Japancakes formed in Athens, Georgia in 1996, and since then have garnered … Read Full Bio ↴Japancakes formed in Athens, Georgia in 1996, and since then have garnered national and international attention for their unique and woozy brand of spaced-out instrumental music. The band has never been one to shy away from plumbing the depths nor scaling the upper ethers of melody and beauty. The creation of their singular soundscapes encompasses widely varied approaches: whether they employ a singing-sword pedal steel, a throaty cello, a sparkling wash of precision-aligned synthesizers, or even a well and wisely-placed moment of silence. Japancakes are intent on emerging from their forays into musical space cloaked in pure sound. The music is direct. Whereas the listener might suspect that the absence of vocals would leave some sort of void, Japancakes deftly negate that suspicion by turning that same so-called absence into an unlimited mesh of listener interface; every moment of a Japancakes song is an opportunity for true listener interactivity. In other words, each Japancakes recording invites you INWARD to engage in a dialectic with its own particular cosmos, and furthermore, invites you to project what you please into it.

Japancake's recorded output comprises 7 releases. Engineering on all titles was handled by Athens’ own Andy Baker, and recorded at Athens’ Chase Park Transduction or at Andy Baker’s Bakery studio. The band’s first three efforts were released via the Kindercore imprint: “If I Could See Dallas”(1999), the “Down the Elements” EP(2000), and “The Sleepy Strange” (2001). An “extended EP”, “Belmondo,” was released on the band’s current label, Darla Records, in 2002. 2004 saw the release of “Waking Hours” on the Athens-based WARM Recordings label. Japancakes would realign themselves with Darla Records in 2007 for that year’s back-to-back full-lengths, “Giving Machines”, and a song-by-song interpretation/re-interpretation of My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless.” The band’s highly acclaimed first three records, long out of print, were reissued on Darla in February 2008.

When You Sleep
Japancakes Lyrics

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When I look at you
Oh, but I don′t know what's real
Once in a while
And you make me laugh
And I′ll sleep tomorrow
And it won't be long
Once in a while
Then you take me down

When you walk away

When you say "I do"
Oh, but I don't believe in you
I can′t forget it, ooh
When you sleep tomorrow
And it won′t be long
Once in a while
When you make me smile
And you turn your long blonde hair

When I look at you
Oh, but I don't know what′s real
Once in a while
And you make me laugh
And I'll sleep tomorrow
And it won′t be long
Once in a while

Then you take me down
When you walk away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Japancakes' song "When You Sleep" seem to touch on themes of uncertainty, disillusionment, and the fleeting nature of relationships. The singer expresses confusion and an inability to discern what is genuine or authentic when looking at the person they are addressing. There is a sense of longing for connection, as indicated by the line "And you make me laugh." The mention of sleeping tomorrow suggests a temporary escape or avoidance of confronting the reality of the situation.

However, there is also a sense of disappointment and betrayal in the lyrics. The line "When you say 'I do,' but I don't believe in you" implies a lack of trust or faith in the person's words or commitments. The singer cannot forget the perceived untruth or insincerity, further emphasizing their doubt and skepticism. The repetition of the phrases "once in a while" and "when you make me smile" suggests that these moments of happiness or connection are sporadic or inconsistent, further reinforcing the idea of uncertainty and instability in the relationship.

The concluding lines "Then you take me down when you walk away" convey a sense of vulnerability and the painful aftermath of the person's departure. This could be interpreted as the emotional impact of being let down or hurt by someone who was once close. Overall, the lyrics evoke a complex mix of emotions, exploring the complexities of human relationships and the ambiguities that can arise when trying to understand another person's intentions and feelings.

Line by Line Meaning

When I look at you
Observing you brings about a sense of wonder and curiosity

Oh, but I don′t know what's real
However, I struggle to ascertain what is genuine or true

Once in a while
Occasionally, not frequently

And you make me laugh
You have the ability to evoke genuine laughter within me

And I′ll sleep tomorrow
I will rest and recuperate in the future

And it won't be long
The duration of time will be relatively short

Once in a while
Occasionally, not frequently

Then you take me down
Subsequently, you cause me to feel dejected or disheartened

When you walk away
When you depart from my presence

When you say "I do"
When you express your affirmation or commitment

Oh, but I don't believe in you
However, I find it difficult to have faith or trust in you