Drifting
Mia Stegner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now there's demons to quell and sentiments to sell
To my brain to convince her it's safe to let go
On nights when she seems to believe that she clings to a cliff that would drop her
To some sort of hell
But it's just a pillow - not a cliff just a pillow
I would like to fall asleep
My brain is telling me I'd rather stare into a screen than dream
And though I know it isn't true
I feel I need a clue or two
Have I lost the skill of drifting to my other world in a lovely way?
It used to be so easy (Easy, easy)
I used to be awake for the moment that I fell
It used to be so easy (Easy, easy)
I used to be awake for that moment, alive for the moment
That I fall asleep, now I refuse to count the goddamn sheep
To know that at times I will spend the day waiting for night
To return to the warmth and the stillness, the quiet
The dark should be simple so why is it not?
I'll cry that at times I'm not wise I romanticize lies as I'm lying there too cold, too hot
But it's just a place to close my eyes - it's just a place to close my eyes
Lately I don't give myself to sleep, it takes me
It's a waiting game that I don't play very well, will it break me?
And while I'd love to love dark skies, I despise the rise of how I
(I despise the rise)
Analyze, antagonize, and agonize and alphabetize
(Before the fall)
Visualize, familiarize, fantasize and fictionalize
(Before the fall)
Teach me how to tranquilize, teach me how to catch my thoughts and revise
(Before the fall)
I would like to fall asleep
But I refuse to count the sheep
My brain is telling me I'd rather stare into a screen than dream
And though I know it isn't true
I feel I need a clue or two
Have I lost the skill of drifting to my other world in a lovely way?
It used to be so easy (Easy, easy)
I used to be awake for the moment that I fell
It used to be so easy (Easy, easy)
I used to be awake for that moment, alive for the moment
That I fall asleep, now I refuse to count the goddamn sheep
Why do I refuse?
Why do I refuse?
In "Drifting," Mia Stegner explores the struggle of falling asleep and the mental obstacles that hinder her ability to let go. The lyrics reflect a sense of nostalgia for the ease with which she used to drift off to sleep and the frustration she experiences in the present.
In the first verse, Stegner acknowledges her past proficiency at falling asleep, contrasting it with the current state of her mind. She mentions "demons to quell and sentiments to sell," suggesting that her thoughts and emotions have become obstacles to her peaceful rest. She is trying to convince her brain that it is safe to let go and drift off to sleep, metaphorically comparing her fear to clinging to a cliff that would drop her into hell. However, in reality, it is just a pillow, highlighting the irrationality of her fears.
The second verse delves deeper into the internal struggle she faces. Stegner expresses her desire to fall asleep, but her brain constantly pulls her attention towards screens, preferring to stay awake rather than embracing the realm of dreams. She questions whether she has lost the ability to drift to her "other world" in a lovely way, hinting at a longing for the escape and tranquility that sleep used to provide.
In the second chorus, Stegner repeats the idea that falling asleep used to be easy for her. However, she has now grown resistant to counting sheep and allowing herself to succumb to sleep. It symbolizes her reluctance to surrender to the vulnerability and surrender that sleep entails.
The final verse focuses on Stegner's frustration with the difficulty of finding solace in the darkness of night. She yearns for the return to the warmth, stillness, and quiet that the nighttime used to offer her. However, she also acknowledges her occasional unwise tendency to romanticize lies while lying awake. The darkness of the night becomes a metaphorical place to close her eyes, emphasizing the longing for rest and escapism.
The bridge further demonstrates Stegner's struggle with insomnia. She personifies sleep as something that takes her, implying a lack of control over her ability to fall asleep. She mentions the waiting game that she doesn't play well, suggesting her impatience and frustration. She expresses conflicting emotions, desiring to love the calming darkness of the night sky while despising the rise of anxiety and overactive thoughts. She lists a series of actions related to analyzing, fantasizing, and alphabetizing, indicating her attempts to regain control and find peace before the eventual fall into sleep.
The song concludes with Stegner questioning herself about why she refuses to fall asleep. It implies a sense of self-reflection and introspection, as she contemplates the reasons behind her resistance to embracing the rest she desires.
Overall, "Drifting" explores the internal battle and emotional complexities associated with falling asleep and the yearning for the ease and tranquility that used to accompany it. Stegner's introspective lyrics vividly capture the frustration, nostalgia, and longing that many individuals with insomnia can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
To think that at falling I used to excel
To reflect on how I was once skilled at letting go and surrendering myself to sleep
Now there's demons to quell and sentiments to sell
But now I have inner struggles and emotions to overcome and suppress
To my brain to convince her it's safe to let go
I try to reassure my mind that it's okay to relax and surrender to sleep
On nights when she seems to believe that she clings to a cliff that would drop her
During nights when my mind feels trapped and fearful, as if holding onto a dangerous edge
To some sort of hell
To a dreadful and tormenting place
But it's just a pillow - not a cliff just a pillow
In reality, it's just a soft pillow I'm holding onto, not an actual dangerous precipice
I would like to fall asleep
I desire to drift into slumber
But I refuse to count the sheep
Yet, I resist the idea of counting sheep as a method to induce sleep
My brain is telling me I'd rather stare into a screen than dream
My mind convinces me that distracting myself with a screen is preferable to entering the realm of dreams
And though I know it isn't true
Despite understanding that it is a falsehood
I feel I need a clue or two
I feel lost and crave guidance or hints on how to reconnect with the peaceful world of drifting off
Have I lost the skill of drifting to my other world in a lovely way?
I question whether I have lost the ability to smoothly and beautifully transition into my own dream world
To know that at times I will spend the day waiting for night
To be aware that sometimes I spend the entire day eagerly anticipating the arrival of night
To return to the warmth and the stillness, the quiet
To seek solace and tranquility in the comforting stillness and silence of the night
The dark should be simple so why is it not?
One would expect darkness and sleep to be uncomplicated, but for some reason, it isn't
I'll cry that at times I'm not wise I romanticize lies as I'm lying there too cold, too hot
I lament my occasional lack of wisdom as I find myself idealizing falsehoods while lying in bed, experiencing discomfort from being either too cold or too hot
But it's just a place to close my eyes - it's just a place to close my eyes
Yet, in essence, it is merely a space where I can shut my eyes to rest
Lately I don't give myself to sleep, it takes me
Recently, I haven't willingly embraced sleep; rather, it consumes me
It's a waiting game that I don't play very well, will it break me?
Sleep becomes a challenging waiting game that I struggle to navigate; I wonder if it will overwhelm me completely
And while I'd love to love dark skies, I despise the rise of how I
Although I desire to appreciate the beauty of the night sky, I detest the emergence of
(I despise the rise)
(the arrival of sleep, signified by the rise of darkness)
Analyze, antagonize, and agonize and alphabetize
My tendency to overanalyze, torment myself, and organize my thoughts in alphabetical order
(Before the fall)
(before succumbing to sleep)
Visualize, familiarize, fantasize and fictionalize
Similarly, my inclination to visualize, familiarize myself with thoughts, indulge in fantasies, and create fictitious scenarios
(Before the fall)
(before surrendering to slumber)
Teach me how to tranquilize, teach me how to catch my thoughts and revise
I yearn for guidance on how to calm my mind, capture and modify my thoughts
(Before the fall)
(before succumbing to sleep)
Why do I refuse?
Why do I resist the act of falling asleep?
Why do I refuse?
Why do I resist the act of falling asleep?
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Maya Bode
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind