Sleepwalking
Ocean Alley Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Static on the Tv
I'm burning cigarettes, oh why
Smoky ceiling
Dirty feeling

Weary eyed
Stylised
I hear you cry
Don't wanna lie, now do ya?

Static on th TV
I'm burning cigarettes, oh why
Smoky ceiling
Dirty feeling

Rainy eyed
Been getting my mood down, oh weary eyed
Lazy eyed
Been helping my thoughts drown, oh weary eyed
Rainy eyed
Been getting my mood down, oh weary eyed
Lazy eyed
Been helping my thoughts drown, oh weary eyed

Static on th TV
I'm burning cigarettes, oh why
Smoky ceiling
Dirty feeling

Weary eyed
Stylised
I hear you cry
Don't wanna lie, now do ya?

Rainy eyed
Been getting my mood down, oh weary eyed
Lazy eyed
Been helping my thoughts drown, oh weary eyed
Rainy eyed
Been getting my mood down, oh weary eyed




Lazy eyed
Been helping my thoughts drown, oh weary eyed

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Ocean Alley's "Sleepwalking" set up a scene of lethargy, detachment and a lack of direction, "Static on the TV", "smoky ceiling", "dirty feeling." These descriptors paint a picture of someone who is going through the motions but not feeling satisfied or happy with their current state of being. The repetition of the line "I'm burning cigarettes, oh why" reinforces the sense of ennui and questions why the singer is doing something that they know is bad for them but are still doing it anyway.


The chorus sees the introduction of the phrase "weary-eyed" which is repeated throughout the song, like a mantra. It conjures up an image of someone who is tired and heavy-lidded, unable to focus or see the world around them clearly. The repetition of the line "Been getting my mood down, oh weary-eyed" along with "lazy-eyed, helping my thoughts drown" suggests a self-awareness that the singer's behavior is contributing to their general malaise, but they cannot seem to break free from it. The repeated lines "I hear you cry, don't wanna lie, now do ya?" seem to be addressed to someone else, as if the singer knows that they are not doing what they should be doing or are not living up to their potential, but they don't want to admit it to others or themselves.


Overall, "Sleepwalking" depicts someone who is stuck in a rut, physically and emotionally drained, and unable to see a clear path forward. The use of sensory language, repetition and introspection all contribute to portraying the sense of stagnation that the singer feels.


Line by Line Meaning

Static on the TV
The singer sees static on the television, which could represent a lack of clarity or confusion.


I'm burning cigarettes, oh why
The singer is smoking and perhaps using it as a coping mechanism for their emotions.


Smoky ceiling
The smoke from the singer's cigarettes has caused the ceiling to become smoky, representing the lingering effects of their actions.


Dirty feeling
The artist has a sense of shame or regret from their actions.


Weary eyed
The artist is tired or worn out from their experiences.


Stylised
The singer is being fake or putting on a facade of looking good, perhaps to hide their true emotions.


I hear you cry
The singer is aware that someone close to them is upset and possibly feels guilty for not being able to help them.


Don't wanna lie, now do ya?
The artist is asking the person if they want to know the truth about something, indicating that there may be something they are hiding or not being honest about.


Rainy eyed
The artist is crying, representing their emotional distress.


Been getting my mood down, oh weary eyed
The artist's low mood has been affecting them for a long time and they are tired of feeling this way.


Lazy eyed
The singer is feeling lazy or unmotivated, perhaps due to their emotional state.


Been helping my thoughts drown, oh weary eyed
The artist is using distractions or substances to avoid confronting their emotions and thoughts, but it is not helping them in the long run.


Rainy eyed
The singer is crying, representing their emotional distress.


Been getting my mood down, oh weary eyed
The singer's low mood has been affecting them for a long time and they are tired of feeling this way.


Lazy eyed
The singer is feeling lazy or unmotivated, perhaps due to their emotional state.


Been helping my thoughts drown, oh weary eyed
The artist is using distractions or substances to avoid confronting their emotions and thoughts, but it is not helping them in the long run.




Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found