Sleepless
Ellen Allien & Apparat Lyrics


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Sleepless on the highway
Rushing through the fields
Translation keeps me wide awake
Tomorrow is not here

Floating in white space
New codes feeling strange
Sky is wide and bright
Daylight burns my eyes





Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sleepless by Ellen Allien & Apparat are a reflection of someone who is feeling restless and unable to sleep. The first two lines suggest a sense of movement, perhaps as if the person is driving or traveling. However, this movement is not bringing them any peace, as they are "sleepless" and unable to find rest. The reference to "translation" in the third line is ambiguous, but could suggest a sense of being lost or displaced, as if the person is struggling to find their place in the world.


The second stanza takes the listener deeper into the person's headspace, as they describe feeling as if they are "floating in white space". This could suggest a feeling of disorientation or detachment from reality. However, they also describe the experience of encountering "new codes" that feel "strange", which could suggest a sense of being on the cusp of discovery or change. The final two lines of the lyrics bring the listener back to a more concrete sense of the world, as the person describes the bright daylight burning their eyes. This juxtaposition between inner and outer perception is a theme that runs throughout the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Sleepless on the highway
Unable to sleep while driving on the road


Rushing through the fields
Travelling fast through the countryside


Translation keeps me wide awake
Trying to decipher a foreign language keeps me alert and unable to sleep


Tomorrow is not here
Preoccupied with the present moment rather than thinking about the future


Floating in white space
Feeling weightless and unattached to any physical surroundings


New codes feeling strange
Feeling unfamiliar and uncomfortable with new systems or ways of thinking


Sky is wide and bright
The sky is expansive and bright


Daylight burns my eyes
Finding it difficult to adjust to bright daylight after being in a dark environment




Contributed by Alice N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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