Members
Richard Manitoba - lead vocals (1973-2008)
Ross "The Boss" Friedman - lead guitars/backing vocals (1973- 2008)
Scott "Top Ten" Kempner - rhythm guitars (1973-2008)
Andy Shernoff - bass (1973-1975, 1976-2008), keyboards/backing vocals (1973-2008)
Stu Boy King - drums (1974-1975; died 2018)
Ritchie Teeter - drums (1976-1980; died 2012)
Mark Mendoza - bass (1976-1977)
Mel Anderson - drums (1979)
Frank Funaro - drums (1995-1998)
J.P. Patterson - drums (1998-2008)
Discography
Go Girl Crazy (1975)
Manifest Destiny (1977)
Bloodbrothers (1978)
Fuck 'Em If They Can't Take a Joke (ROIR, 1981)
The Dictators Live, New York, New York (ROIR, 1998)
D.F.F.D. (2001)
Viva Dictators (2005)
Every Day Is Saturday (2007)
Sleepin' With The TV On
The Dictators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That funny feeling again
Winding me up inside
Every time we touch
Hey, I don′t know
Oh, tell me where to begin
'Cause I never ever
Felt so much
And I can′t recall
Any love at all
Ah baby, this blows 'em all away
It's got what it takes
So tell me why can′t this be love?
Straight from my heart
Oh, tell me why can′t this be love?
I tell myself
Hey, only fools rush in
And only time will tell
If we stand the test of time
All I know
You've got to run to win
And I′ll be damned if I'll get
Hung up on the line
Hey!
No, I can′t recall
Anything at all
Oh, baby this blows them all away
Woo!
It's got what it takes
So tell me why can′t this be love?
You want it straight from the heart
Oh, tell me why can't this be love?
Woo!
It's got what it takes
So tell me why can′t this be love?
Straight from my heart
Oh, tell me why can′t this be love?
Baby why can't this be love
Got to know why can′t this be love?
I wanna know why can't this be love?
The Dictators’ song Sleepin' With The TV On is a love song with a rock and roll twist. The lyrics describe the feelings of the singer when they are around their lover, with the chorus asking why their intense emotions can’t be classified as love. The first verse starts with the singer experiencing a 'funny feeling' inside them, something that comes every time they're near their love interest. The second verse reveals that the singer cannot remember another love experience but feels like their current love surpasses any other they might have had.
The chorus expresses the frustration the singer feels at not being able to label their intense feelings as love. They wish to know why it can’t be love, and they want it straight from the heart. The final verse shows that the singer has reservations about rushing into the relationship, but they still want to try and see if they are going to stand the test of time because, in their mind, one has to run to win. The song concludes with the chorus asking the same question: why can't this be love?
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa, here it comes
The feeling of falling in love is approaching.
That funny feeling again
The feeling of falling in love is amusing.
Winding me up inside
The feeling of falling in love is overwhelming.
Every time we touch
The physical contact between them intensifies the feeling of falling in love.
Hey, I don't know
The singer is uncertain about how to handle this new feeling.
Oh, tell me where to begin
The singer is asking for guidance on how to deal with these emotions.
'Cause I never ever
The singer has never experienced something like this before.
Felt so much
The singer is feeling an intense amount of love.
And I can't recall
The singer cannot remember feeling this much love before.
Any love at all
The singer has never experienced love like this before.
Ah baby, this blows 'em all away
This love surpasses any love the singer has ever experienced before.
It's got what it takes
This love has all the elements needed to make it true and strong.
So tell me why can't this be love?
The singer is questioning why this love cannot be possible.
Straight from my heart
The singer is expressing their love from the bottom of their heart.
I tell myself
The singer is trying to convince themselves of something.
Hey, only fools rush in
The singer knows that rushing into love is a foolish decision.
And only time will tell
Only the passage of time will reveal if this love is true and lasting.
If we stand the test of time
If this love survives the challenges of time, it is true and strong.
All I know
The only thing the singer knows for certain is that love requires effort to succeed.
You've got to run to win
For love to succeed, both parties must put in effort and take risks.
And I'll be damned if I'll get
The singer will not allow themselves to be trapped or held back by their emotions.
Hung up on the line
The singer will not allow themselves to be held back by indecision or uncertainty.
No, I can't recall
The singer still cannot remember feeling this much love before.
Anything at all
The singer has never felt such a strong love before.
Oh, baby this blows them all away
This love surpasses any previous love experiences the singer has had.
Woo!
An exclamation of excitement and enthusiasm.
Got to know why can't this be love?
The singer desperately wants to understand why this love cannot work out.
I wanna know why can't this be love?
The singer wants to understand why this love cannot be successful.
Writer(s): Shernoff
Contributed by Miles B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.