Sleepytime Gorilla Museum formed in 1999 in Oakland, California, United Sta… Read Full Bio ↴Sleepytime Gorilla Museum formed in 1999 in Oakland, California, United States. The band was founded by Nils Frykdahl (guitars, flutes, vocals) and Dan Rathbun (bass, log, trombone, lute, vocals) of the band Idiot Flesh, with Carla Kihlstedt (violins, percussion guitar, autoharp, organ, bulbul, vocals) of Tin Hat Trio, 2 Foot Yard and The Book of Knots, after the three worked together in Charming Hostess. Matthias Bossi (drums, glockenspiel, xylophone, vocals) and Michael Mellender (percussion, assorted melodic instruments, vocals) both joined in 2004. Previous members include percussionist Moe! Staiano, founding drummer David Shamrock, and drummer/manager Frank Grau.

The band tour the U.S. frequently in a renovated vintage Green Tortoise bus, and their live performances have featured puppet shows, pseudo-scientific scholarly presentations, and performances by members of the Butoh group inkBoat. SGM's music has been categorized as anything from avant-prog to art rock to experimental metal to RIO (Rock In Opposition). Many reviewers have remarked that the group is altogether unclassifiable.

The band uses many homemade devices as instruments, such as the viking row-boat and the spring-nail guitar. Rathbun plays a stringed bass instrument of his own construction called The Log which uses piano strings and is perhaps 7 feet long; it is played with two sticks: one in the left hand generally used as a fret, another in the right hand striking the strings. Mellender's percussion instruments consist of restaurant kitchen equipment, trash can lids, and other "found" metal objects, in addition to traditional percussion instruments.

They've announced their imminent end, as their last concerts will be held early April around California. But 2011 will still see a new album, a movie and a live DVD.

Sleepytime
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Lyrics

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Sleepytime
Sleepytime
All you days
All you nights
All you hours numberd
Follow the red line
The black line
The gray line under

Smoking time
TV time
Medicine line
Snack line
Follow the blue line
The green line
The gray line under
Sleepytime
Sleepytime
Spirit is a bone
Bone is a tree
Tree is alive inside of me
Spirit is a bone
Bone is a shape
Shape is a thing
Thing is awake
Spirit is a breath
Breath is a flower
Flower is a tree
Tree is a bomb
Spirit is a bomb
Second is a bomb
Flower is a day
Tree is a year
Bone is a life
Spirit is a bone

Sleepytime
Sleepytime

Overall Meaning

The song Sleepytime by Sleepytime Gorilla Museum speaks of the mundanity of everyday life and how we are constantly following lines and schedules that have been set for us. The first few lines repeat "Sleepytime" over and over again followed by a enumeration of our days, nights, and hours that are numbered. The lyrics suggest that we are constantly following these lines, whether it be a red line, black line, gray line, blue line or green line. Each line represents a certain aspect of our lives, be it smoking, watching TV or even taking medicine. The repetition of these lines under the gray line illustrates how they all merge into one, creating a monotonous and predictable reality.

The chorus, "Spirit is a bone, bone is a tree, tree is alive inside of me" brings a sense of awakening to the listener. The artist suggests that within our mundane routine, we possess an inner life. The use of the metaphor "Spirit is a bone" signifies the presence of the soul within the human body. Moreover, the lyrics suggest that the soul, just like a tree, is alive and growing within us. The last few sentences "Bone is a life, spirit is a bone" brings attention to the interconnectedness of life and how our soul is an essential part of being alive.

Line by Line Meaning

Sleepytime
It's time to sleep

All you days
All of your days

All you nights
All of your nights

All you hours numberd
All of your numbered hours

Follow the red line
Follow the red line wherever it leads you

The black line
Follow the black line wherever it leads you

The gray line under
Follow the gray line beneath you

Smoking time
The time for smoking

TV time
The time for watching TV

Medicine line
The line for taking medicine

Snack line
The line for snacks