The band has released five studio albums: "Brave Worlds" (1987), "Submarine Bells" (1990), "Soft Bomb" (1992), "Sunburnt" (1996), "Silver Bullets" (2015) and "Snow Bound" (2018). The compilation "Kaleidoscope World" (1986) collects most of their single releases and EPs between 1980 and 1986.
The band is best known as apart of the Dunedin Sound style of indie pop music, which coalesced around the Auckland-based label Flying Nun Records. The band originally formed with the lineup of Martin Phillips (vocals, guitar), his sister Rachel Phillips (keyboards), Peter Gutteridge (guitar), Jane Dodd (bass) and Alan Haig (drums). By the time the band released their debut single "Rolling Moon" in 1982, the lineup had changed to Martin Phillips, Rachel Phillips, Terry Moore (bass), and Martyn Bull. The band disbanded when Bull died of leukemia in 1983.
After Martin Phillips reformed The Chills in 1984, the band never again had a constant lineup, with the only two members to last for more than two albums being bassist Justin Harwood and keyboardist Andrew Todd, who were both members of the group from 1986 to 1990. Terry Moore also rejoined the band sporadically between 1984 and 1992. The Chills disbanded in 1993, but reformed once more in 1995. Since then the band has sporadically toured and recorded.
Singing in My Sleep
The Chills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A word from the wise for the mindless
Hoping to keep all the silences out of my life
Singing in my sleep
A stinging reproach against violence
Hoping to cope with the pressures of musical life
A leader of people who're guideless
So doing add to collection
The title of blind leading blind leading blind leading
Blind leading blind leading blind
Dangerous rages and amplified airing of anger
Repression of feeling
Preserved for a later date
The search for compassion
And attributes found in those younger
Finding, however, unaccountable harrowing hate
Craving reaction
A hideous terminal hunger
Starving for life in a world with so much on its plate
Singing in my sleep
Songs of such beauty and sadness
Earth's emotions enraptured
But the songs fade away when I wake
The Chills's song "Singing in My Sleep" portrays the struggles of an artist in facing the pressures of life and the music industry. The lyrics talk about how the singer is singing in his sleep to keep the silences out of his life and as a stinging reproach against violence. The artist is trying to cope with the pressures of musical life by changing his values and being a leader of people who are guideless. However, this transformation adds to the collection of blind leading the blind. The artist is also dealing with dangerous rages and the amplification of anger that has been repressed for a later date. The search for compassion and attributes found in those younger is also an aspect of the singer's life, but it is coupled with the realization of unaccountable harrowing hate. Craving reaction is an essential part of an artist's life, but it is also a hideous hunger that is starving for life in a world with so much on its plate. The singer is singing songs of such beauty and sadness in his sleep where he is free from the realities of life. However, the songs fade away when he wakes up, making him confront the harshness of his existence.
The song's lyrics reflect the struggles that Martin Phillipps, who is the lead singer of The Chills, went through. Martin was dealing with mental health issues during the song's creation and was struggling with depression, which reflects the lyrics' melancholic tone. Martin had a complete emotional breakdown during the recording of the song, which is evident in the emotional weight the song carries. The lyrics have been widely accepted by the music community as an excellent representation of an artist's struggle in the music industry. The song has been regarded as one of the greatest songs ever written about the music industry's pressures.
The song was first released in 1987 as a part of The Chills's album "Brave Words." The song has been re-recorded and performed several times by Martin Phillipps, and each time, the song had a unique style and feel to it. The song has been widely covered by various artists, and each one of them has added their unique twist to it. The song has been used in various movies and television shows, making it quite popular among the masses. The song's popularity has only grown over time, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Singing in my sleep
The act of expressing oneself through music while unconscious and vulnerable
A word from the wise for the mindless
Sharing wisdom to those who lack knowledge and understanding
Hoping to keep all the silences out of my life
Yearning for a life without loneliness and quietude
A stinging reproach against violence
Condemning aggression and hostility
Hoping to cope with the pressures of musical life
Wishing to handle the demands of the music industry
Changing my values
Reevaluating personal beliefs and principles
A leader of people who're guideless
Leading those who lack direction
So doing add to collection
Adding to the catalogue of leaders who are blind
The title of blind leading blind leading blind leading, Blind leading blind leading blind
Describing the cycle of misguided leadership
Dangerous rages and amplified airing of anger
Escalating harmful emotions to a potentially harmful level
Repression of feeling
Suppressing emotions and desires
Preserved for a later date
Saved for future expression
The search for compassion
Looking for empathy and kindness
And attributes found in those younger
Seeking qualities and values that are often associated with youth
Finding, however, unaccountable harrowing hate
Revealing the discovery of unexpected and distressing enmity
Craving reaction
Desiring a response or feedback
A hideous terminal hunger
An insatiable and destructive appetite
Starving for life in a world with so much on its plate
Longing for purpose in a seemingly prosperous world
Songs of such beauty and sadness
Melodies with deep, emotional impact
Earth's emotions enraptured
Earth's essence captured within the music
But the songs fade away when I wake
But the music dissipates upon waking, leaving only memories
Writer(s): martin phillipps
Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.