Born Grace Martine Tandon -- "daya" is the Hindi word for "grace" in a nod to her Indian grandfather -- and raised in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mount Lebanon, she began taking piano lessons at the age of three, and moved on to voice lessons at the age of ten. Songwriting came later, and in 2014 she signed with the Z-Entertainment label based on her demos. A year later, her single "Hide Away" took off thanks to early online support, becoming a hit across the globe and receiving multi-platinum certification. In 2015, Daya issued her debut self-titled EP on Artbeatz. Both "Hide Away" and the follow-up, double-platinum single "Sit Still, Look Pretty" rose to the Top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100, with a number 14 debut on the Heatseekers chart. She later contributed vocals to the Chainsmokers' enduring 2016 smash "Don't Let Me Down" (which went on to win the Grammy for Best Dance Recording). Daya's debut, Sit Still, Look Pretty, was released later that year. The album peaked in the Top 40 in the U.S. and Canada, and was eventually certified gold in the U.S. and silver in the U.K.
In 2017, she appeared on the Gryffin and Illenium track "Feel Good," later releasing her own singles "Safe" and "New," the latter of which became a modest hit in the U.S. and Australia. This marked the start of a multi-year period of standalone single, collaboration, and EP releases. Of the dozen or so fresh tracks that she would release at the turn of the decade, 2019's electronic-dance bop "Insomnia," "Wanted" with NOTD, and "Keeping It in the Dark" from the 13 Reasons Why soundtrack made dents on international charts and streaming services. In 2021, she issued her second EP, The Difference, which included the electro-pop banger "First Time" and the Charlie Puth-assisted hit "Bad Girl." Also that year, she delivered the non-album single, "What If I Told You," and "Evil" from the Blade Runner: Black Lotus anime soundtrack. Another single, the sultry and dance-oriented "Love You When You're Gone," arrived in June 2022 as the first track off her third EP, In Between Dreams. In 2023, Daya revealed that she had become a fully independent artist, gaining control over her sound and image. That year, she began a steady rollout of singles, dropping one every few weeks, starting with June's trip-hop-leaning "Juliene." ~ Neil Z. Yeung
Insomnia
Daya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, I don't want to dream about you
Wish I had my arms wrapped around you (insomnia)
I've been down for two days
Tylenol PM ain't working
Losing track of time, babe (insomnia)
My mind is running too fast
I wish that you would come back (insomnia)
I keep on hoping to find you
Reaching in between the sheets
Baby, it's only been one night
Feel like it's been like a week
Tossin' and turnin', tossin' and turnin'
Flipping the pillow, pulling the curtains
I got, I got, I got
Insomnia, ah
'Cause I can't sleep without you
No, I don't want to dream about you
Wish I had my arms wrapped around you (insomnia)
Insomnia, ah
'Cause I can't sleep without you
No, I don't want to dream about you
Wish I had my arms wrapped around you (insomnia)
I can hear your voice now
Keeping me awake 'til morning
Can see you with the lights out (insomnia)
I keep on hoping to find you
Reaching in between the sheets
Maybe it's only been one night
Feel like it's been like a week
Tossin' and turnin', tossin' and turnin'
Flipping the pillow, pulling the curtains
Oh, I got, I got, I got (I got, I got, I got)
Insomnia, ah
'Cause I can't sleep without you
No, I don't want to dream about you
Wish I had my arms wrapped around you (insomnia)
Insomnia, ah
'Cause I can't sleep without you
No, I don't want to dream about you
Wish I had my arms wrapped around you (insomnia)
I keep on hoping to find you
I'm trying and trying and trying to
You setting, you setting my mind loose
Oh, I got, I got, I got
Daya’s song Insomnia is a heartfelt and relatable track that describes the struggles of sleeplessness after a breakup. In the first verse, she explains that her mind races and that she wishes her former partner was still with her so she could fall asleep without any issues. The second verse continues this theme, with Daya expressing the pain she feels by not being able to sleep or dream without her ex-lover. She uses the phrase “insomnia” as a metaphor for the restless and uneasy state she finds herself in.
Throughout the song, Daya’s vocals are filled with raw emotion, which is especially evident during the chorus. The repetition of “insomnia” creates a sense of confusion and desperation, while the music rises and falls with Daya’s inflections. The use of soft and repetitive background vocals also adds depth to the track, highlighting the pain Daya feels as she tries to cope with the breakup.
Overall, Daya’s Insomnia is a powerful track that captures the helpless feeling of being unable to sleep after a breakup. Through honest and relatable lyrics, a powerful melody, and Daya’s emotive vocals, the song highlights the raw emotions that come with heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, ah, 'cause I can't sleep without you
The person is unable to sleep because they miss their partner
No, I don't want to dream about you
The person wants to be with their partner in reality, not just in their dreams
Wish I had my arms wrapped around you (insomnia)
The person wishes they were physically holding their partner to be able to sleep better
I've been down for two days
The person has been feeling low/tired for two days
Tylenol PM ain't working
The person has been taking medication to sleep, but it's not effective
Losing track of time, babe (insomnia)
The person is unable to sleep and as a result, they are losing track of time
My mind is running too fast
The person's mind is too active and they are overthinking
Shadows on the wall keep lurking
The person is noticing shadows on the wall, which is increasing their anxiety and fear
I wish that you would come back (insomnia)
The person wants their partner to come back and be with them to help them sleep better
I keep on hoping to find you
The person is looking for their partner
Reaching in between the sheets
The person is searching for their partner in bed
Baby, it's only been one night, feel like it's been like a week
The person misses their partner so much that one night feels like a week
Tossin' and turnin', tossin' and turnin', flipping the pillow, pulling the curtains
The person is unable to find a comfortable position to sleep and trying different things to help them sleep better
I can hear your voice now, keeping me awake 'til morning, can see you with the lights out (insomnia)
The person is thinking about their partner and imagining them being with them until morning, even if they're not physically there
I'm trying and trying and trying to, you setting, you setting my mind loose
The person is doing everything they can to try and sleep, but their thoughts keep coming back to their partner
Insomnia, ah 'cause I can't sleep without you
The person is experiencing insomnia because they can't sleep without their partner
No, I don't want to dream about you
The person wants to be with their partner in reality, not just in their dreams
Wish I had my arms wrapped around you
The person wants to physically hold their partner to sleep better
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Grace Martine Tandon, Jacob Kasher, Michael Pollack, Oscar Michael Gorres
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ParadoxxPaul
I remember when remixes used to go for 6 plus minutes. They should return to those days 👍
João Anthonny
Dope remix 💙🔥🎶
Pietro Maximoff
This is actually really good but the original will always be better ❤
FélixKKKKK🧃
Daya, se você estiver vendo esse comentário , pois saiba que sou muito seu fã! Um dia espero te conhecer. ❤️🇧🇷
Lý Thu Hà
It’s suitable for workout music 👍🏼 good song
Cindy Vortex
Underrated remix
Sebas tian
I love it!!!!
Riiya Saxena
This song is lit🔥🔥
golden x
Beat is awesome...❤️
Lela
WHY IS THIS NOT ON SPOTIFY