After that it was easy. Well, not necessarily. The guys had moved on to universities and although they kept in contact by exchanging albums online it was when they came home for Summer break that they decided to form a band. Geography notwithstanding, to say you’re in a band is a lot easier than actually being in one, especially when it requires the ability to play instruments. Most of the guys had only just picked up their instruments for the first time that summer and had little to no experience being in a band. To quote Tear Talk; “We feel like there’s this real sense of endearment in the naivety of what we’re trying to do, this kind of fragility that is lost in most modern pop music, which we feel like we give off due to our lack of ability. In short, ability has become the death of modern pop, and gladly it’s something we’re lacking in.” So that being said, Tear Talk, despite their inability to play shows every week-end or not having completely mastered their instruments, is one of the most “awkward, introverted and melancholic” bands (their words) out there today.
Sleepwalking
Tear Talk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was for protecting oneself.
There was no intention of wounding
someone. I want you to believe.
Please don't see me by your sad eye.
kemuri ni mamireta kazoeuta
kotae o sagashiteta
tsuna ga yurayura hakushu suru hito
kore ga kotae ka? to taiyou ga boku o fumitsuke ga naritateru
tsumabiki basei tousui no butai kao o kakusazu kanaderu
katamuku tenjou kazoeuta
BERUKA to SUTORERUKA
boku wa koko de
ah kagami ni utsutta odoru PIERO ga
anata no namida o kao ni kizamu you ni utau
boku ni noserareta RINGO ga ochiru
koku naru kiri to tsuki o nagame kokyuu o tashikameteita
mou kimi wa nakanaide kanashimi ga tsunoru ame ni
boku wa kasa ni narou
ah kagami o mitsumete odoru PIERO wa
anata no namida o GURASU ni tsumu you ni negau
itsu shika sora ga hareta nara
anata to futari de
The first verse of Tear Talk's song Sleepwalking begins with the lines, “I had hidden the knife into the desk. It was for protecting oneself” revealing the singer's intention of self-defense. However, they clarify that there was no intention of injuring someone and begs the listener to believe them. They plead with the listener by saying, “Please don't see me by your sad eye”. This reveals the guilty conscience that the person is struggling with and the desire for understanding and forgiveness on the listener's part.
The second verse talks about counting songs that are covered in smoke and searching for answers. They then ask themselves where they are going. The verse then talks about the doubt that arises when someone coughs in the chest, and asking if that's the answer. The image of pulling out thorns and playing without hiding the face reveals the struggle of overcoming difficulties in life. The third verse talks about the persona watching a clown dance in the mirror, wishing to engrave on their face the tears that are falling.
Overall, the song seems to be about looking for answers while dealing with issues and asking for understanding and forgiveness. The persona is struggling with the guilt of wanting to protect themselves but fears that they will still be judged harshly by others.
Line by Line Meaning
I had hidden the knife into the desk.
I kept the knife in the desk for safety purposes, not to hurt someone. I want you to trust me.
Counting songs stained with smoke, I looked for the answer.
I seek solace in songs while struggling with smoking addiction and looking for answers.
Where am I heading to?
I'm lost and unsure about my goals and direction in life.
A person coughs and sneezes with tremble spine, asking if this is the answer as the sun looms overhead.
As I witness a sick person coughing and sneezing, I wonder if this is the answer to my confusion while the sun sets the mood.
Without hiding behind a mask, I play the piano with my fingertips.
I use my music to express my deepest feelings and emotions, without hiding behind a facade.
Counting the sloping ceiling, black and streaking, I'm here.
I feel trapped and confined by my environment, and I'm trying to find a way out.
Ah, the clown who dances reflected in the mirror sings, as if engraving your tears on their face.
I imagine a clown singing, wanting to capture the essence of my tears and my pain on their face when I see my reflection in the mirror.
An apple given to me falls to the ground.
I see myself as unworthy of the good things that come my way, as I allow them to fall and waste.
Watching the fog and the moon, confirming my breathing.
I find peace and tranquility in nature, by observing the moon and the fog, while taking deep breaths to calm myself down.
You don't have to cry anymore, let's become an umbrella to protect you from the rain of sadness.
I want to be your support system and shield you from the harsh realities of life and the sadness that it brings.
Ah, the clown who stares at the mirror wishes to put your tears in a glass.
I wish to contain your tears, like putting them in a crystal glass, by reflecting on myself as a clown in the mirror.
When the sky clears, let's be together.
When the storm clears, I want to be with you and share the beauty of the world.
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
treweek11
Excellent stuff…