Sleepwalking
Rafferty Gerry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here in my heart I can hear you callin' maybe I should come back home
I don't know what keeps us together, but I can't break the chain
I don't mind a little stormy weather, but I just can't stand the rain.
Sleepwalkin', deep sleep talkin', reelin' and rockin, wailin' at the moon
Sleepwalkin', deep sleep talkin', reelin' and rockin', wailin' at the moon.
Tellin' yourself there's nothin' new, so whatever gets you through the night
Meanwhile back in the music business the beat goes on and on
I sell my soul to the company man, when there's nothin' else to lean upon.
Sleepwalkin', deep sleep talkin', reelin' and rockin', wailin' at the moon
Sleepwalkin', deep sleep talkin', reelin' and rockin', wailin' at the moon.
People come and people go, friends they disappear
There's only one thing that I want to know, tell me where do we go from here
Everybody's on the make, everybody's tryin' to get ahead
In a world like this you just exist to feed the walkin' dead.
Sleepwalkin', deep sleep talkin', reelin' and rockin', wailin' at the moon
Sleepwalkin', deep sleep talkin', reelin' and rockin', wailin' at the moon.
Lookin' out on a world gone crazy, waitin' for the fun to begin
The race is on yeah they're gettin' ready, Jesus what a state we're in
Meanwhile down in my backyard I'm sittin' doin' solitary
Now that I've milked the sacred cow, I just worry 'bout the military.
Sleepwalkin', deep sleep talkin', reelin' and rockin', wailin' at the moon
Sleepwalkin', deep sleep talkin', reelin' and rockin', wailin' at the moon.
(fade)
Get ready
Get ready
The lyrics to Gerry Rafferty's song Sleepwalking paint a picture of a life without direction, of feeling lost and uncertain in a world that's constantly moving too fast. The singer finds himself out on the street, with nowhere to go in the rain, but he can hear a voice calling out to him from his heart, tempting him to come back home. Despite this, the singer is unsure what keeps him tied to that life, but he knows he can't break away from it. He doesn't mind a bit of stormy weather, but he just can't take the constant rain, symbolizing how the bad times in life are manageable, but the mundane and mediocre can be unbearable.
The chorus of the song, 'Sleepwalkin', deep sleep talkin', reelin' and rockin', wailin' at the moon', denotes the state of mind of the singer. He feels like he’s just sleepwalking through life, without aim or purpose. It evokes a sense of restlessness and detachment from oneself. He’s reeling and rocking, perhaps because he’s stuck in this mindset, without knowing what to do. He’s wailing at the moon, which could be a reference to how people howl at the moon as distress signals or to evoke something beyond their reach.
The second verse indicates that the singer seeks comfort in knowing that others also find themselves in the same predicament. He acknowledges that the world is often a place where people only look out for themselves, but he seeks an anchor in the form of companionship. The music business, working for the company, has cost him his soul to keep himself afloat. In contrast, the company man can be symbolic of greed and the cutthroat nature of the industry, which further deepens his sense of isolation and loneliness.
Overall, Sleepwalking is a song that captures the essence of feeling stuck in one's life, with no clarity or purpose, but the singer feels helpless to change it. The melancholic undertone, combined with Rafferty's unique voice, evokes a feeling of sadness and desperation, yet it is still a beautiful and evocative song.
Line by Line Meaning
Out on the street and the rain is fallin', I got nowhere to go
I am lost and wandering in the rain with no clear direction or destination.
Here in my heart I can hear you callin' maybe I should come back home
I am feeling homesick and considering returning to where I came from.
I don't know what keeps us together, but I can't break the chain
Our relationship is mysterious and unexplainable, but I am unable to resist it.
I don't mind a little stormy weather, but I just can't stand the rain.
I can handle a little bit of chaos, but constant negativity wears on me.
Sleep won't come so you lie there waitin', lookin' at the silvery light
I am struggling to fall asleep and find myself staring at the moon, unable to rest.
Tellin' yourself there's nothin' new, so whatever gets you through the night
I am attempting to convince myself that there is no new information or situation that should be keeping me up at night.
Meanwhile back in the music business the beat goes on and on
Despite my personal struggles, the world continues to move on without pause.
I sell my soul to the company man, when there's nothin' else to lean upon.
When I am feeling hopeless, I am forced to resort to making compromises and sacrifices.
People come and people go, friends they disappear
People are fleeting and friendships don't always last.
There's only one thing that I want to know, tell me where do we go from here
I am looking for guidance on what step to take next.
Everybody's on the make, everybody's tryin' to get ahead
In this competitive world, most individuals are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve success.
In a world like this you just exist to feed the walkin' dead.
In this society, it feels as if we are only going through the motions to provide for those who lack true passion and motivation.
Lookin' out on a world gone crazy, waitin' for the fun to begin
I observe a chaotic and unpredictable world that is in need of enjoyment.
The race is on yeah they're gettin' ready, Jesus what a state we're in
People are constantly in competition and preparing to compete, creating a stressful environment.
Meanwhile down in my backyard I'm sittin' doin' solitary
I find solace in being alone in my personal space.
Now that I've milked the sacred cow, I just worry 'bout the military.
Having accomplished something previously well-regarded, my attention now turns to concerns regarding the military.
Get ready
Prepare yourself for what's to come.
Get ready
There is more to face and you need to brace yourself.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GERRY RAFFERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cubby Rupers
Thank you for making this! Gerry Rafferty is my favorite artist. This songs means a lot and tells the story of how Gerry wanted to produce his own music, rather than let others control him.
William C
"Sleepwalking" might be my favorite Rafferty album. He took his music in new directions with a darkly different sound, but, sadly, critics and the public panned it.
wdharvey11
I agree with you on the "going through the motions" part....I would have loved to have seen him in concert...he was not a "show person", but a composer and lyricist. He knew what he was doing from the beginning to the end.
Steve Smith
Brilliant, as you always are, Gerry. 💓
Stuart R.
Snakes & Ladders is brilliant, I think his ultimate work were the 3 albums City to City, Snakes & Ladders and Night Owl, I think it went downhill from there but those 3 albums are pure perfection for me!!!!
rolf thoryk
The three albums you mentioned are essential, but the more I hear Night Owl, the more I think it's equally as good as City to City. Side two is terrific, and there could easily have been a few more top 40 type hits from it, like Already Gone, Take the Money & Run, and even The Way that you Do It - Carly Simon & Captain & Tenille had hits with that theme. But I'd suggest you give Sleepwalking good repeat listens, since I've been enjoying it for 18 months now, along with the other albums. I could listen to Cat & Mouse and Wise as a
Serpent over & over, and the depth of both is stunning. And The Right Moment should have been covered by many top mature artists. I really enjoy seeing him and his band doing "Don't Give Up On Me", since the 5 band members look like such nice people - so uncommon for more modern musicians. All of Sleepwalking though is terrific, the more you hear it.
David Cook
Check out (if you haven't already) his first solo album "Can I Have My Money Back?" and also the two Stealers Wheel albums "Stealers Wheel" and "Ferguslie Park".
charlieattic
This is from the Sleepwalking album, which is sadly out of print but awesome. I used to have a cassette that I wore out. Dippy video.
MissRowanHood
love it always . Thankytou
Jon Gowan
You’re making it hard for me to sleep.i just keep sleep walking 🚶