Wake Me Up
Lee Alexander/Norah Jones Lyrics
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Wake me up when it's done
When he's gone away and taken everything
Wake me up
Wake me up when the skies are clearing
When the water is still
'Cause I will not watch the ships sail away
If it were any other day
This wouldn't get the best of me
But today I'm not so strong
So lay me down with a sad song
And when it stops
Then you know I've been gone too long
But don't shake me awake
Don't bend me or I will break
Find me somewhere between my dreams
With the sun on my face
I will still feel it later on
But for now I'd rather be asleep
The lyrics of Lee Alexander and Norah Jones's "Wake Me Up" convey a sense of yearning for escape from emotional and mental pain caused by heartbreak. The opening lines express the desire to be woken up when the ordeal has ended, suggesting a deep longing to be relieved of the pain of the present. The second stanza describes wanting to be awoken at a time when things seem calm and peaceful, symbolized by clearing skies and calm waters. The singer doesn't want to watch life continue without them, knowing that they need time to heal. The chorus is a plea to be allowed to feel the pain, but not to be tested beyond their limits.
The third stanza is an acknowledgment that on some days, the singer is stronger than others, and today is not one of those days. The lines "Lay me down with a sad song / And when it stops / Then you know I've been gone too long" describe the comfort the singer finds in being allowed to feel their sorrow fully, but the need to stay inside that place should not last forever. The singer recognizes their own fragility, asking not to be forced awake, as they may break under the emotional weight of the world. They instead ask to be found in a place between dreaming and waking, where the sun shines on their face, and they can experience a brief respite from the pain. The closing line "I will still feel it later on / But for now, I'd rather be asleep" gives voice to the truth that the pain will remain, but at that moment, it is too much to bear.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake me up when it's over
I do not want to be present for the end of this. It is too much to bear.
Wake me up when it's done
I do not want to be present during this painful situation. I want to be able to forget it ever happened.
When he's gone away and taken everything
I cannot bear to watch him leave, taking everything important to me.
Wake me up
Please keep me from having to experience this painful situation.
Wake me up when the skies are clearing
Once the storm is over and there is kindness in the world again, then I can face it.
When the water is still
When there is a calmness in things, I will be able to handle it.
'Cause I will not watch the ships sail away
I cannot bear to see the things I care about leave.
So please say you will
Please agree to help me through this situation.
If it were any other day
If I was feeling stronger, this wouldn't have such an effect on me
This wouldn't get the best of me
I would be able to handle this if I were feeling more resilient.
But today I'm not so strong
Today, I am feeling weak and cannot handle this situation.
So lay me down with a sad song
Let me rest with a reminder of how sad this situation is to me.
And when it stops
When the sadness of the song fades away,
Then you know I've been gone too long
It will be clear I have been absent from reality too long if I have not woken up yet.
But don't shake me awake
Please do not be too abrupt with me, as I am fragile right now.
Don't bend me or I will break
Be gentle with me, or I will not be able to handle this situation.
Find me somewhere between my dreams
Help me escape the harsh reality of what is really happening and find a space where my dreams can exist.
With the sun on my face
In a place where there is warmth and light, despite the darkness of the situation.
I will still feel it later on
Despite my attempts to escape, I will have to face the consequences of this situation in the future.
But for now I'd rather be asleep
For now, let me sleep and forget what is happening. I cannot handle it right now.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEE ALEXANDER, NORAH JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind