The version featured in the original album is nearly nine minutes long and contained some bells ringing at the start, usually unknown to clubbers, who were used to listening to the Monster Remix of the song. It also was ignored by radios due to its explicit lyrics.
Maxi Jazz, the vocalist of the song, sings as an insomniac, attempting to sleep ("I toss and I turn without cease, like a curse, open my eyes and rise like yeast/At least a couple of weeks since I last slept, kept takin' sleepers, but now I keep myself pepped").
This is a very popular subject amongst dance music fans, as use of drugs/stimulants is deeply rooted in club/rave culture, thus making insomnia a common side-effect.
Faithless have also expressed their annoyance at German DJ/producer Sash!, to whom they have addressed accuses of plagiarism, having reused elements of the song for his single "Encore Une Fois".
Insomnia
Faithless Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is when I search for the light
Pick up my pen and start to write
I struggle, I fight dark forces in the clear moonlight
Without fear
Insomnia
I used to worry
Thought I was going mad in a hurry
Getting stressed, making excess mess in darkness
No electricity, something's all over me, greasy
Insomnia, please release me
And let me dream of making mad love to my girl on the heath
Tearing off tights with my teeth
But there's no release, no peace
I toss and turn without cease
Like a curse, open my eyes and rise like yeast
At least a couple of weeks since I last slept, kept taking sleepers
But now I keep myself pepped
Deeper still, that night
I write by candlelight, I find insight
Fundamental movement, huh, so when it's black
This insomniac, take an original tack
Keep the beast in my nature under ceaseless attack
I gets no sleep
I can't get no sleep
I can't get no sleep
I can't get no sleep
I need to sleep, I can't get no sleep
I need to sleep, I can't get no sleep
The song Insomnia by Faithless is essentially about the struggle to find rest when one's mind is racing with thoughts and worries. The opening lines paint a picture of the main character searching for clarity and inspiration in the dark of night, picking up a pen to write but finding themselves battling against their own mind. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "I can't get no sleep," emphasizes the relentless nature of this struggle.
The second verse introduces a sense of desperation, with the character feeling as though they are on the brink of madness due to their lack of rest. They describe feeling as though something is "all over" them, and plead for release from their insomnia so they can find peace and indulge in fantasies of romantic love. However, the chorus reminds us that this release never comes and the character remains trapped in their own thoughts, unable to find the rest they so desperately need.
Overall, Insomnia is a powerful and relatable song that captures the frustration and isolation that can come with sleeplessness. Through its vivid imagery and emotive lyrics, it speaks to a universal human experience while also showcasing Faithless's unique musical style and creativity.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep in the bosom of the gentle night
In the peaceful night, when all is calm and serene,
Is when I search for the light
I seek inspiration and enlightenment,
Pick up my pen and start to write
I take hold of my pen and begin to express myself on paper,
I struggle, I fight dark forces in the clear moonlight
I am faced with the challenge of overcoming negative thoughts and emotions, even in the seemingly pure light of the moon,
Without fear
Despite this, I refuse to be intimidated,
I can't get no sleep
I am plagued by insomnia,
I used to worry
I used to be troubled by my lack of sleep,
Thought I was going mad in a hurry
I feared that my constant sleep deprivation would drive me insane, and sooner rather than later,
Getting stressed, making excess mess in darkness
I became anxious, causing me to act recklessly and make a mess of things, both physically and mentally in the dark of the night,
No electricity, something's all over me, greasy
I am in the dark, full of a greasy, unsettling feeling as though something is afflicting me with no power to combat it effectively,
Insomnia, please release me
I beg for the relief of insomnia's relentless grip on me,
And let me dream of making mad love to my girl on the heath
I wish to escape this torment and instead dream of being with my lover, engaging in wild lovemaking on the open stretch of land,
Tearing off tights with my teeth
Engaging in passionate and impulsive behavior, possibly sexual in nature,
But there's no release, no peace
Unfortunately, I am unable to find any sense of release or peace in my current state intended by my dreams,
I toss and turn without cease
My lack of ability to sleep is so persistent that I twist and turn all night long with no respite,
Like a curse, open my eyes and rise like yeast
It is almost as if I am cursed, as I cannot shake the chronic insomnia that plagues me, rising like yeast,
At least a couple of weeks since I last slept, kept taking sleepers
It has been several weeks since I experienced a good night's sleep, despite my attempts to use sleeping pills to help me rest,
But now I keep myself pepped
I am determined to maintain a positive outlook,
Deeper still, that night
Still deep in the throws of another sleepless night,
I write by candlelight, I find insight
I turn to the warm and calming light provided by candlelight to fuel my writing, with each word bringing me closer to personal enlightenment,
Fundamental movement, huh, so when it's black
My movements are basic and unrefined, occurring naturally when in complete darkness and forced to rely on instincts,
This insomniac, take an original tack
As an insomniac, I must approach each situation and challenge with a new and unique perspective,
Keep the beast in my nature under ceaseless attack
I am constantly at war within myself, fighting to overpower and control the raw and wild parts of my personality so that I may eventually rest easy and find peace within sleep
I gets no sleep
I still am unable to find any rest,
I can't get no sleep
Insomnia continues to trouble me,
I need to sleep, I can't get no sleep
Despite my desperate desire for rest, the persistent insomnia remains undefeated.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Champion Management & Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Maxwell Fraser, Rollo Armstrong, Ayalah Bentovim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maxmustermann6582
A moment of silence for the people who still can't find this
@AdzBeatz
sucks for them
@gorts19782
That ist the perfection.....
@SuviTuuli78
yes
@herrkeks8509
Honestly... You can understand the Lyrics pretty well and if you would google the Lyrics it should pop up rather fast. Still, sucks if you can’t find it.
@SuviTuuli78
Herr Keks ifind if i want;)
@laidbackjack3166
Probably the greatest drop in the history of electronic music.
@ortegaperu8510
Not probably it iS the best no cometition
@xxshannojxx
Yaaaaaaaas
@sudoweedosudoweedo5923
Just want it to be longer!