Haven't Slept In Years
Matthew Good Lyrics

Matthew Good's song "Haven't Slept In Years" is a haunting and introspective piece that delves into themes of self-destruction and the dangers of fame. The lyrics are presented as a dialogue between the singer and an unknown figure, whom they are pleading with to turn them into their "animal" or their "freak." This transformation is seen as a way to gain popularity and success in the public eye – something that the singer seems to crave desperately. The lines "Make me your cannibal/Make me your product and I will make you rich/It's still fashionable, isn't it?" reflect the idea that the music industry tends to view artists as commodities to be marketed and sold, rather than as human beings with feelings and emotions.

The repeated refrain of "Alive, alive, alive/You're dead" is a powerful statement about the inherent contradiction of fame. On the one hand, being in the public eye can make you feel "alive," like you're at the center of the world. But on the other hand, it can also be incredibly isolating and draining, leading to a sense of spiritual death. The lines "All this time it's been killing me/All this time it's been caving in my head/Killing me" suggest that the singer is acutely aware of the toll that fame has taken on them, but they are unable – or perhaps unwilling – to break free from it.

Overall, "Haven't Slept In Years" is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the dark side of the music industry. It shines a light on the emotional and psychological toll that fame can take on artists, and calls into question the very notion of what it means to be successful in the entertainment world.