Jones began performing in 1997, debuting at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA, but he soon relocated to Nashville. In 2000 he released Nowhere Else But Here followed by an EP, For the Road, in 2003. Released in 2006, Throwing Punches in the Dark was produced by Neilson Hubbard (Glen Phillips, Garrison Star) and met with high critical praise. Jones re-teamed with Hubbard for Swallow the Sea, which was released in 2008. His music has found a home on Film and TV with over 30 placements on shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Bones, One Tree Hill, Pretty Liars & Private Practice.
MPJ has shared the stage with Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, Paula Cole, as well as being a staple feature in the nationally acclaimed "Ten Out of Tenn. Collective" with fellow artists, Katie Herzig, Erin McCarley, Butterfly Boucher, Andrew Belle and others.
Jones released his third full-length record, Land of the Living, on May 29, 2012.
Jones released The Waking Hours in September 2018.
Website https://www.mpjmusic.com/
Sleeping With A Stranger
Matthew Perryman Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Choking on the flames
Of a strange pyre
The ashes of a dream
Feed the fantasy
Locked on the inside
Tangled up in chains
And the crazy lies
Terrified and lame
In silence we escape
[Chorus:]
Oh, kiss my heart awake
We're so far away
I'm sleeping with a stranger
Lonely and tongue-tied,
All is out of place
And the words you hide
Are written on your face
I'm lifting up the lace
[Chorus:]
Oh, kiss my heart awake
We're so far away
I'm sleeping with a stranger
Come back to me
Stop whispering
Have we fallen far too deep?
[Chorus:]
Oh, kiss my heart awake
We're so far away
I'm sleeping with a stranger
Oh, kiss my heart awake
We're so far away
I'm sleeping with a stranger
The lyrics of the song Sleeping With A Stranger is quite emotional and can be interpreted in many ways. The song speaks about being caught in a wildfire and choking on its flames, which can be interpreted as being caught in a negative situation that is overwhelming and suffocating. The line "The ashes of a dream feed the fantasy" could indicate how the singer is holding on to the remnants of a dream or an idealized version of their life to keep their hope and fantasy alive.
The singer also feels trapped and tangled up in chains, which could represent internal struggles or external situations that they feel powerless to change. The line "Lonely and tongue-tied, all is out of place and the words you hide are written on your face, I'm lifting up the lace" could represent a desire for connection and the need to uncover hidden emotions and thoughts to truly understand the person they are with. The chorus "Oh, kiss my heart awake, we're so far away, I'm sleeping with a stranger" could represent the feeling of emotional disconnection and being with a partner who is emotionally distant or no longer the person they once were.
Overall, the song Sleeping With A Stranger is a poignant and heartfelt reflection on the complexities of relationships and the struggles of holding onto a dream as the wake of reality threatens to consume it.
Line by Line Meaning
Caught in a wildfire
Overwhelmed and consumed by a situation that is rapidly and unpredictably spiraling out of control.
Choking on the flames
Suffocating and struggling to continue under the intense pressure and heat of the moment.
Of a strange pyre
Representing a symbolic and unexpected demise or end to something meaningful or valuable.
The ashes of a dream
Remnants and remnants of a hope or wishful scenario that once existed, but have now been destroyed or reduced to nothingness.
Feed the fantasy
Providing support and stimulation to the imagination and creativity, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Locked on the inside
Feeling trapped and restricted by one's own thoughts or emotions.
Tangled up in chains
Being ensnared by past experiences or memories that prevent forward movement or progress.
And the crazy lies
Intense and irrational thoughts or stories that cause confusion, anxiety, or fear.
Terrified and lame
Petrified and unable to move effectively or meaningfully.
In silence we escape
Retreating into oneself to find peace and relief from overwhelming or complex situations.
Lonely and tongue-tied,
Feeling disconnected and unable to express oneself effectively or meaningfully.
All is out of place
Being disoriented or unsure of one's surroundings or place in the world.
And the words you hide
Unspoken and hidden thoughts or feelings that remain unresolved or unaddressed.
Are written on your face
Tangible, yet unspoken and elusive, signs of inner turmoil or distress that are visible to others.
I'm lifting up the lace
Attempting to uncover or reveal what lies beneath the surface, even if it may be uncomfortable or difficult to confront.
Come back to me
A plea for someone or something to return and make things right again.
Stop whispering
An urgent appeal for truth and clarity in communication.
Have we fallen far too deep?
Questioning whether the current state of affairs is beyond repair or recovery.
Oh, kiss my heart awake
Asking for a genuine connection and reviving of emotions and feelings that may have been buried or forgotten.
We're so far away
Feeling distant or disconnected from someone or something that was once dear or important.
I'm sleeping with a stranger
Living with or being close to someone or something that feels unknown or unfamiliar, even if it once felt familiar and intimate.
Writer(s): Matthew Perryman Jones Copyright: Smoldering Wick Music
Contributed by Bella M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.