Red Sleeping Beauty
Manic Street Preachers Lyrics


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I've been sound asleep for twenty years
If I'm sound asleep a hundred years
She won't wake me
She won't wake me

I've been sound asleep for twenty years
If I'm sound asleep a thousand years
He won't wake me
He won't wake me

Nothing stirs us, sound asleep, we're sound asleep
Nothing stirs us, sound asleep, we're sound asleep

While there's still a war to win
My red dream is everything
They won't wake me
They won't wake me





Nothing stops us, sound asleep, we're sound asleep
Nothing stops us, sound asleep, we're sound asleep

Overall Meaning

The Manic Street Preachers' song "Red Sleeping Beauty" is a melancholy and introspective reflection on the desire to remain cocooned in one's own dreams despite the passing of time and the conflicts of the world. The lyrics describe a state of long-term somnolence, either literal or metaphorical, in which the singer is completely inert and immune to any external stimuli that might rouse him or her from this state. The repetition of "sound asleep" emphasizes this sense of inertia, despite the passage of years that might otherwise disturb the peace.


It's interesting to note that the singer is not entirely alone in this state of sleep. In the first verse, "she" won't wake him, and in the second verse, "he" won't either. It's unclear who these other figures might be, but they suggest a certain interconnectedness to the singer's world, even in this state of isolation. The refrain, "Nothing stirs us, sound asleep, we're sound asleep," reinforces this sense of complete stillness and insularity.


However, there's a hint of tension in the final verse. The singer acknowledges that there is a "war to win," but still insists that "my red dream is everything." This suggests that the singer is retreating from the larger conflicts of the world into a private, internal world of their own fantasies and desires. The color red could symbolize passion, desire, or bloodshed, further emphasizing the singer's intense investment in this dream world.


Overall, "Red Sleeping Beauty" is a haunting and introspective meditation on the desire to retreat from the world and remain locked in one's own dreams.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been sound asleep for twenty years
I've been disconnected from the world for too long and haven't been able to experience the passage of time.


If I'm sound asleep a hundred years
Even if I remain disconnected from the world for a long time, I won't be disturbed or affected by anything.


She won't wake me
No external force or person can bring me out of my disconnected state and make me face reality.


Nothing stirs us, sound asleep, we're sound asleep
We are in a state of deep slumber and nothing can disturb us or bring us out of it.


While there's still a war to win
Even though there are battles to be fought and problems to be solved in the outside world, I choose to remain disconnected and avoid facing them.


My red dream is everything
My personal ideal or fantasy is all that matters to me and I'm willing to stay disconnected from reality to keep it alive.


They won't wake me
Regardless of the situation or the people involved, I'm determined to remain disconnected and ignore the outside world.


Nothing stops us, sound asleep, we're sound asleep
Our disconnected state is unbreakable and nothing can make us snap out of it and face reality.




Contributed by Audrey K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@pedrogunn9950

Love the original McCarthy version, but the sheer punch of this adaption is undeniable. 👍

@jamesthecat

Wonderful cover, thank you! The acoustic version (from a radio session) is equally good!

@MrMattreed77

Excellent cover of a great song!

@feijaohumanoide

Awesome cover

@jonathanbailey8709

Amazing!!!!

@BhagwantB

one of Jame's favorite tracks growing up

@themanicstreet

спасибо!! :)

@thesoundlikechameleons2082

way better than the original

@thesoundlikechameleons2082

WAY better than the original by McCarthy.

More aggressive. - C

@lauriproductionsincorporat8658

wake up

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