With a drastic change from the hardcore scene, the Sleeping is now considered to be post-hardcore/Rock/Alternative, and has played with bands such as Fightstar, Halifax, Silverstein, Bayside, Stretch Armstrong, Spitalfield and Haste the Day.
On August 6, 2008 the band announced that after 6 months of auditioning for a new pianist/guitarist to replace Cameron Keym, they had recruited Paul Cadena (Guitar) and Christopher Evans (Keyboards/Synths), the newest members of The Sleeping.
The band proceeded to tour across the East Coast and Midwest US with Envy On The Coast and Secret Lives of the Freemasons.
On February 17, 2009, new album What It Takes was released.
Should Have Let Me Leave
The Sleeping Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i've got devils flooding up to the neck
and i have forgotten how to swim
all of these people keep calling me up who i don't even know
i don't even know myself
it all started when i was a kid
i kept putting trust in my father and receiving nothing
still the same, nothing changed
this just keeps on happening
should have let me leave
should have let me leave this mess
(i can't stop. i can't stop lying)
can i ever come clean?
should have let me leave this mess
none of this was my fault
none of this was my fault
still i'm losing sleep
The lyrics to The Sleeping's song Should Have Let Me Leave describe a person who is struggling with both physical and emotional issues. The person doesn't like their body and is constantly battling inner demons that seem to be overwhelming them. They feel like they are drowning and have forgotten how to swim meaning that they have lost the capability to keep moving forward. They are also getting calls from people they don't even know, which could signify that they are lost in a world that is unfamiliar to them.
The lyrical story takes us back to the person's childhood when they used to trust their father but received nothing in return. The person's relationships haven't lasted and are just like limbs that get severed or cut off. The person hasn't grown or healed since their childhood, and they are in the same situation as before with nothing changing.
The main refrain of the song is "should have let me leave this mess." It implies that the person believes they are trapped in their situation and that things could have been different if someone had allowed them to leave. The person feels like they are lying and wants to come clean. But despite feeling like none of what is happening to them is their fault, they still can't stop losing sleep over their situation.
Line by Line Meaning
i've got a body that i don't want to be living in
I'm feeling uncomfortable in my own body.
i've got devils flooding up to the neck
I feel like I'm being overwhelmed by negative thoughts and emotions.
and i have forgotten how to swim
I feel like I'm drowning and don't know how to get myself out of this situation.
all of these people keep calling me up who i don't even know
I keep getting contacted by people I don't even know, and it's overwhelming me.
i don't even know myself
I'm struggling to understand myself and my own feelings.
it all started when i was a kid
My problems began when I was a child.
i kept putting trust in my father and receiving nothing
I trusted my father, but he didn't meet my expectations and I feel let down.
relationships lasted no longer than limbs
All of my relationships, romantic or otherwise, have failed and it feels like losing a part of myself.
still the same, nothing changed
Despite trying to change my situation, I'm still struggling.
this just keeps on happening
I feel like I'm stuck in a repeating pattern of failure and disappointment.
should have let me leave
I should have been allowed to leave this situation and find something better.
should have let me leave this mess
I wish I could escape this difficult situation and find a fresh start.
(i can't stop. i can't stop lying)
I feel like I'm lying to myself, pretending everything is okay when it's not.
can i ever come clean?
I'm wondering if I ever be able to be honest with myself and others about how I really feel.
none of this was my fault
I'm blaming my current problems on external factors and don't want to take responsibility for them.
still i'm losing sleep
I'm so consumed by my problems that I can't even sleep peacefully.
Contributed by Tyler I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.