Despite his vocal range (paired with a sense of dynamics), and a charismatic stage presence, Byron was dismissed from Uriah Heep in 1976, at the demand of keyboardist Ken Hensley (the band's primary songwriter), who gave the ultimatum "it's him or me" to band manager Gerry Bron, citing Byron's increasingly erratic behaviour due to alcohol abuse. He unsuccessfully attempted to revive his career with Rough Diamond (a band also featuring former members of Humble Pie and Wings), a second solo album, and The Byron Band. Mick Box and Trevor Bolder of Uriah Heep invited Byron to re-join the band in 1980, but Byron refused. He died of alcohol related complications in 1985. The coroner's report cited epilepsy and fatty liver.
Sleepless Nights
David Byron Lyrics
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Sleepless nights are catching up on me
Sleepless nights, I'm tired as I can be
Since you've been gone I find
I've lost my piece of mind
And I know I won't unwind, sleepless nights
I'm sure we'll work it out
If you'd come home
And then if you weren't sure
If it could work out just once more
You could slam the door
And leave me sleepless nights
I can remember a love so fine
But then I went and messed around
And lost the only love I've ever found
Sleepless nights...
I've tried to reason why I'm all alone
I'm sure we'll work it out
If you'd come home
And then if you weren't sure
If it could work out just once more
You could slam the door
And leave me sleepless nights
Sleepless nights...
The lyrics of David Byron's song "Sleepless Nights" tells the story of a man who is suffering from insomnia since his lover left him. The first stanza signifies the singer's exhaustion and tiredness due to lack of sleep, which he attributes to the absence of his love interest. He admits that since his lover left him, he has lost his peace of mind, and he cannot relax or unwind. The second stanza portrays a sense of hope and desperation from the singer, as he tries to reason with his lover on why they should work their relationship out. He pleads with his lover to come back home and assures her that they can work out their differences. However, at the same time, he acknowledges that she may not be sure about getting back together, and that uncertainty could leave him with more sleepless nights.
The bridge section of the song remembers the past when the relationship was "so fine," but then the singer messed around and lost the only love he has ever found. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, adding more emphasis on the despair and hopelessness of the singer, who cannot find rest until his lover comes back home. Overall, the song's themes revolve around heartbreak, longing, and the fear of being alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleepless nights are catching up on me
I am experiencing the effects of sleepless nights
Sleepless nights, I'm tired as I can be
Despite having sleepless nights, I am tired
Since you've been gone I find I've lost my piece of mind
My state of mind has been negatively impacted since you left
And I know I won't unwind, sleepless nights
I am unable to relax and unwind due to sleepless nights
I've tried to reason why I'm all alone
I have attempted to find a rationale for my solitude
I'm sure we'll work it out If you'd come home
I believe we can resolve our issues if you return
And then if you weren't sure If it could work out just once more You could slam the door And leave me sleepless nights
If you were uncertain about our relationship and decided to end it again, it would leave me with more sleepless nights
I can remember a love so fine But then I went and messed around And lost the only love I've ever found
I recall a wonderful romance ruined by my behavior, causing me to lose the only love I have had
Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.