Near its inception, Sleeping At Last's amateur debut album, Capture, was noticed by Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, who helped expose the music to the major-label world. Soon after, the band signed to Interscope Records and released 2003's Ghosts , their first official full-length album. Two independently-released full-length records followed: 2006's Keep No Score and 2009's Storyboards . In between the writing and recording of albums, the band has established a reputation for a pitch-perfect live show, successfully headlining several U.S. tours and sharing the stage with such artists as Switchfoot, Yellowcard, Something Corporate, Billy Corgan's Zwan, Alanis Morrisette, Lifehouse, and Phantom Planet, just to name a few. The creative process has always been protected, as the band self-produced each record, working with respected mixers such as John Goodmanson and Alan Moulder.
After the departure of drummer Chad O'Neal in 2011, the remaining duo embarked on the ambitious Yearbook project, in which O'Neal and Perdue released three songs on the first of every month in individual EPs. After its completion, all EPs were compiled into an LP and published independently. However, upon the final release of the Yearbook series, Perdue stepped down from the duo, leaving Ryan O'Neal a solo artist under the group's pre-existing moniker.
On December 10, 2012, O'Neal announced his largest project to date: the Atlas series, a three-part project approaching the themes of the origins of the universe and human development. Similar to 2011's Yearbook compilation, each set of new songs would be released as individual EPs until each part's completion, at which time the compilation of songs would be released as an LP. Up to now, 2014's Atlas I and 2019's Atlas II remain as stellar examples of O'Neal's accomplishments as a solo independent artist. Production on Atlas III is in progress, and its first two songs, "Overture III" and "Awake" have been released as singles.
Besides the Atlas series, O'Neal has kept busy with other projects, including three albums of covers commissioned by ABC's "Grey's Anatomy", in which Sleeping At Last has appeared a whopping 77 times. Sleeping At Last also produced the scores for the documentaries Many Beautiful Things (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) and charity:water's The Spring (Original Score). Finally, O'Neal has released multiple singles surrounding significant astronomical events, published as a compilation in 2020 under the title of Astronomy, Vol. 1.
Sleeping At Last has long been a beacon shining brightly on behalf of independent artists. In the ever-changing climate of the music industry, the quest for a successful independent career seems evermore difficult to attain. From his new home in L.A., O'Neal pursues this challenge relentlessly through his commitment to musical integrity in his songwriting, and in this way nurtures a unique and personal relationship with his listeners. He has remained true to the things that brought him to music in the first place: his love of melody and the power of words. His music and lyrics emerge from a place that is honest, raw, and spiritual: Says Ryan, "Our faith is a big part of who we are, but we have always intended our music to be for anyone that cares to listen, no matter who they are or what they believe in. Everyone hears a song in a different light."
In keeping with this, Ryan's lyrics ask every important question that occurs. While he promises no fast, sure answers, he somehow always offers hope as the consistent, overarching theme.
Intermission
Sleeping at Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My mind is full but i can't speak.
Among the dust of the hard-to-reach, i'm stuck
Right here, somewhere between side a and side b.
I could call it compromise
Or just an intermission.
Some kind of consolation prize
I want to turn these tired gears.
I want to feel the follow-through,
Some kind of equilibrium...
Something to set my watch to.
I'm here, somewhere between
Victory and a white flag.
Caught in this purgatory dream, i'm stuck.
But i want to set the record straight,
I want to retrace my every step.
If i could just rewind all the tapes
Then maybe i'd find my loose thread.
Call it a compromise
Or just an intermission.
Some kind of consolation prize,
So close, but never finished.
I want to turn these tired gears.
I want to feel the follow-through,
Some kind of equilibrium...
Something to set my watch to.
The lyrics of Sleeping at Last's song Intermission paint a picture of feeling stuck and lost somewhere between two places. The opening lines set the tone with a paradoxical statement, "I'm so tired but I can't sleep," conveying the sense of feeling drained and restless at the same time. The second line adds to the confusion by expressing a mind that is full but unable to put thoughts into words. These two lines suggest a struggle with finding balance and harmony. The next lines "Among the dust of the hard-to-reach, I'm stuck, right here, somewhere between side A and side B" further emphasize the feeling of being trapped in limbo.
The following lines "I could call it compromise or just an intermission, some kind of consolation prize for the race I never finished" imply a sense of defeat and settling for less than one intended to achieve, acknowledging failure to reach a goal. Despite feeling stuck, the lyrics continue with "I want to turn these tired gears, I want to feel the follow-through, some kind of equilibrium, something to set my watch to." Expressing a longing for progress and follow-through, the singer seemingly prioritizes the need to find balance and consistency again. The lyrics then return to the idea of being stuck in between two places, "I'm here, somewhere between victory and a white flag, caught in this purgatory dream, I'm stuck."
The final lines, "But I want to set the record straight, I want to retrace my every step, if I could just rewind all the tapes, then maybe I'd find my loose thread," signify a desire to go back and make things right, to understand how they got to this point and to learn from past mistakes. It suggests that the singer is searching for a way to move forward with a better sense of direction and purpose, striving for closure and resolution.
Overall, the lyrics of "Intermission" convey a sense of being stuck in between two places, unsure of what to do next, and the desire to find balance, consistency, and closure.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so tired but i can't sleep.
Despite my exhaustion, my mind is too preoccupied to allow me to rest.
My mind is full but i can't speak.
My thoughts are overwhelming, but I cannot articulate them into words.
Among the dust of the hard-to-reach, i'm stuck
I feel trapped and stagnant in the midst of neglected or forgotten responsibilities.
Right here, somewhere between side a and side b.
I feel caught in the middle of two opposing choices or outcomes.
I could call it compromise
I could interpret my current state as a necessary concession.
Or just an intermission.
Or alternatively, as a brief pause in the midst of a larger journey.
Some kind of consolation prize
Perhaps I can perceive this as a small comfort or reward.
For the race i never finished.
Since I never completed my original goal or aspiration.
I want to turn these tired gears.
I desire to reignite my motivation and become productive again.
I want to feel the follow-through,
I desire the satisfaction of completing something I started.
Some kind of equilibrium...
I seek a sense of balance and harmony in my life.
Something to set my watch to.
I want a clear objective or timeline to follow.
I'm here, somewhere between Victory and a white flag.
I find myself stranded between triumph and surrender.
Caught in this purgatory dream, i'm stuck.
I feel incapacitated or paralyzed in my current situation.
But i want to set the record straight,
I desire to clarify any past misunderstandings or mistakes.
I want to retrace my every step.
I wish to thoroughly analyze my past actions and decisions.
If i could just rewind all the tapes
In order to identify where I veered off course and why.
Then maybe i'd find my loose thread.
So that I can fix the issues that led me to this current state of stagnation.
So close, but never finished.
I came close to achieving my goals, but ultimately fell short.
Contributed by Violet P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@leonardogabriel2133
Estoy tan cansada pero no puedo dormir.
Mi mente está llena, pero no puedo hablar.
Entre el polvo de los difíciles de alcanzar, estoy atascado
Aquí, en algún lugar entre el lado a y el lado b.
Podría llamarlo compromiso
O simplemente un intermedio.
Una especie de premio de consolación
Para la carrera nunca he terminado.
Quiero convertir estos engranajes cansados.
Quiero sentir el seguimiento
Algún tipo de equilibrio ...
Algo para poner mi reloj.
Estoy aquí, en algún lugar entre
Victoria y una bandera blanca.
Atrapados en este sueño purgatorio, estoy atascado.
Pero quiero poner el disco en orden
Quiero volver sobre mis pasos.
Si pudiera simplemente rebobinar todas las cintas
Entonces tal vez encontraría mi hilo suelto.
Llámelo como un compromiso
O simplemente un intermedio.
Una especie de premio de consolación
Tan cerca, pero nunca terminado.
Quiero convertir estos engranajes cansados.
Quiero sentir el seguimiento
Algún tipo de equilibrio ...
Algo para poner mi reloj
@Vivisedmori
These kind of songs are the ones you don t share with nobody, you just keep them for you
@liv1334
Sleeping at Last always fills me with these strange, beautiful emotions that I didn't even know existed
@universesgirl
How come you always manage to have the perfect song for the exact situation I'm living in the moment?? That's crazy and magical at the same time!! ❤
@victorbien197
Sleeping at last gives me life.
@adelineharn5530
I'm so thankful for their music I truly saved my life more than once. I don't know what I would do without the beautiful music and the amazing lyrics to go with it.
@shyknee8224
All sleeping at last songs are amazing
@ghazalb8966
I just love getting a notification that you added a new song! <3
@aramaghajanian2761
You guys deserve more credit. Amazing work, truly hope you get more official music videos.
@AdrianaBarron1
This is so so good! How is there not more subscribers!? Very gentle yet powerful vocals...
@chilipepppers2589
"I'm so tired but I can't sleep"
Eu mesmo