After breaking up with his girlfriend, moving out of his house, and joining a 12-step program for addiction, Ebert began work on a story about a messianic figure named Edward Sharpe. According to Ebert, Sharpe "was sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind ... but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love." Ebert later met singer Jade Castrinos in Los Angeles, California, United States. In the summer of 2009, as Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Ebert and Castrinos toured the country with a group of fellow musicians in a big white school bus.
Its song "Home" was voted number 15 on the Australian Triple J Hottest 100's 2009 countdown, the largest music poll in the world.
Members:
Alex Ebert – vocals, guitar, percussion, piano
Jade Castrinos – vocals, guitar (Past member 2009-2013)
Nico Aglietti – guitar, synthesizer, keyboards, vocals
Stewart Cole – trumpet, percussion, keyboards, tenor ukulele, vocals
Tay Strathairn – piano, vocals
Aaron Older – bass, vocals, banjo, percussion
Josh Collazo – drums, percussion, vocals
Orpheo McCord – percussion, vocals
Nora Kirkpatrick – accordion, vocals
Christian Letts – guitar, vocals
Additional personnel:
Chris Richard – vocals, percussion
Anna Bulbrook – violin, vocals
Aaron Embry – keyboards, piano, vocals
Tyler James – piano, vocals
Ryan Richter – guitar, lap steel, vocals
Michael Farfel – announcer, management
"40 Day Dream"
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I'm sleeping 'cause this dream's too amazin'
She got gold doorknobs where her eyes used to be
One turn and I learned what it really means to see
Ah, it's the magical mystery kind
Ah, must be a lie
Bye bye to the too good to be true kind of love
Oh now I can die
I been sleepin' for 60 days and
Nobody better pinch me
Bitch I swear I'll go crazy
She got jumper cable lips
She got sunset on her breath now
I inhaled just a little bit
Now I got no fear of death now
Ah, it's the magical mystery kind
Ah, must be a lie
Bye bye to the too good to be true kind of love
Oh, I could die
Oh now I can die
Oh
Ah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Ah, it's the magical mystery kind
Ah, must be a lie
Bye bye to the too good to be true kind of love
Oh, I could die
Oh now I can die
The song "40 Day Dream" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros tells the story of a person who has been sleeping for 40 days and is having a dream that is too amazing to be true. He sees a girl who has gold doorknobs for eyes, which represents her being precious and valuable. He learns the true meaning of "seeing" by turning the doorknobs and realizing that he was blind before. The dream is so magical and mysterious that he wonders if it's real or not.
As the dream continues for 60 days, the person becomes even more entranced with the girl, who now has "jumper cable lips" and "sunset on her breath." He inhales her essence and is no longer afraid of death. The love he feels is so intense that he would be willing to die for it. The song's chorus repeats the idea that the love he is experiencing must be too good to be true, but he feels so alive that he could die now.
The song's lyrics suggest that the dream may not be a dream at all, but rather a spiritual awakening or an allegory for finding true love. The magical imagery and intense feelings convey a sense of wonder and joy that is both dreamlike and real.
Line by Line Meaning
I been sleepin' for 40 days and
I've been checked out of reality for an extended period, and I'm not in control of my waking consciousness
I know I'm sleeping 'cause this dream's too amazin'
This false sense of reality is so surreal that I'm aware it can't be true, but it's so appealing that I don't want to wake up
She got gold doorknobs where her eyes used to be
Her eyes are so powerful and valuable that they've been replaced by golden doorknobs
One turn and I learned what it really means to see
With one look into her eyes, I gained true insight into the world and what it means to truly see
Ah, it's the magical mystery kind
This experience feels like a magical mystery that can't be fully understood or explained
Ah, must be a lie
Despite the appealing nature of this reality, it's likely false and not fit for long-term sustenance
Bye bye to the too good to be true kind of love
I need to say goodbye to the idea of perfect, unrealistic love and focus on more realistic relationships
Oh, I could die
The intense emotional state of this dream/reality could cause me to die out of sheer bliss or excitement
Oh now I can die
Now that I've experienced this level of emotional intensity and clarity, I feel at peace with the prospect of death
I been sleepin' for 60 days and
My dream state has now lasted for an even longer time, emphasizing my complete disassociation from the real world
Nobody better pinch me
I don't want to be jolted out of this experience because it's too good to let go of
Bitch I swear I'll go crazy
If someone tries to wake me up from this dream, I'll become irrational and potentially lash out in anger or frustration
She got jumper cable lips
Her lips are so electric and intense that they feel like they could jump start a car battery
She got sunset on her breath now
Her breath is warm and inviting, like a beautiful sunset that emphasizes the fleeting nature of happiness
I inhaled just a little bit
I took a small breath in, savoring the experience of being around her
Now I got no fear of death now
My temporary connection with this person has helped me let go of my fear of mortality and embrace the beauty of life
Yeah
An exclamation of pure joy and happiness
Yeah
Reiteration of euphoria
Yeah
Another shout of happiness and contentment
Yeah
Final exclamation of pure joy and completion
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ALEX M T EBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sinscrevetupac
Well, I been sleeping for forty days and I know
I'm sleeping 'cause this dream's too amazing
She got gold doorknobs where her eyes used to be, yeah
One turn and I learned what it really means to see
Ah-ah, it's the magical mystery kind, ah-ah, must be a lie
Bye bye to the too good to be true kind of love
Oh-oh, I could die
Oh, now I could die
Oh, I been sleeping for sixty days
And nobody better pinch me
Bitch I swear I'll go crazy
She got jump cable lips
She got sunset on her breath now
I inhaled just a little bit
Now I got no fear of death now
Oh
Ah-ah, it's the magical mystery kind, ah-ah, must be a lie
Bye bye to the too good to be true kind of love
Oh-oh, I could die
Oh, now I could die
Ah-ah, it's the magical mystery kind, ah-ah, must be a lie
Bye bye to the too good to be true kind of love
Oh-oh, I could die
Oh, now I could die
@vincentlafranchi8409
Lyrics
I've been, I been sleepin' for 40 days and
Yeah, I know I'm sleeping 'cause this dream's too amazin'
She got gold doorknobs where her eyes used to be, yeah
One turn and I learned what it really means to see, yeah
Ah, it's the magical mystery kind
Ah, must be a lie
Bye, bye to the too good to be true kind of love
Oh, I could die
Oh, now I can die
Oh, I've been sleepin' for 60 days and
Nobody better pinch me
Bitch, I swear I'll go crazy
She got jumper cable lips
She got sunset on her breath now
I inhaled just a little bit
Now I got no fear of death now
Ah, it's the magical mystery kind
Ah, must be a lie
Bye, bye to the too good to be true kind of love
Oh, I could die
Oh, now I can die
Ah-oh, ah-ah-ah, oh, ah-ah-ah
Yeah (yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, ah-ah-ah, oh, ah-ah-ah
Yeah (yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, ah-ah-ah, oh, ah-ah-ah
Yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah
Ah, it's the magical mystery kind
Ah, must be a lie
Bye, bye to the too good to be true kind of love
Oh, I could die
Oh, now I can die
@Bianca07ism
This band got me out of my depression. They are amazing, every single one of them.
@jamezason
Siz-same. Multiple times at that.
@mariusbrunstad8701
Same ! Where words fail music speaks 🎶
@matthewfenton3558
Every once in awhile you come across a song that you wish you had written because it feels like it was written for you. Thank you!
@matthewfenton3558
Is there a better love song
@sashievideos
Saw them in concert at Sun Fest yesterday. Nearly cried when they performed this song. Nearly cried when he came into audience and danced with us during this song. Such an amazing group <3
@Jo-chilin
Sasha Rangel aw lucky I would love to see them live
@pedrosoares1418
Such a great storie that now will live forever in your memory, because they're not together anymore. You're lucky, girl.
@AussieSwagAdventures
Man that would have been an experience I found them too late but there's a lot of there songs that have a lot of meaning to me introduced by an ex ..... Memories never to forget
@fuckel98
This song has been a staple in my life for 8 years and counting. A magical ride :)