Dishwalla, which emerged out of the early stages of post-grunge, is composed of J.R. Richards (vocals), Scot Alexander (bass), Rodney Browning Cravens (guitar), Jim Wood (keyboards), and George Pendergast (drums). They spent the mid-'90s touring with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Blind Melon, and the Goo Goo Dolls in support of Pet Your Friends. Prior to making a second album, the band was caught in the middle of the Polygram/Universal merger and such a move left Dishwalla pondering what to do next. Their second album, And You Think You Know What Life's About, was released in 1998; promotion and sales were lackluster due to label downsizing. Dishwalla's time with A&M was short-lived and exhausting because of such corporate behavior, but they stuck it out to contribute their cover version of "Policy of Truth" for the Depeche Mode tribute album For the Masses. By the new millennium, Dishwalla left behind major-market America for a third album. They signed with Immergent while Pendergrast parted ways with the band. Pete Maloney, a drummer picked up on the 1998 tour, resumed percussion duties. In 2002, Dishwalla issued their experimental third album Opaline (Immergent), quickly followed by 2003's Live... Greetings from the Flow State. A self-titled album produced by Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of a Down), Bill Szymczyk, and Ryan Greene (NOFX, Nerf Herder) followed in 2005 before the band went on indefinite hiatus.
Three years passed before Dishwalla would return in 2008. Debuting a lineup that joined original members Alexander, Pendergast, Cravens, and Wood with new vocalist Justin Fox, the band hit the road, touring sporadically over the following years. They would not return to the studio until 2016, when they began recording their first album in a decade. Juniper Road arrived in 2017.
Biography by MacKenzie Wilson
Stay Awake
Dishwalla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And boy you wonder about everything that could have been
It's getting later all the time but you're still wide awake
And boy you wonder, if you'll ever sleep again
Hey, hey, gotta stay awake
Don't let it slip away
Don't think that they're not waiting
As your mind is peeled away
But they still seem to find you anyway
Sift your hands through broken glass
Through your shattered crystal ball and boy you wonder
If you'll ever see again
'Cause every time you close your eyes
You know they're right behind you and you wonder
If you'll ever live again
Don't make a sound
'Cause they're living all around
With their shiny eyes and their shiny minds
And they're living everywhere
Watching every move I make
Gotta stay awake
The lyrics of Dishwalla's song Stay Awake convey an overall feeling of anxiety, worry, and a sense of being pursued. The imagery of staring at a wall and wondering about missed opportunities and regret gives a sense of being stuck in a moment or trapped in one's own mind. The repeated line "boy you wonder" adds to the feeling of uncertainty and questioning.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of staying awake and alert, as if there are external forces or people waiting to take advantage of the listener's vulnerability. The reference to broken glass and a shattered crystal ball adds to the feeling of danger and unpredictability. The line "every time you close your eyes, you know they're right behind you" creates a sense of paranoia and the feeling of being constantly watched and pursued.
The final verse adds to the feeling of being surrounded and tracked, with the mention of "shiny eyes and shiny minds" watching the listener's every move. The repetition of "gotta stay awake" reinforces the urgency of the situation and the need to remain vigilant.
Overall, the lyrics of Stay Awake depict a sense of unease and paranoia, with the listener feeling pursued and vulnerable to external forces.
Line by Line Meaning
Staring at the wall because you know it understands
You are staring at the wall as you feel that it understands the emotional turmoil you are going through.
And boy you wonder about everything that could have been
You are filled with regret and pondering over the things that you could have done differently.
It's getting later all the time but you're still wide awake
Despite the time passing by, you are unable to sleep and lay wide awake.
And boy you wonder, if you'll ever sleep again
You are anxious about not being able to sleep and if you will ever be able to get some rest.
Hey, hey, gotta stay awake
You are reminding yourself that you need to stay awake and not give in to sleep.
Don't let it slip away
You are urging yourself to not let the opportunity slip away.
Don't think that they're not waiting
You are cautioning yourself to not lower your guard as you feel like someone is waiting to attack you.
As your mind is peeled away
You feel like your mind is slowly slipping and you are losing control over yourself.
But they still seem to find you anyway
Despite your efforts to stay hidden, someone is still able to track you down.
Sift your hands through broken glass
You are trying to move forward despite the obstacles and challenges that come in your way.
Through your shattered crystal ball and boy you wonder
You look into the future with uncertainty, wondering what it holds for you.
If you'll ever see again
You are unsure if you will ever be able to look at the future with clarity again.
'Cause every time you close your eyes
Whenever you try to rest, you are filled with fear and anxiety.
You know they're right behind you and you wonder
You feel like someone is watching you and you are scared to even close your eyes.
If you'll ever live again
You are wondering if you will be able to overcome your fears and truly live again.
Don't make a sound
You are being extra cautious and trying to stay silent so as to not alert anyone of your presence.
'Cause they're living all around
You feel like your surroundings are filled with danger and you are not safe anywhere.
With their shiny eyes and their shiny minds
You are describing the danger with shiny eyes and minds, perhaps indicating that they are manipulative and deceptive.
And they're living everywhere
You feel like danger is everywhere around you and there is no escape.
Watching every move I make
You feel like you are being constantly watched and monitored by someone.
Gotta stay awake
You remind yourself to stay awake and be alert to avoid any harm.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: GEORGE EDWARD III PENDERGAST, JOHN ROBERT RICHARDS, RODNEY BROWNING-CRAVENS, SCOTT PRESTON ALEXANDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind