His debut album, 'Tal Bachman', was released by Columbia in 1999. Scoring a smash hit with "She's So High", a pop/rock tune that achieved major airplay both in the U.S. and Canada, he earned much critical praise. The aforementioned tune won him a BMI award and he also scored a Juno for being Best New Solo Artist of the year. Bachman's work has also appeared on many mutli-artist collaboration albums over the years.
If You Sleep
Tal Bachman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one's loved with more affection
Soul to soul we've breathed
Oh, I won't let The Fates succeed
Worried hours of contemplation
Whispered bits of conversation
Unaffected orderlies
[Chorus]
And if you sleep, you sleep with God
And if I cry, it's for my heart
Why should I hope to make it through?
'Cause if you sleep, I'll sleep, too
Jagged thorns and pretty petals
Butterflies and stinging nettles
Sunny days and nights of blackness
But where's the joy to cure my sadness?
[Chorus]
Gleaming cars and covered faces
Teary eyes in hallowed places
Grass and granite stone
No one's been more all alone
[Chorus]
The song "If You Sleep" by Tal Bachman is a heart-wrenching tribute to a loved one who has passed away. The lyrics paint a picture of contemplation, grief, and a longing for connection beyond this mortal realm. The first verse sets the stage by describing the departed as a "figure of divine perfection" who was loved "soul to soul" with the singer. The line "Oh, I won't let The Fates succeed" suggests a defiance against the powers of destiny that have taken their loved one away.
The second verse adds more layers to the story, describing the singer's inner turmoil as they navigate a world without their loved one. "Worried hours of contemplation" and "whispered bits of conversation" hint at a struggle to make sense of this loss, while "unaffected orderlies" and "disinfected rooms and hallways" evoke a sense of sterile, clinical emptiness. The chorus brings home the emotional impact of the loss, with the repeated refrain that "if you sleep, I'll sleep too" - a testament to the depth of connection that has been ripped away.
The third verse continues to explore the complexities of grief, juxtaposing "jagged thorns and pretty petals" and "butterflies and stinging nettles" to suggest that even beauty can be painful. The lines "sunny days and nights of blackness" evoke the contrast between moments of joy and the persistent shadow of loss. Finally, the last lines describe the singer's sense of isolation, surrounded by "gleaming cars and covered faces" and "teary eyes in hallowed places". Despite all of this, the chorus gives the singer a glimmer of hope - a sense that even in death, there is a connection that cannot be broken.
Overall, "If You Sleep" is a song that beautifully captures the feeling of loss and the search for meaning in the face of death. Its powerful imagery and heartfelt lyrics make it a moving tribute to those we have loved and lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Figure of divine perfection
Describing the person that the singer loves as a flawless being.
No one's loved with more affection
Expressing that the singer loves this person more than anyone else has ever loved them.
Soul to soul we've breathed
Describing a close and intimate connection between the singer and their loved one.
Oh, I won't let The Fates succeed
Indicating a determination to keep their loved one alive and not let them succumb to fate.
Worried hours of contemplation
Referring to the difficult and anxious moments spent thinking about their loved one's well-being.
Whispered bits of conversation
Describing the hushed conversations held in the hospital or with family members regarding the loved one's condition.
Unaffected orderlies
Noting that, despite the singer's pain and turmoil, hospital staff are unemotional and detached from the situation.
Disinfected rooms and hallways
Alluding to the sterile and colorless environment of a hospital where everything is sanitized to reduce the spread of germs.
[Chorus] And if you sleep, you sleep with God And if I cry, it's for my heart Why should I hope to make it through? 'Cause if you sleep, I'll sleep, too
Expressing the singer's deep love for their loved one and the sentiment that if their loved one dies, they will also die with them as they cannot bear to live without them.
Jagged thorns and pretty petals
Describing the ups and downs of life and the beauty and pain that comes with it.
Butterflies and stinging nettles
More imagery pertaining to nature, referring to the good and bad experiences people go through in life.
Sunny days and nights of blackness
Referencing the good and bad times in life, and highlighting how dark and bleak life can feel during the hard times.
But where's the joy to cure my sadness?
Expressing the singer's difficulty in finding happiness or hope during a difficult period.
Gleaming cars and covered faces
Alluding to the people in the outside world, seemingly unaffected by what the singer is going through.
Teary eyes in hallowed places
Referring to the sadness felt at funerals or other places of mourning.
Grass and granite stone
Referring to the cemetery where the loved one's grave is located.
No one's been more all alone
Describing the profound loneliness felt after someone the singer loved has died, and emphasizing that no one can feel exactly what they're going through.
[Chorus] And if you sleep, you sleep with God And if I cry, it's for my heart Why should I hope to make it through? 'Cause if you sleep, I'll sleep, too
Reiterating the singer's deep love and relationship with their loved one and that they don't think they can live without them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TAL BACHMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@theradracer1847
Figure of divine perfection
No one's loved with more affection
Soul to soul we've breathed
Oh, I won't let The Fates succeed
Worried hours of contemplation
Whispered bits of conversation
Unaffected orderlies
Disinfected rooms and hallways
And if you sleep you sleep with God
And if I cry, it's for my heart
Why should I hope to make it through?
'Cause if you sleep, I'll sleep too
Jagged thorns and pretty petals
Butterflies and stinging nettles
Sunny days and nights of blackness
But where's the joy to cure my sadness?
And if you sleep you sleep with God
And if I cry, it's for my heart
Why should I hope to make it through?
'Cause if you sleep, I'll sleep too
Gleaming cars and covered faces
Teary eyes in hallowed places
Grass and granite stone
No one's been more all alone
And if you sleep you sleep with God
And if I cry, it's for my heart
Why should I hope to make it through?
'Cause if you sleep, I'll sleep too
Why should I hope to make it through?
'Cause if you sleep, I'll sleep too
@heckkaGEE
One of the most beautiful male voices I've ever heard <3
@bizzjoe
+Maigy Vang Maybe you should get out more often?
@bryandelacruz9066
@@bizzjoe don't be that rude, everybody has their own taste in music.
@bizzjoe
Bryan Dela Cruz sorry , I think I was on the beer that night my apologies
@leidygonzalez8620
Ese hombre es perfecto....♥♥♥♥♥
@bryandelacruz9066
@@bizzjoe lol it's good no problem
@peabody2470
I return to this song every time I think of my mom and dad (and vice versa): my mom who passed recently from dementia/pneumonia, and my dad who passed 30 years ago of pancreatic cancer. And also my Father-in-law who recently passed away from lung cancer. The lyrics truly hits home. RIP Love you Mom & Dad, and Dad-in-law.
@KellyK387
Gorgeous man and very underrated talent he deserves more fame than the losers we have singing these days
@EmmyRossumFan94
Tal Bachman needs more fame. He is an artist who has talent and so many people don't know what they're missing.
@WetPooooopie
Agreed