Danielson Famile (aka Danielson) is a band from Clarksboro, New Jersey, tha… Read Full Bio ↴Danielson Famile (aka Danielson) is a band from Clarksboro, New Jersey, that plays a quirky blend of Indie pop and gospel music. They are also a notable example of Bass-Pop, perhaps more fittingly called Avant-Pop. The members of the band are Daniel Smith and his siblings Megan Smith (Megan Slaboda), David Smith, Rachel Smith (Rachel Galloway), Andrew Smith, wife Elin K. Smith, and friend Chris X. Smith (Chris Palladino). Recently, Sufjan Stevens has joined the band as an adopted member of the family, playing banjo on the album Brother Is to Son and touring with them when possible.

Distinguishing characteristics of the band include frontman Daniel Smith's squeaky falsetto and sometimes nasally vocals. The band also incorporates visuals into some of its performance such as matching costumes and encouraging audience participation of clap-alongs, hand gestures and dance moves. Some appearances have seen Daniel playing a guitar while inside a costume of a ten foot tree bearing nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.[1]

Members of Danielson Famile portray a proud DIY attitude within many aspects of their work. All of Danielson's album artwork is done by Daniel himself, with the exception of the construction paper inserts of the two Tri-Danielson albums which were done by Chris. The animation in their music videos for the songs Headz in the Cloudz and Rubbernecker feature stop motion animation done by Chris. The band members' uniforms begin as Daniel's vision and then are designed by Megan. Although all the girls participate in the sewing, the driving force behind the construction is Marian, their mother.

You Sleep Good Now
Danielson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I, I long for complete unconsciousness
But me of little faith
With hearts weighed down
Thanks to those evening news
And you are fast asleep

This very evening
Let us leave this crowd behind

And pass on over
Over to the other side

My heart instructs me
Rest secure these terrors flee
You give blessed sleep
From which no one's waking up to weep

While you were speaking to me
I was in a deep sleep
With my face to the ground
Then you touched me
You raised me to my feet

This very evening
Let us leave this crowd behind
And pass on over
Over to the other side

A voice says, "Cry out."
I say, "Oh, what should I cry?"
"All men are like grass."
We all wither, but you stand.

Who understands
The mind of You
?
Here's hoping you
Can strengthen my mind
All anew

My heart instructs me
Rest secure these terrors flee

You give blessed sleep
From which no one's waking up to weep

Overall Meaning

The song "You Sleep Good Now" by Danielson seems to be an introspective journey that the singer is going through. The first verse talks about the singer's desire to have complete unconsciousness, and how they are unable to achieve that due to their anxious heart that is weighed down by the negative news all around. While the singer is struggling with their own thoughts, they notice that someone else, probably a loved one or a friend, is fast asleep. This contrast between their own restlessness and the other person's peacefulness is what triggers the thought of leaving everything behind and moving on to the other side, a metaphorical representation of a serene state of mind.

The singer goes on to talk about a vision or a dream that they have had, where they were in a deep sleep and someone, presumably God or a higher power, touched them and raised them to their feet. This experience seems to have given them the confidence and the courage to leave behind the crowd and move towards a better state of being. The last verse talks about the singer's hope that they can understand the mind of God, and that by doing so, they can strengthen their own mind as well.

Overall, the song seems to be a quest for inner peace and solace, and the singer is using the metaphor of sleep to represent that state of being. The contrast between their own restlessness and the other person's peacefulness seems to be a reminder that it is possible to achieve that state of mind and that they need to strive towards it.

Line by Line Meaning

I, I long for complete unconsciousness
I want to fall into a deep and dreamless sleep

But me of little faith
But I tend to doubt and worry

With hearts weighed down
Feeling burdened and heavyhearted

Thanks to those evening news
Due to the negative and scary things we hear on the news

And you are fast asleep
While you peacefully slumber

This very evening
Tonight

Let us leave this crowd behind
Let's escape from the noisy and chaotic world around us

And pass on over
And cross over to a different place or state

Over to the other side
To a place or state of calm and rest

My heart instructs me
My intuition tells me

Rest secure these terrors flee
I can find peace and safety and my fears will disappear