Born in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, he attended Loyola High School and McGill University. Roberts formed the band William in 1993. The band's name was changed to Northstar in 1996. Although the band gained some notice in independent rock circles, they couldn't break through to a national audience, and broke up in the late 1990s. Roberts' bandmate George Donoso went on to significant success in indie rock circles with The Dears, but Roberts struggled for several years afterward.
In 2000 Roberts began his solo career by independently releasing his first studio album, Brother Down. The album was largely unsuccessful but the title track would later go on to be re-recorded and re-released on a six-song EP titled The Inhuman Condition. The EP sold slowly at first, but by the summer of 2002 Roberts was all over the Canadian airwaves: his first single "Brother Down" had become one of the biggest Canadian hits of the year, and the follow up single "Don't Walk Away Eileen" quickly followed suit.
Roberts then signed to Universal Music, releasing his full-length debut, We Were Born in a Flame, in 2003. That album's singles, "Where Have All the Good People Gone?", "Hard Road", "Brother Down" and "Don't Walk Away Eileen", became major hits, especially in Canada.
The band's album Chemical City, produced with Joseph Donovan and released on April 11, 2006, got major radio play in Canada after its release, especially the single "The Gate".
The band's latest release, the album Love at the End of the World (May 20, 2008), included the song "Them Kids", which reached #1 on the Canadian indie chart (the R3-30), and also #1 on CFNY's Thursday 30 chart.
The band released the album Collider on May 10, 2011.
No Sleep
Sam Roberts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I haven't slept for a week
And I'm cold
Yeah I'm so cold
She's right
I should do something with my life
But I'm old, I'm old I'm getting old
She said they don't recognize me
Those lips
They're never calling my name
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
Une fille jolie
Passait tout près de moi
Elle arrêtait le temps
Au coin de Sainte-Catherine et Saint-Laurent
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
Elle me regardait
Et elle souriait
Elle m'a fait penser à rien en ce moment
Mais comme le vent elle s'en allait
Et moi j'suis réveillé
Ouais moi j'suis reveillé
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
The lyrics to Sam Roberts's song "No Sleep" convey a sense of exhaustion and restlessness in the singer's life. The opening lines suggest that he hasn't slept in a week, which has left him feeling cold and worn out. The next lines imply that someone, likely a love interest, has suggested that he needs to do something with his life because he's getting old. The repetition of the phrase "I'm old" emphasizes the singer's anxiety about aging and possibly not achieving the things he wants in life.
In the following verses, the singer describes a woman he sees on the street and how she momentarily distracts him from his worries. Her beauty and smile offer a temporary escape from his troubles, but like the wind, she quickly disappears, leaving him with his thoughts once again. The chorus repeats the phrases "It feels so heavy" and "I'm waiting for a Saturday," which could be interpreted as the singer longing for a break from the weight of his anxieties and responsibilities. He feels like he's too young to feel this burdened, and he's waiting for a day when he can enjoy life and let loose.
Overall, "No Sleep" illustrates the struggles of modern-day life and the pressures we put on ourselves to achieve success before we feel like time runs out. The lyrics capture the sense of feeling trapped and weighed down by the demands of the world, but also the desire to break free and find moments of joy and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
No sleep
I haven't been able to sleep at all
I haven't slept for a week
It has been a week since I last slept
And I'm cold
I am feeling physically cold
Yeah I'm so cold
I am extremely cold
She's right
She is correct about me needing to do something with my life
I should do something with my life
I need to find a purpose in my life
But I'm old, I'm old I'm getting old
I feel like I am getting old, despite not actually being old
Those eyes
Her eyes
She said they don't recognize me
She said that her eyes don't recognize me
Those lips
Her lips
They're never calling my name
Her lips have never called my name
It feels so heavy
The weight of my troubles feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
My problems feel very heavy and overwhelming
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I am looking forward to the weekend
And I'm too young to be old
I am still young, but feel old and bored with life
Une fille jolie
A pretty girl (French)
Passait tout près de moi
Walked very close to me (French)
Elle arrêtait le temps
She stopped time (French)
Au coin de Sainte-Catherine et Saint-Laurent
At the corner of Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Laurent (French)
Elle me regardait
She was looking at me (French)
Et elle souriait
And she was smiling (French)
Elle m'a fait penser à rien en ce moment
She made me think of nothing at the moment (French)
Mais comme le vent elle s'en allait
But like the wind, she was gone (French)
Et moi j'suis réveillé
And I am awake (French)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Sam Lewis Roberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Troll Music
Lyrics
No sleep
I haven't slept for a week
And I'm cold
Yeah I'm so cold
She's right
I should do something with my life
But I'm old, I'm old I'm getting old
Those eyes
She said they don't recognize me
Those lips
They're never calling my name
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
Une fille jolie
Passait tout près de moi
Elle arrêtait le temps
Au coin de Sainte-Catherine et Saint-Laurent
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
Elle me regardait
Et elle souriait
Elle m'a fait penser à rien en ce moment
Mais comme le vent elle s'en allait
Et moi j'suis réveillé
Ouais moi j'suis reveillé
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
KogaSoda2
I think this is one of the most beautiful songs i've heard. Thank you " The O.C " <3
Greg M
"Une fille jolie
Passait tout près de moi
Elle arrêtait le temps
Au coin de Sainte-Catherine et Saint-Laurent"
This song is the sound of Montreal! I love it.
Nottodaysatan
preach brother! exact, j'aime la ville de montreal <3 <3
OrionSentry
Yes. Brings back fond memories of Montreal, and the beautiful girls there.
Belinda Tungatt
Such an amazing song! Just saw this band play tonight for free in Peterborough, Ontario for all us lucky souls in attendance, it was pure magic ❤💃 Could have camped out till the sun came up drinking this band in, thanks for the soul food 🙌
Regan Campbell
2019 and still cant get enough of Sam Roberts older albums. Brilliant song writing.
Troll Music
Lyrics
No sleep
I haven't slept for a week
And I'm cold
Yeah I'm so cold
She's right
I should do something with my life
But I'm old, I'm old I'm getting old
Those eyes
She said they don't recognize me
Those lips
They're never calling my name
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
Une fille jolie
Passait tout près de moi
Elle arrêtait le temps
Au coin de Sainte-Catherine et Saint-Laurent
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
Elle me regardait
Et elle souriait
Elle m'a fait penser à rien en ce moment
Mais comme le vent elle s'en allait
Et moi j'suis réveillé
Ouais moi j'suis reveillé
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
It feels so heavy
It feels so heavy, heavy
I'm waiting for a Saturday
I'm waiting for a Saturday
And I'm too young to be old
BWyatt76
One of my favorite Sam Roberts songs.
Morgan Stevenson
BWyatt76 same
brecovers
Played this song a lot in high school when I was tired and depressed. Made me feel better.