I'm Only Sleeping
Graham "Suggs" McPherson Lyrics

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When I wake up early in the morning
I lift my head, I'm still yawning
When I'm in the middle of a dream
I stay in bed, float up stream (float up stream)

Please don't wake me
No, don't shake me
Leave me where I am

I'm only sleeping

Everybody seems to think I'm lazy
Well, I don't mind, I think they're crazy
Running everywhere at such a speed
Until they find there's no need (there's no need)

Please don't spoil my day
I'm miles away
And after all
I'm only sleeping

Keeping an eye on the world going by my window
You're taking my time
Llying there and staring at the ceiling
Waiting for a sleepy feeling

Please don't spoil my day
I'm miles away
And after all
I'm only sleeping

Keeping an eye on the world going by my window
Taking my time
When I wake up early in the morning
I lift my head, I'm still yawning

When I'm in the middle of a dream
I stay in bed, float up stream (float up stream)

Please don't wake me
No, don't shake me
Leave me where I am
I'm only sleeping

Please don't wake me
No, don't shake me
Leave me where I am
I'm only sleeping

No no no, please don't wake me
No, don't shake me
Leave me where I am
I'm only sleeping

No no no no
No no no no
I'm only sleeping

No no no no
No no no no
I'm only sleeping

No no no no
No no no no
I'm only sleeping

No no no no
No no no no
I'm only sleeping

No no no no

No no no no
I'm only sleeping

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "I'm Only Sleeping" by Graham "Suggs" McPherson reflect the artist's desire to take a break from the busy world around him. He talks about waking up early in the morning and still feeling sleepy, choosing to lay in bed and daydream instead of jumping up to start the day. Suggs asks not to be disturbed by others who see him as lazy but instead enjoys living in his own mind and keeping an eye on the world going by his window. He is taking his time and waiting for that sleepy feeling so he can fully relax and escape into his own thoughts. The refrain "I'm only sleeping" is repeated throughout the song to emphasize the importance of rest and taking a break, even though it may seem like laziness to others.

Line by Line Meaning

When I wake up early in the morning
At the start of the day, when I first get up

I lift my head, I'm still yawning
In a drowsy state, I raise my head from the pillow

When I'm in the middle of a dream
During a state of unconsciousness when my mind is active

I stay in bed, float up stream (float up stream)
I remain lying down, letting my thoughts drift

Please don't wake me
Kindly refrain from arousing me

No, don't shake me
I would prefer you not to wake me up abruptly

Leave me where I am
Let me continue resting in my current position

I'm only sleeping
I am not being lazy, I just need more rest than others

Everybody seems to think I'm lazy
Others view me as unmotivated and sluggish

Well, I don't mind, I think they're crazy
I don't take their opinions to heart, I consider them absurd

Running everywhere at such a speed
Others are moving quickly and frantically

Until they find there's no need (there's no need)
Only to realize that their actions were unnecessary

Please don't spoil my day
I ask that you do not disturb my state of relaxation

I'm miles away
I am mentally detached from my surroundings

And after all
When all is said and done

Keeping an eye on the world going by my window
Observing the activity outside from a distance

You're taking my time
Others are occupying my time without my consent

Lying there and staring at the ceiling
I am stationary, looking upwards while lying flat

Waiting for a sleepy feeling
Hoping for drowsiness to overcome me once again

No no no, please don't wake me
I am pleading with you, asking to be left alone

No no no no
Repeatedly expressing disinterest in being disturbed

I'm only sleeping
Emphasizing that I am simply resting

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, JOHN WINSTON LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES MCCARTNEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@aldhous

14y↑5

This track always amazes me. It's into the second verse at 54secs yet still makes it to almost 4-and-a-half minutes in total!

@adassa1132

12y↑4

I so love this song by Suggs. I saw him on the tv show, Lorraine this morning, and this song came to mind, don't know why. Thank you for uploading this song on here, and it still being available. Fab song.

@pauljohnleadbeater5533

2y↑4

Love ❤️ the emotion suggs puts into his 👋 records he does.

@dominewimbury9644

10y↑7

Truly the two best years for music in my youth, 1995 and 1996. Fabulous days

@pegasus8978

3y↑7

Solid song. Solid cover. Solid Suggs.

@frenchgirluk

10y↑5

Excellent cover of this song. Can play it on repeat now!!

@mahelykuba-ngoma7511

2y↑3

I love this songs it makes me feel relaxed, brings back emotional memories too :)

@ignacioperandres

Uregreat

@Godslove66

13y↑4

I always listen to this song done by Suggs whenever I want to go to sleep, in a good way though.

@gustavogimenez6007

3y↑1

Espectacular. Muy buena la versión im only sleeping, The Beatles.

@modkitty87

13y↑5

Can I just say thank you for this video, July 15th 1999 (Madness Day) was the day that got me and my sister to become Madness fans, I have this on a tape from that day (after Take It Or Leave It) but stopped half way through as the tape had ended. Haven't seen it in full since '99, and seeing that this is from that day makes it even better! Thanks!

@Ingens_Scherz

12y↑4

What amazes me is that you can Ska this classic and it still sounds absolutely great. Others have said it and I'll repeat it: John Lennon would have thought it was cool (especially if he'd lived to hear Madness).

@Fearyourown

John was actually heard in an interview bigging up madness right at the beginning of their career. I believe he made a comment about one step beyond and that he was digging the sound

@SuperCurtiis

13y↑4

i always think of this track when ive gotta get up in the morning

@daypeshmodd

12y↑8

Lennon would've loved it! And so do I !!!!!! BRILLIANT!!!!!

@spainlinked1360

4y↑2

HE WOULD!!

@IanRossall

50w↑1

Lennon did an interview in 1980 and was asked which artist he predicted a bright future for. His answer.....Madness. True story.

@louisefosdick5676

12y↑7

this song reminds me of my mum as we had this for her funeral

@derOssiGuitar

8y↑3

...one of my favourite beatles tracks....done by one of my favourite guys to skank the globe....how good does it actually get?! thx for sharin´!

@19971492

1y↑1

great cover by suggs

@fionaalves9012

9y↑2

Brings back good memories. Great

@eddiecordero2644

3y↑4

2021 do we love it? Yes just like I did as a high school kid 10 years ago

@blodekont5458

10y↑8

Nice cover of a great Beatles song...not a rape, awesome!

@meganstevens502

7y↑3

Lennon wouldn't mind this to much,a good cover😀👍🏼✌🏼️

@spainlinked1360

4y↑1

He would love this

@amh313

Genius song / remix<3

@mike-xt7qi

2y↑1

Definitely my funeral song:0)

@Skadragon41

13y↑2

I'd always wanted to see the full video, now that I have, YAY!!!! :)

@Martin9476

10y↑3

Summer '95. A hot summer in the UK where the heat lasted the whole of July and August.

@richbatty1448

9y↑28

I painted the cupboard for this video with a woodgrain effect,and for nearly the whole video ,the doors are wide open ...ugh

@tarantulagirl

3y↑12

I like the additional Carl and Mike. I though Suggs was an old man in this vid but he was only 34. I forget madness were only pups when they started.

@markcf83

2y↑5

Lord Suggs was barely out of school when he was enrolled into the Madnificent Seven.

@Nayson

2y↑5

Yep. Suggs was maybe 22 by the time Madness had all their biggest hits. He was still a teenager for their first two albums. Incredible when you think about it as they were probably younger than most of the audience at their gigs at the height of their popularity. That just doesn’t happen.

@paulshuttleworth6261

2y↑2

I feel like Suggs has always been mid 40s, even now in his early 60s.

@tarantulagirl

I wish Mike Barson was in my wardrobe!

@TipsyLady42

10y↑1

Eines meiner Lieblinglieder <3 Geniales Video!!
One of my favorite songs<3 Brilliant video!! ;)

@billsf

10y↑1

decent quality vhsrip! Thx for posting!

@senseisam1952

11y↑28

I'm sure that Lennon would have approved of this version.

@kynobba9373

7y↑4

Sam Gillan deffo

@docsavage8640

40w

Surprisingly good

@NETWORK23STUDIOS151

5y↑3

Leave it to Madness to cover an awesome song. The video reflect what happens to me when I take too much Vicodin.

@Buhassanali

9y↑7

i just cant believe its been 20 yeas since i saw this on the chart show! back n the good old days when people acutely had to stay in front of the TV!

@skinhead6974

8y↑1

You have a great. Taste of music

@smithy2402

2y↑2

When I'm In The Middle Of A Dream... I Stay In Bed, AND FLOAT UP STREAM...

@fionaalves9012

9y↑2

Those were the days

@smithy2402

2y↑3

Please Don't Wake Me... No Don't Shake Me... LEAVE ME WHERE I AM...

@johnbartolo2764

8y↑7

what a tune.x

@theking-nz1ut

6y↑13

Great Beatle cover.....👍

@stevemorgan6366

5y↑2

Great taste mate. The King & Madness. ;)

@DjTidy90

2y↑2

Still as good in2022
Oh yes

@ignacioperandres

2y↑1

Bettereven

@ignacioperandres

2y↑1

Bettersure

@melgrant7404

Gorgeous suggs xx

@markcf83

3y↑2

Ah,the learned Lord Suggs of Camden Town.

@derblae52

2y↑1

Pleasant surprise. Thanks for sharing.

@shaukanto6406

2y↑3

💖💖💖💖

@Fearyourown

Gotta love the appearances of the Mighty Mike Barson and Chas Smash in the video just to add some more madness flavour in the mix 😎

@smithy2402

2y↑1

Please Don't Spoil My Day... I'm Miles Away, AND AFTER ALL...

@hornybri

11y↑1

only a pop legend dont you remember the beatles

@NuthatchLover33

14y

I luv him XDDD

@katoness

10y

Sleeping is a great hobbie to have

@katoness

12y↑3

Ha, John Lennon was a big Madness fan and loved One Step Beyond. That must of got Oasis's backs up. Ha!!

@sgtg4600

25w↑1

Nutty to the end

@KevinMcGee

10y↑1

Boss!

@martinmeier935

speciaal voor deze cd kocht ik een philips soundblaster met cd-wekfunctie.. in die goeie tijden.

@MrAurelius77

9y↑6

Why Madness dont make an Obladi Oblada version?

@Fearyourown

Check out No Doubts live version is brilliant with a good old ska sound

@ignacioperandres2698

9y↑1

Binemissimos

@sgtg4600

25w

To be born now and have missed all this and what went before? What would be the point?

@meky1492

13y

Good ....

@neo__corgski216

7y↑5

Is Barso (The keyboard player of madness) in this video?

@gemmapritchard4696

Sam Walker yep, Carl's in that box as well :)

@neo__corgski216

Oh, I didn't actually know Cathal (that's how it's spelt by the way) was in this

@gemmapritchard4696

Sam Walker I wasn't sure at first but thought it sounded and looked like him so googled it, also the dancing reminded me of him.
Yep its either Carl, Cathal or Chas, but I know his real name is Cathal :)

@neo__corgski216

Gemma Pritchard Now I see the video again, the dancing is a giveaway, I don't know how I didn't see it was him

@gemmapritchard4696

Sam Walker Your not the only one Sam, it didn't strike me properly till last night that it was him. Also the way he grins at the camera in this made me think of him at the end of Shut Up for some reason haha.

1 More Replies...

@jasminesmith4659

9y↑1

Im only sleeping

@catherinemcgoldrick2433

5y↑1

This my song it’s me

@jenmctavish7522

11y

google him ) he the man

@petr1cech1

13y↑2

"Chelsea fan"..........

@MrPapilon11

11y↑3

who's john lennon?????

@tonybaum3226

9y↑1

I wonder in this video as got other members of Madness stars to make the video??

@gemmapritchard4696

Tony Baum Barso playing the piano and Carl backing vocals (along with Barso).

@ignacioperandres

2y↑1

UREgreatbac

@martydunlop8068

2y↑1

,o, yes

@JasonBlack66

31w

e did we

@stetay2

12y

no leave lennons songs alone

@quentinreece6812

Has to be the worst thing Suggs has done - just awful

@brent4969

F@#$%^ Beatlz = song ruiner

@soyhan

3y↑1

This is a crime! These people should be sent to jail!!! Suggs sucks!!

@ignacioperandres

YesheisBETTERTHANJAILED

@Fearyourown

So do you apparently

@raymondvaughan6262

29w

Fits madness but really he can't sing at all

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