i can't sleep
Peter McPoland Lyrics


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Remember when you scraped your knees?
Crying, "Momma hold me once more, please"
And out she′d run and she'd dry your eyes
Saying, "It′s okay baby now rockabye"

Oh, sing to me again
Oh mom, I'm tired and I can't sleep
Oh, sing to me again
Oh mom, I′m tired and I can′t sleep

You miss the songs in your dad's old car
The first time you heard it and watched the stars
When the nights were cold and your light up shoes would
Stomp on the pavement and twinkle blue

Read to me again
Oh, dad, I′m tired and I can't sleep
Oh, read to me again
Oh, dad, I′m tired and I can't sleep

Thank you, thank you
You′re welcome, waited a long time for that
Happy birthday, Peter
Thanks
Aw, look at that love

Remember when the pictures aged
When the clock kept ticking and the band kept playing
Now the nights are cold and I dry my eyes
I sing, "It's okay baby, rockabye"

Well, read to me again
Oh, dad, I'm tired and I can′t sleep




Well, sing to me again
Oh, mom, I′m tired and I can't sleep

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Peter McPoland's "I Can't Sleep" explore the idea of seeking comfort and solace in childhood memories and the relationships between children and their parents. The first stanza of the song is reminiscing about a time when the singer was younger and would cry out to their mother when they were hurt. She would come to comfort them and rock them to sleep with a lullaby. The singer then asks their mother to sing once again in hopes that the lullaby might help them sleep now as an adult.


The second stanza of the song explores the relationship between a father and a child. The singer recalls memories of being driven around at night by their dad and looking up at the stars. Even when the nights would get cold, their light-up shoes would stomp on the pavement and twinkle blue. The singer then asks their father to read to them once again in hopes that it might help them sleep now.


The last stanza of the song ties all of these childhood memories together, acknowledging that time has passed and things have changed. Even though the pictures may have aged and the clock may keep ticking, the singer is still seeking comfort and solace from their parents. The final lines of the song are a request for them to read and sing once again, showing that even as adults, we still crave the nurturing and love we received as children.


Line by Line Meaning

Remember when you scraped your knees?
Recall the time when you hurt yourself and cried out for comfort


Crying, "Momma hold me once more, please"
You felt vulnerable and reached out for your mother's embrace


And out she′d run and she'd dry your eyes
Your mother was always there for you, providing emotional support


Saying, "It′s okay baby now rockabye"
She reassured you with soothing words and gentleness


Oh, sing to me again
You long for the comfort of song and hearing a familiar voice


You miss the songs in your dad's old car
You feel nostalgia for the times spent with your father on car rides


The first time you heard it and watched the stars
A specific moment in time was imprinted in your memory forever


When the nights were cold and your light up shoes would
You recall a specific clothing item from your childhood that held significance for you


Stomp on the pavement and twinkle blue
You remember the childlike joy of making light-up shoes flash on the sidewalk


Read to me again
You want your father to read to you like he used to


Thank you, thank you
You express gratitude for something meaningful


You′re welcome, waited a long time for that
The person responding is gracious and acknowledges your gratitude


Happy birthday, Peter
A person is wishing you a happy birthday


Thanks
You express appreciation for a positive gesture


Aw, look at that love
Someone is touched by a display of affection or kindness


Remember when the pictures aged
You recall a time when photos were physical objects that would change over time


When the clock kept ticking and the band kept playing
Time passed but the pleasant memories remained


Now the nights are cold and I dry my eyes
You are experiencing a difficult time now that you miss the comfort of the past


I sing, "It's okay baby, rockabye"
You meditate on the idea of being comforted with soothing words


Well, read to me again
You desire to be comforted by the storytelling of your father once more


Well, sing to me again
You desire to be comforted by the singing voice of your mother once more




Contributed by Max T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@sarahlinkletter6309

This guy is captures human emotion so effortlessly. I love him.

@The-Sniper1980

You must have a hearing problem.....whiney,flat and SO out of tune!!!!!

@Ausssss999

@@The-Sniper1980 get tf out LOL karen

@katherinewardell

anyone else notice the switch from “peter’s room records” to “Columbia records”

@smeamchin

YES so proud </3

@francescamills6342

yeessss

@happystix

Thank golly, waiting on a full album... Peter Mcpoland has a great sound. Looking forward to seeing what he produces in the future!

@itsss_isabelle

can we all just agree that peter is one of the only people keeping us going rn </3

@sarah-fd7fz

yep </3

@reenaxaneer

Yoii kak <3

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