Sound Recordings; Ἀποκάλυψις (pronounced “Apokalypsis”), which was released as a 12” LP on August 23rd, 2011; Unknown Rooms: a Collection of Acoustic Songs, which was released on October, 2012 through Sargent House; Pain Is Beauty, out September 3rd, 2013; Abyss, which was released August 7th, 2015; and Hiss Spun, out September 22nd, 2017; Birth of Violence[7i] which was released on September 13th, 2019.
Sleeping
Chelsea Wolfe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You best not be
Sleeping around
Within a maze
Whores and fleas
You better take a caution
Make a smart choice
Just for once in your life
We're sleeping here
Don't you wake us
We're sleeping here
Where nothing's real
Where we can wallow
In our fears
We're sleeping here
Live a life
You wake you die
Live it's real
Cause it's so clear
Fear reality
Cause its obscene
I just can't seem
To feel what's real anymore
So don't ask questions
Don't ask why
Live a life
You wake you die
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
Don't you wake us
We're sleeping here
Where nothing's real
Where we can wallow
In our fears
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
Don't you wake us
We're sleeping here
Where nothing's real
Where we can wallow
In our fears
We're sleeping here
Live a life
You wake you die
Live a life
You wake you die
The lyrics of Chelsea Wolfe's "Sleeping" seem to be a warning against leading a promiscuous and careless lifestyle, as the opening lines describe a man cautioning the singer against sleeping around. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is actually content with sleeping in a state of apathy and numbness, where nothing feels real and they are able to wallow in their fears. The repeated lines "Live a life / You wake you die" could be interpreted as a reminder that living life to the fullest and experiencing reality is crucial because we only have a limited time to do so.
The line "Where nothing's real / Where we can wallow / In our fears" suggests that the singer is actively avoiding facing reality by sleeping and living in their own fears. The line "Fear reality / Cause it's obscene" further emphasizes the idea of reality being something to be feared and avoided. The repetition of the phrase "We're sleeping here" throughout the song gives a sense of finality and resignation to the situation, as if the singer has accepted their fate of living in a dreamlike state.
Overall, "Sleeping" seems to be a commentary on the dangers of avoiding reality and the importance of living life to the fullest. The lyrics suggest that while it may be tempting to hide away from the world and our fears, ultimately it is only by facing them head-on that we can truly live.
Line by Line Meaning
He told me
Someone advised and cautioned the singer.
You best not be
The advice warns the singer against doing something.
Sleeping around
The caution was in relation to promiscuity.
Within a maze
The situation referred to is complicated.
Whores and fleas
The caution is against indulging in immoral and possibly dangerous company or activity.
You better take a caution
The caution is important and should be heeded.
Make a smart choice
The caution will require the singer to make an informed and wise decision.
Just for once in your life
The advice is not something the singer has likely heard or done before.
We're sleeping here
The singer and others are languishing in an undisturbed dreamlike state.
Don't you wake us
The singer and others do not want to be disturbed from this dreamlike state.
Where nothing's real
The dreamlike state is a retreat from the harshness and disappointments of reality.
Where we can wallow
The dreamlike state allows the singer to revel in certain emotions or states of mind.
In our fears
This wallowing is related to negative emotions like fear.
Live a life
The song advocates for living a genuine and authentic life.
You wake you die
Living genuinely requires one to embrace the full experience of life, including its impermanence.
Live it's real
Living genuinely is the only way to experience true reality, instead of the false reality of dreams.
Cause it's so clear
The clarity and beauty of reality is emphasized.
Fear reality
Despite this, the singer seems to be afraid of reality.
Cause its obscene
This fear may be related to the raw and intense exposure of reality.
I just can't seem
The fear seems to prevent the singer from experiencing reality fully.
To feel what's real anymore
The singer may feel disconnected from reality due to fear or other reasons.
So don't ask questions
The singer does not want to confront or explore this fear or disconnection.
Don't ask why
The singer wants to avoid questioning or analyzing their own emotions and experiences.
We're sleeping here
The dreamlike state is still preferable to facing reality in some ways.
Where nothing's real
The dreamlike state is a consistent escape from reality.
We're sleeping here
The repetition suggests the strength of the singer's desire to remain in this state.
Live a life
The song returns to its earlier theme of embracing genuine living.
You wake you die
The impermanence of life is again emphasized.
Live a life
But this time the song emphasizes action instead of fear.
You wake you die
Living genuinely requires full acceptance of the reality of death.
Contributed by Makayla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
xXxpockyParadoxXx
He told me
You best not be
Sleeping around
Within a maze
Whores and fleas
You better take a caution
Make a smart choice
Just for once in your life
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
Don't you wake us
We're sleeping here
Where nothing's real
Where we can wallow
In our fears
We're sleeping here
Live a life
You wake you die
Live it's real
Cause it's so clear
Fear reality
Cause its obscene
I just can't seem
To feel what's real anymore
So don't ask questions
Don't ask why
Live a life
You wake you die
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
Don't you wake us
We're sleeping here
Where nothing's real
Where we can wallow
In our fears
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
Don't you wake us
We're sleeping here
Where nothing's real
Where we can wallow
In our fears
We're sleeping here
Live a life
You wake you die
Live a life
You wake you die
Gabriel Facundo
[Verse 1]
He told me, "You best not be
Sleeping around with enemies"
Whores and fleas, you better take precautions
Make a smart choice just for once in your life
[Chorus]
We're sleeping here, we're sleeping here
Don't you wake us, we're sleeping here
Where nothing's real, where we can wallow
In our fears, we're sleeping here
[Verse 2]
You live a lie, you wake, you die
Live a dream 'cause it's so clean
Fear reality 'cause it's obscene
I just can't seem to feel what's real, anymore
So, don't ask questions, don't ask why
You live a lie, you wake, you die
[Chorus]
We're sleeping here, we're sleeping here
Don't you wake us, we're sleeping here
Where nothing's real, where we can wallow
In our fears, we're sleeping here
We're sleeping here, we're sleeping here
Don't you wake us, we're sleeping here
Where nothing's real, where we can wallow
In our fears, we're sleeping here
[Outro]
You live a lie, you wake, you die
You live a lie, you wake, you die
Stone Vision Media
I appreciate how different this is from her other stuff. She can do anything. I do like other albums much better though.
Lua Moon
Essa música é incrível!!!!!
Alucard sennin
vdd
xXxpockyParadoxXx
He told me
You best not be
Sleeping around
Within a maze
Whores and fleas
You better take a caution
Make a smart choice
Just for once in your life
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
Don't you wake us
We're sleeping here
Where nothing's real
Where we can wallow
In our fears
We're sleeping here
Live a life
You wake you die
Live it's real
Cause it's so clear
Fear reality
Cause its obscene
I just can't seem
To feel what's real anymore
So don't ask questions
Don't ask why
Live a life
You wake you die
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
Don't you wake us
We're sleeping here
Where nothing's real
Where we can wallow
In our fears
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
We're sleeping here
Don't you wake us
We're sleeping here
Where nothing's real
Where we can wallow
In our fears
We're sleeping here
Live a life
You wake you die
Live a life
You wake you die
Gabriel Facundo
[Verse 1]
He told me, "You best not be
Sleeping around with enemies"
Whores and fleas, you better take precautions
Make a smart choice just for once in your life
[Chorus]
We're sleeping here, we're sleeping here
Don't you wake us, we're sleeping here
Where nothing's real, where we can wallow
In our fears, we're sleeping here
[Verse 2]
You live a lie, you wake, you die
Live a dream 'cause it's so clean
Fear reality 'cause it's obscene
I just can't seem to feel what's real, anymore
So, don't ask questions, don't ask why
You live a lie, you wake, you die
[Chorus]
We're sleeping here, we're sleeping here
Don't you wake us, we're sleeping here
Where nothing's real, where we can wallow
In our fears, we're sleeping here
We're sleeping here, we're sleeping here
Don't you wake us, we're sleeping here
Where nothing's real, where we can wallow
In our fears, we're sleeping here
[Outro]
You live a lie, you wake, you die
You live a lie, you wake, you die
Gabriel Facundo
@Guro Girl and It makes sense, thank u
Guro Girl
Gabriel Facundo I’ve always thought it was smart instead of small (choice just for once in your life)
Teketa Shine
This album is by far her best, It is so authentic and unpolished. I really love the emotions expressed through her in this older stuff.
Teketa Shine
I’m pretty sure she didn’t like that she wrote straightforward lyrics instead of something more veiled. I think that if I hadn’t heard this I couldn’t emotionally attach myself to her later works.
Emily Rose
I am really wondering if she just made that up (subconsciously) because she did not want to release this so personal stuff. I am usually more into more into heavier dark stuff but I really like this album or songs form it, especially this song. I would not call it unpolished but absolutely authentic and I think the raw personal emotions are what made this great "funny" (or not) that is is also the reason she did never officially release this. I would never imagine something like this by just listening to her recent stuff, but reading about her this made perfect sense.
I bet may fans beg her to actually (re)release this. I am also curious how this "never released" album made it out there. Was it leaked?