Sleep on the Left Side
Cornershop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Leave the right side free
Hope gets salted
As those around you leave
we're gonna let it up
Like India House on fire
We're gonna let it go
And let it go higher
Let it go
Sleep on the left side
Houcam is our call
We're gonna take it
That virgin fall
there's gonna be some
When we let it up and let it breathe
And all the holes doused with grief
And planets up and time to leave
No Asian fire will leave us dire
Born again to Asian lion
There comes no telling how it will be
What's turned to smoke was in our hearts
And planets up, what we have lost
Foot racing from kitchens
Down alleys through gullys
Meeting every second hour
Never to come to terms with the [Incomprehensible]
Foot racing to Putabin Key
'Cause there's too much going on
To jeer on green goddesses
Local dignitaries and labor counselors
Always in touch by way of the community organ
We're about to be orphaned
Sleep on the left side
Keep the sword hand free
Whatever is gonna be
Is gonna be
For the 7th time
Without tumbling desire
Easy disease
We're gonna let it known
And let it go slow, let it go
Sleep on the left side
Sleep on the left side
Some sounds, some burdens can release
Some sounds, some burdens can release
Some sounds, some burdens
Sleep on the left side
The lyrics to Cornershop's Sleep on the Left Side are cryptic and poetic, using a mix of metaphor and visual imagery to convey a sense of hope and desperation. The opening lines, "Sleep on the left side, leave the right side free, hope gets salted as those around you leave," suggest a sense of isolation and loss, with hope being diminished as people leave the protagonist's life.
The chorus, "We're gonna let it up, like India House on fire, we're gonna let it go, and let it go higher, let it go," speaks of a burning desire to let go of the past and move forward, with the image of India House on fire representing a sense of transformation and rebirth. The lyrics also touch on themes of cultural identity ("Houcam is our call, born again to Asian lion"), as well as an exploration of time and loss ("And planets up, what we have lost").
The verse "Foot racing from kitchens down alleys through gullys, meeting every second hour, never to come to terms with the [incomprehensible]," creates a sense of urgency and restlessness, with the protagonist rushing to escape some unknown fate. Overall, the lyrics of Sleep on the Left Side are a poetic exploration of identity, loss, hope, and transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleep on the left side
Lie down on the left side of the body
Leave the right side free
Keep the right side of the body unoccupied
Hope gets salted
Optimism can be soured by circumstances
As those around you leave
People depart and circumstances change
We're gonna let it up
We will allow something to happen
Like India House on fire
With great intensity and energy
We're gonna let it go
We will allow something to happen
And let it go higher
And let it escalate further
Let it go
Let it be
Sleep on the left side
Lie down on the left side of the body
Houcam is our call
The call to action is 'Houcam'
We're gonna take it
We will confront the challenge
That virgin fall
The new and unexplored experience that awaits us
There's gonna be some
Some things are going to happen
When we let it up and let it breathe
When we allow something to happen and give it room to grow
And all the holes doused with grief
All the empty spaces filled with sorrow
And planets up and time to leave
And celestial bodies aligned and it's the right time to depart
No Asian fire will leave us dire
No calamity will leave us hopeless
Born again to Asian lion
Reborn and reinvigorated to face challenges
There comes no telling how it will be
We cannot predict how things will turn out
What's turned to smoke was in our hearts
What has been lost or destroyed was once deeply felt
And planets up, what we have lost
And with celestial bodies aligned, we can mourn our losses
Foot racing from kitchens
Hastily leaving from mundane places
Down alleys through gullys
Through narrow passages and valleys
Meeting every second hour
Meeting frequently
Never to come to terms with the [Incomprehensible]
Unable to reconcile with something that is unclear or unknown
Foot racing to Putabin Key
Hurrying to a specific location
'Cause there's too much going on
Because there is a lot of activity or commotion
To jeer on green goddesses
To mock or scorn deities associated with nature
Local dignitaries and labor counselors
Respected figures in the community and advisors on labor issues
Always in touch by way of the community organ
Connected through local channels
We're about to be orphaned
We are facing a possible disconnection from our roots
Keep the sword hand free
Be prepared for conflict
Whatever is gonna be
Whatever happens will happen
Is gonna be
Will occur
For the 7th time
For the seventh instance
Without tumbling desire
Without giving in to temptation
Easy disease
A condition that is easily spread
We're gonna let it known
We will make something widely known
And let it go slow, let it go
And allow it to progress gradually
Some sounds, some burdens can release
Certain noises or responsibilities can relieve stress
Sleep on the left side
Lie down on the left side of the body
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TJINDER SINGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Their name comes from a term that refers to Indian immigrants that move to England, in that they often own street corner stores. Read Full BioCornershop is an Indie Rock band formed in 1991 from Leicester, UK, consisting of Tjinder Singh (singer, songwriter, and dholki player), Ben Ayres (guitar, keyboards, and tamboura), Anthony Saffery (sitar, keyboards and harmonium), Nick Simms (drums) and Peter Bengry (percussion). Most of the original members were also in the Preston band General Havoc.
Their name comes from a term that refers to Indian immigrants that move to England, in that they often own street corner stores. Their music is a fusion of Indian music, British indie rock, and electronic dance.
In 1997, Cornershop shot into the UK charts with the song 'Brimful of Asha' reaching number 60! Things changed when DJ Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) remixed the track for re-release in 1998. The remix topped the chart, selling over 200,000 copies in 7 days! The track featured lyrics about Bollywood playback singer, Asha Bhosle.
His Name Yahuah
DamascusHounds and KT Eff, I can tell you exactly what it's about. I'm not kidding, this is exactly what it is. The lyrics open with
"Sleep on the left side, leave the right side free.
Hope gets salted as those around you leave"
Sleeping on the left side relieves wind pain. With the relief, hope of fresh air is salted and those around you leave because wind smells.
"we're gonna let it up
Like India House on fire
We're gonna let it go
And let it go higher
Let it go"
He may have eaten some rich food and it burns a bit, noxious gasses rise in the atmosphere.
Read through the lyrics and though they are a bit abstract it's a certainty that it's a song to help people with wind pain, hence the relaxing atmosphere to the tune as a whole.
Do you know Polica's tune Dark Star? It's about constipation.
"What is mine
What is all mine
Not my child not my child
Hold you just a little while
I'm gonna give her all my life
Until she's until she's
Swooped up by the sea of love"
It's her's, her creation but not her child, the sea of love is the water in the toilet.
Then, it's the defecation singing the chorus, referring to the doctor as a man
"Ain't a man in this world who can pull me down
From my dark star dark star
I will remain there
Its done me good so far"
Christine Jansen van Vuuren
Sleep on the left side
Leave the right side free
Hope gets salted
As those around you leave
we're gonna let it up
Like India House on fire
We're gonna let it go
And let it go higher
Let it go
Sleep on the left side
Houcam is our call
We're gonna take it
That virgin fall
there's gonna be some
When we let it up and let it breathe
And all the holes doused with grief
And planets up and time to leave
No Asian fire will leave us dire
Born again to Asian lion
There comes no telling how it will be
What's turned to smoke was in our hearts
And planets up, what we have lost
Foot racing from kitchens
Down alleys through gullys
Meeting every second hour
Never to come to terms with the [Incomprehensible]
Foot racing to Putabin Key
'Cause there's too much going on
To jeer on green…
Prizmos
Anybody still listening in March 2021? Still a super underrated song. I wish more people knew about this masterpiece.
Erica Reyna
Listening in May 2021.... reminds me of a sweeter time in my life...😊 Love this song! ❤️
Aleceon
im here in june!
Vitorio
And I'm here in july
Susan Mcisaac
I'm here in July!
Kouta Lakis
July 2021 here...an excellent opening track to the album....
Joachim Kane
What a breath of fresh air this was, hitting the airwaves when it did. For those of us blessed with taste, it obviously has legs too; still awesome to hear today.
lorenzo cibrario
One of the most refined band ever. Great melodies indeed.
surjit kumar
Brilliant sampling of the harmonium intro from Na Dhup Rehni. This band was constantly subverting expectations. Norwegian Wood a wonderful example.
clapped out motor
That harmonium sample is absolutely divine to me. From when I first heard it as a child to now, everytime it plays I feel uplifted :)