Nneka Lucia Egbuna (born 24 December 1980 in Warri, Nigeria) is a German-Ni… Read Full Bio ↴Nneka Lucia Egbuna (born 24 December 1980 in Warri, Nigeria) is a German-Nigerian hip hop/soul singer and songwriter. She sings in both Igbo and English.
After relocating to Hamburg in 2003, Nneka has been working closely with the hip hop beatmaker DJ Farhot. As a young singer she first gained public attention in 2004 while performing as an opening act for dancehall reggae star Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark. After much acclaim, Nneka released her debut EP The Uncomfortable Truth with the music label Yo Mama's Recording Company after which she performed on her first tour with Patrice, playing shows in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
She finished recording her first album in the autumn of 2005. Entitled Victim of Truth. Garnering rave reviews from the media, the UK's Sunday Times later declared it “the year’s most criminally overlooked album”, comparing it favourably to 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'.
In February 2008, she released her second album, No Longer at Ease. The title of the album is taken from a novel of the same name by Chinua Achebe and reflects the lyrical content of the record. Most of the songs are political, talking about the plight of the Niger Delta and the corruption in Nneka’s homeland. “No Longer at Ease” combines the political and the personal in “a winning mix of soul, hip-hop an reggae”. The lead single from it, "Heartbeat", became her first song to break into the German Top 50.
In November 2009, Nneka staged her first concert tour of the United States where she performed shows in New York City, Vienna (Washington DC), Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Furthermore she was a special guest on The Roots Jam session. Her first US release Concrete Jungle was set for 2 February 2010.
Nneka recorded her last album Soul Is Heavy in Nigeria. She also co-founded a charity foundation called the "ROPE foundation" with Genda, Ahmed Nyei from Sierra Leone. She has worked extensively in charity and arts with the foundation in Sierra Leone. Nneka has also worked with Reebok and her track "Shinning" topped global charts in 2013.

Sleep
Nneka Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I must sleep, bring me down to sleep
I must sleep (oh), bring me down to sleep
I must sleep, bring me down to sleep
I must sleep, bring me down to sleep
I must sleep, bring me down to sleep

When my strength is overcome, all my effor come undone
the light of the day, overshadowed, dawns turns dusk

When the chains that were once broken
become an invisible burden for us to carry forever
If the wounds that turn to scars, grow bigger go deeper
you still feel pain would not go away would not wither
When the mirror that was broken is put back together
and then begins to scream your name, your name
When you realize decisions you have made are made
you cannot turn back time, you cannot change your fate
You have killed, you let her suffer
you make the world suffer, you let him down, you let God down
Oh you carry your own cross, and I too, I carry my cross, oh but yet

I must sleep, bring me down to sleep
I must sleep (oh), bring me down to sleep
I must sleep, bring me down to sleep
I must sleep, bring me down to sleep
I must sleep, bring me down to sleep

I must sleep, lay me down to sleep
Free my soul when I lay me down
for I must sleep I am going crazy
I know I hurt you but I must sleep

Them ball, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, ohh
But the sleep so deep, it feel better in the soul And the tears
the fears, the cries, the lies, we stay stuck
Sleep my life away but I don’t wanna wake up
Murderers
Blood of our children, mothers they scream, this ain’t right
Murderers!
Just have to know who’s the real enemy in this fight

Oh you carry your cross, And I too, I carry my cross, oh

I'ma sleep, bring me down to sleep
I'ma sleep, bring me down to sleep
I'ma sleep, bring me down to sleep
I'ma sleep, bring me down to sleep

Free my soul
When I need me down
I'ma sleep

I'ma sleep, bring me down to sleep
I'ma sleep, bring me down to sleep
I'ma sleep, bring me down to sleep
I'ma sleep, bring me down to sleep

Bring me down to sleep

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nneka's song "Sleep" appear to be a plea for rest and an escape from the numerous challenges and difficulties that come with life. The repetition of "I must sleep, bring me down to sleep" at the beginning of each verse reinforces this plea. The lines "When my strength is overcome, all my effort come undone" suggests a feeling of exhaustion and helplessness in the face of life's obstacles. The reference to "chains that were once broken" becoming a burden implies that past traumas can continue to haunt and oppress even after they seemingly have been resolved. The line "if the wounds that turn to scars, grow bigger go deeper, you still feel pain would not go away would not wither" highlights the lingering effects of trauma.

Furthermore, the lyrics touch on themes of regret and the consequences of actions. The lines "When you realize decisions you have made are made, you cannot turn back time, you cannot change your fate, you have killed, you let her suffer, you make the world suffer, you let him down, you let God down" suggest a sense of guilt or remorse over past actions that have caused harm to others. The reference to "him" and "her" implies personal relationships, while "letting God down" suggests a spiritual or religious aspect to the regret.

Overall, the song "Sleep" by Nneka appears to be a powerful reflection on the exhausting and burdensome nature of life, as well as the impact of past traumas and regrettable actions. It speaks to the need for rest and the desire to escape these challenges, while also acknowledging the ongoing consequences of our choices.

Line by Line Meaning

I must sleep, bring me down to sleep
The singer is overwhelmed and needs rest, asking for help to fall asleep.

When my strength is overcome, all my effort come undone
When the singer is too tired to continue, everything they have worked for falls apart.

the light of the day, overshadowed, dawns turns dusk
The brightness of the day fades away into darkness and sadness.

When the chains that were once broken become an invisible burden for us to carry forever
Past trauma and struggles can still weigh us down even when we think we have moved on.

If the wounds that turn to scars, grow bigger go deeper you still feel pain would not go away would not wither
Even with time, some emotional wounds can continue to hurt and affect us deeply.

When the mirror that was broken is put back together and then begins to scream your name, your name
Looking at oneself and confronting past mistakes can be painful and overwhelming.

When you realize decisions you have made are made, you cannot turn back time, you cannot change your fate
Acknowledging past mistakes and accepting their consequences can feel hopeless and difficult.

You have killed, you let her suffer, you make the world suffer, you let him down, you let God down
The artist feels guilty for causing harm to others and disappointing themselves and their faith.

Oh you carry your own cross, and I too, I carry my cross, oh but yet
The artist is aware of the burden they carry in their own life and empathizes with others who also carry their own crosses.

Free my soul when I lay me down, for I must sleep I am going crazy, I know I hurt you but I must sleep
The artist needs rest in order to find peace and let go of their worries and regrets, even if it means hurting someone else.

But the sleep so deep, it feel better in the soul, and the tears the fears, the cries, the lies, we stay stuck sleep my life away but I don’t wanna wake up
Sleeping can feel like a release from pain and sorrow, but it can also be a way of avoiding facing those issues and becoming trapped in a cycle of sleep and wakefulness.

Murderers, blood of our children, mothers they scream, this ain’t right, murderers! Just have to know who’s the real enemy in this fight
The artist addresses the violence and harm caused to innocent lives, and insists on identifying the true source of this conflict.

I'ma sleep, bring me down to sleep
The singer reiterates their need for rest and reassurance.

Free my soul when I lay me down, I'ma sleep
The singer asks for their soul to be released from pain and stress when they sleep.

Bring me down to sleep
The singer repeats their request for help in achieving rest and peace of mind.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FARHAD SAMADZADA, NIOMI MCLEAN-DALEY, NNEKA-LUCIA EGBUNA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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