Sleeping Beauty
M.J.K. (A Perfect Circle) Lyrics
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I believe I can cure it all for you, dear
Coax or trick or drive or
Drag the demons from you
Make it right for you sleeping beauty
Truly thought
I can magically heal you
Failing miserably to rescue
Sleeping beauty
Drunk on ego
Truly thought I could make it right
If I kissed you one more time to
Help you face the nightmare
But you're far too poisoned for me
Such a fool to think that I can wake you from your slumber
That I could actually heal you
Sleeping beauty
Poisoned and hopeless
You're far beyond a visible sign of your awakening
Failing miserably to find a way to comfort you
Far beyond a visible sign of your awakening
Hiding from some poisoned memory
Poisoned and hopeless
Sleeping beauty
The lyrics to "Sleeping Beauty" by A Perfect Circle explore the idea of trying to fix someone else's problems and feeling like a failure when you can't. The singer of the song believes that they can "cure it all" for their beloved ("you, dear"), and will do anything to help them, whether it's coaxing, tricking, driving, or dragging out their personal demons to get rid of them. The singer seems to have a god complex ("truly thought I can magically heal you") and believes that they have the power to make everything right for the person they love.
However, they quickly realize that the person they love is far beyond just needing a little bit of coaxing or love to fix things. They are "far beyond a visible sign of [their] awakening," and the singer is "failing miserably" to rescue them. The singer tries to kiss the person one more time to help them confront their nightmares, but realizes that they are "far too poisoned" for them to help. In the end, the singer feels like a "fool" to have ever thought that they could "wake [them] from [their] slumber" or "actually heal [them]."
The final lines of the song repeat the idea that the person the singer loves is "poisoned and hopeless," and that they are hiding from some "poisoned memory." The song delivers a message of the futility of trying to fix someone else's problems without them being willing and able to fix them themselves, and the pain that comes with realizing you can't force someone to change.
Line by Line Meaning
Delusional
Acknowledging that the singer may be out of touch with reality
I believe I can cure it all for you, dear
Expressing the singer's desire to fix the addressee's problems, regardless of their scope or severity
Coax or trick or drive or
Listing various methods the singer is willing to employ to try to help the addressee
Drag the demons from you
Metaphorically removing whatever internal obstacles are preventing the addressee from being happy or healthy
Make it right for you sleeping beauty
Expressing the artist's desire to improve the addressee's life, using an affectionate nickname as a term of endearment
Truly thought
Conveying the singer's belief in the efficacy of their intended actions
I can magically heal you
Using hyperbolic language to express the singer's desire to make things better for the addressee
You're far beyond a visible sign of your awakening
Observing that the addressee is not displaying any obvious signs of improvement or progress
Failing miserably to rescue
Acknowledging that the artist's efforts to help the addressee have thus far been unsuccessful
Drunk on ego
Acknowledging that the artist may be overestimating their own abilities
Truly thought I could make it right
Reinforcing the idea that the singer's intentions are good, even if their execution is flawed
If I kissed you one more time to
Expressing the desire to be physically close to the addressee as a way of providing comfort
Help you face the nightmare
Offering support and encouragement to the addressee in the hope of easing their suffering
But you're far too poisoned for me
Acknowledging that the addressee's problems are too complex or insurmountable for the singer to fix alone
Such a fool to think that I can wake you from your slumber
Admitting that the singer may have been overly optimistic in their expectations of what they could accomplish
That I could actually heal you
Reflecting on the artist's misplaced confidence in their own abilities
Poisoned and hopeless
Describing the addressee's condition in stark terms
You're far beyond a visible sign of your awakening
Repeating the idea that the addressee is not showing any signs of improvement or recovery
Failing miserably to find a way to comfort you
Admitting the singer's inability to alleviate the addressee's distress
Hiding from some poisoned memory
Suggesting that the addressee's problems may be rooted in past traumas or experiences
Sleeping beauty
Employing a tender, affectionate nickname for the addressee
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY HOWERDEL, MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@clarkfloyd2669
Poooooooisoned….and hooooooopelesss…Maynard’s use of the letter ‘o’ in this song is otherworldly.
@donacewatson1437
The word is melodic and entrancing PERFECT SINGER ALONG WITH 💯CHRIS CORNELL
@guitarguy3085
Billy was adams guitar tech while they were on tour.
@Tylerdoesit
There's something about the way that Maynard delivers the vocals in this song that will continually grow on you every time you hear it. This has become one of my favorite songs on the album and that in itself is crazy.
@jasonleone9943
I have always felt this was about his mom. He was young when she passed so he thought there was something he could do, but failed. I think this is him realizing there was nothing he could have done!
@jeremymiller6933
This album, Mer de Noms, is just one of those where you just play it, shut up and listen. It will somehow grow on you a little bit more every time. Even if it's the 1000th time you've listened to it. Whether it be chilling at home, going for a drive a night to clear your head, whatever.
@caleblivernash6056
Read Maynard’s book! Billy was tools guitar tech and he wanted to start his own band originally imagining a feminine vocalist. Maynard heard some of his music and he thought he could sing to it.
@pdog547
It worked out!
@cw2962
Maynard took the idea of a female vocalist when he had Carina Round open for him now she's basically permanent in Puscifer
@mausiwerner
I can’t remember who I saw say it on YouTube a while back, but APC (in terms of vocals at least) really is like a softer, motherly counterpart to TOOL. His voice is really hypnotic and wonderful, hence why it’s been my favorite band hands down since childhood.