How Do You Sleep?
Sam Smith Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm done hatin' myself for feelin'
I'm done cryin' myself awake
I've gotta leave and start the healin'
But when you move like that, I just wanna stay

What have I become?
Lookin' through your phone, oh, now
Love to you is just a game
Look what I have done
Dialing up the numbers on you
I don't want my heart to break

Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me?
All that shame and all that danger
I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight
Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me?
All that fear and all that pressure
I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight

Tell me, how do you lie?
Lie, lie
Love will keep you up tonight

Oh no, how did I manage to lose me?
I am not this desperate, not this crazy
There's no way I'm stickin' 'round to find out
I won't lose like that, I won't lose myself

Look what I've done now
Dialin' up the numbers on you
I don't want my heart to break

Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me?
All that shame and all that danger
I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight
Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me?
All that fear and all that pressure
I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight

Tell me, how do you lie?
Lie, lie
Love will keep you up tonight
Tell me, how do you lie?
Lie, lie
Love will keep you up tonight

Tell me, how do you lie?
Tell me, how do you lie?
Tell me, how do you lie?
Tell me, how do you lie?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sam Smith's song "How Do You Sleep?" appear to be a reflection on a past relationship that has caused the singer immense emotional pain, but they are struggling to move on from. The opening lines suggest that the singer has been struggling with self-hatred and emotional distress, but they have reached a point where they want to move forward and find healing. However, when they see their former partner, all they want is to stay in the same place.


The next lines reflect on the singer's feelings of betrayal and hurt at the hands of their former partner. They describe looking through their ex's phone and discovering that love to them was just a game. It's clear that the situation has left the singer feeling lost and confused, but they are also determined not to lose themselves in the process. The chorus repeatedly asks how their ex can sleep at night knowing they have lied and caused so much pain, while the singer hopes that their love will keep their ex up at night.


Overall, the lyrics to "How Do You Sleep?" seem to be about the pain of a broken relationship and coming to terms with the fact that some people may not be good for us, even if we love them. It's a message about self-preservation and finding the strength to move on and heal.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm done hatin' myself for feelin'
I have decided to stop being hard on myself for my emotions


I'm done cryin' myself awake
I no longer want to wake up crying because of my pain


I've gotta leave and start the healin'
I know I need to move on and start the process of healing


But when you move like that, I just want to stay
Your movements still have the power to make me stay despite all I've said


What have I become?
I'm reflecting on the changes that have taken place in me because of you


Lookin' through your phone now, oh, now
I'm searching through your phone seeking answers


Love to you is just a game
Your concept of love is nothing more than a game for you


Look what I've done
I have realized the extent of what I've done to myself because of you


Dialing up the numbers on you
I'm repeatedly trying to call you without success


I don't want my heart to break
I'm scared of getting my heart broken by you


Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me?
I'm questioning how you can sleep well at night knowing you're lying to me


All that shame and all that danger
All the guilt and threat caused by your lies


I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight
I hope my love for you will make you feel restless through the night


Oh no, how did I manage to lose me?
I'm wondering how I could have lost my sense of self in this relationship


I am not this desperate, not this crazy
I know this is not my usual state of mind and I'm not going to act in desperation


There's no way I'm stickin' 'round to find out
I'm not going to stay just to see how poorly this is going to end


I won't lose like that, I won't lose myself
I won't allow myself to lose who I really am in this relationship


Yeah, yeah, yeah
Just some filler repetition


Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me? (oh)
I can't fathom how you can sleep soundly knowing you're lying to me


All that fear and all that pressure
All the apprehensions and tension due to your deception


I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight
I hope my love for you will keep you restless tonight


(Tell me how do you)
Asking for an explanation


Love will keep you up tonight
Love can make someone stay up through the night due to restlessness


(Tell me how do you)
Continuing to ask for clarification




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ilya Salmanzadeh, Max Martin, Samuel Frederick Smith, Savan Kotecha

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Wonder

Love the song is a blessing love Sam Smith keep on rising.....❤ From South Africa

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@bowlingww2841

I'm done hatin' myself for feelin'
I'm done cryin' myself awake
I've gotta leave and start the healin'
But when you move like that, I just want to stay
What have I become?
Lookin' through your phone now, oh, now
Love to you is just a game
Look what I've done
Dialing up the numbers on you
I don't want my heart to break
Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me?
All that shame and all that danger
I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight
Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me?
All that fear and all that pressure
I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight
Love will keep you up tonight
(Tell me how do you)
Oh no, how did I manage to lose me?
I am not this desperate, not this crazy
There's no way I'm stickin' 'round to find out
I won't lose like that, I won't lose myself
Look what I've done now
Dialin' up the numbers on you
I don't want my heart to break
Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me?
All that shame and all that danger
I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight
Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me?
All that fear and all that pressure
I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight
Yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Love will keep you up tonight
(Tell me how do you)
Oh
Love will keep you up tonight
Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me?
All that shame and all that danger
I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight
Baby, how do you sleep when you lie to me? (oh)
All that fear and all that pressure
I'm hopin' that my love will keep you up tonight
(Tell me how do you)



All comments from YouTube:

@samsmith

Sailors, which music video of mine inspires you? Sign up to stay updated ⚓ https://bio.to/SamSmithID!CM

@NikBurris

2nd

@missteetee5144

2024❤ here

@just_insane_tv

Tbh it´s this one - How Do You Sleep? ❤

@DeniseWoodward-q2f

Hello Sam!! The first time I heard Love Me More it hit home...low self esteem my entire life and being in my mid-50's I'm still working on myself. Of course I have a few other faves (Not In That Way is big-I would get crushes on people and they'd say they love me....but not in that way.....) I saw you perform with Jessie in Portland Oregon last August and I was so entertained! I've enjoyed your music and watching you become your true authentic self! Thank you!!

@miyanicwerural

❤❤ How do you sleep❤❤ Blessings from Republic of Namibia. Clemans Miyanicwe from Khorixas, Namibia, freelance journalist and LGBTQI+ activist.😊

57 More Replies...

@MyNameFeelsWeird

I've never noticed how Sam gives off so much young Jude Law vibes before

@imagination962

IKR!!!!

@itsb-2708

Omg 😯 yes 🙈

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