Sleeping Sun
Nightwish Lyrics
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Once upon a century
Wistful oceans calm and red
Ardent caresses laid to rest
For my dreams I hold my life
For wishes I behold my night
The truth at the end of time
Losing faith makes a crime
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
Sorrow has a human heart
From my god it will depart
I'd sail before a thousand moons
Never finding where to go
Two hundred twenty-two days of light
Will be desired by a night
A moment for the poet's play
Until there's nothing left to say
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
The lyrics of Nightwish’s song “Sleeping Sun” draw inspiration from the beauty and melancholy of nature. The opening lines, “The sun is sleeping quietly, once upon a century, wistful oceans calm and red, ardent caresses laid to rest”, paint a picture of a serene dusk with the sun setting, the ocean turning red, and the wind dying down. The melancholic tone of the lyrics is evident as the singer expresses his desire to go down with the sun, “Oh how I wish to go down with the sun, sleeping, weeping, with you”. The use of the word “weeping” at the end of this line suggests that the singer is not only peaceful in his acceptance of the end of the day but also sad about it.
The singer goes on to express his hopes and dreams. He wishes for the night-time to be prolonged and for the darkness to engulf him. The lyrics, “For my dreams I hold my life, for wishes I behold my night, the truth at the end of time, losing faith makes a crime” suggest that he is willing to lose his faith in order to achieve his desires. The idea that losing faith is a crime conveys that the singer sees his wishes and dreams as sacred.
The last part of the song has the singer recognizing the impermanence of everything. The use of the phrase “A moment for the poet’s play, until there’s nothing left to say” suggests that everything in life is performative and fleeting, and that eventually, everything comes to an end.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun is sleeping quietly
The sun has set, and it is now nighttime
Once upon a century
A long time ago
Wistful oceans calm and red
The sea is peaceful and has a red tint, perhaps because of the sunset
Ardent caresses laid to rest
Passionate moments are over and in the past
For my dreams I hold my life
Dreams are important to me, they give my life purpose and meaning
For wishes I behold my night
I use my wishes to make the most of my nights
The truth at the end of time
The final conclusion of our journey through life
Losing faith makes a crime
Losing faith is a regrettable thing to do
I wish for this night-time
I hope this night never ends
To last for a lifetime
I wish this happiness could last forever
The darkness around me
The world outside is dark and peaceful
Shores of a solar sea
The sun has set and left the sky looking like a calm sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
I wish to enjoy the end of the day and the nighttime with someone special
Sleeping
Peaceful and restful sleep
Weeping
Tears of joy or sadness, related to the emotions of the moment
With you
Someone special to share the moment with
Sorrow has a human heart
Humans are capable of feeling great sadness
From my god it will depart
Praying for relief from sorrow
I'd sail before a thousand moons
I would travel the world for a long time
Never finding where to go
Despite my travels, I may never find my true destination
Two hundred twenty-two days of light
The longest day of the year
Will be desired by a night
I wish for this long day to never end
A moment for the poet's play
A time of inspiration for writing and creativity
Until there's nothing left to say
Until inspiration and creativity run out
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@I_like_lasang
(Lyrics)
The sun is sleeping quietly once upon a century
Wistful oceans calm and red
Ardent caresses laid to rest
For my dreams I hold my life
For wishes I behold my night
The truth at the end of time
Losing faith makes a crime
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
Sorrow has a human heart
From my god it will depart
I'd sail before a thousand moons
Never finding where to go
Two hundred twenty-two days of light
Will be desired by a night
A moment for the poet's play
Until there's nothing left to say
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
@justdance1234y2014
Lyric here:
The sun is sleeping quietly
Once upon a century
Wistful oceans calm and red
Ardent caresses laid to rest
For my dreams I hold my life
For wishes I behold my night
The truth at the end of time
Losing faith makes a crime
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
Sorrow has a human heart
From my god it will depart
I'd sail before a thousand moons
Never finding where to go
Two hundred twenty-two days of light
Will be desired by a night
A moment for the poet's play
Until there's nothing left to say
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
@EthanHarket
This is not just a song, it's a portal that takes our back in time to teenage years.
@jensstergaard2073
I do think I know what you words are about, but to me, it is The Meaning of All Times in Life, no matter Age. ( I am nearly 75 ! )
@insylum
I remember being homeless and going to the library on their computers and just sitting there listening to this with tears in my eyes
@kim_rain
Really it is. In these years I felt everything deeply and this song touched my soul. Now I am listening but I just feel nostalgia 😢
@Endru85x
This song reminds me of rock and metal buddies from school. We used to be a bunch of people doing ton of stuff, now we are scattered all over the world busy with everday routines and some has left this world. This music helps me keep memories of those people and moments we shared back then @@kim_rain
@mrator
Tarja!!! Nightwish is Tarja!!!
@smeten101
I cry when I listen to this song. Best Era of Nightwish.
@ladislavstefek5399
I heard this song for the first time in 2005. It completely fascinated me and it still fascinates me today. Tarja and Nightwish became my band of choice. I still listen to Tarja and Nigthwish today. I'm just very sorry I didn't have time to visit their concert with Tarja and Marko Hietala. I am 73 years old and in December I was at the Nigtwish concert in Prague. At least I got my wish that way.
@flemmingfisker3847
For the first time listening to Nigtwish (2023), I'm still stunned by the lyrics, voice, music, expression, simply just amazing, never before have I heard something like this ❤
Wish I had heard it a decade ago.
@XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXZ
@@flemmingfisker3847 @flemmingfisker3847 The Kinslayer, End of all hope, astral romance, ghost love score... Songs you MUST listen to. The golden age of nightwish was definietly with tarja.