The Phantom of Darker Clouds
The Sleeping Lyrics
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Been a lot of loose talking uptown.
Something strange going down.
I grab my coat and make way for the West Coast.
Seems that I've got the whole world on its toes.
Seems that my mess of a head has just witnessed the end.
Seems that I'm vanishing into the air over and over again.
Stop complaining, forgive me for running away.
Call me your phantom of darker clouds.
Present day, Hollywood City.
Done a lot of wandering around this town,
confused footsteps got me down.
I smother the phone, sending signals back to the East Coast.
Seems that I've got the whole world on its toes.
Seems that my mess of a head has just witnessed the end.
Seems that I'm vanishing into the air over and over again.
Stop complaining, forgive me for running away.
I just felt like dying out.
Call me your phantom of darker clouds.
"The Phantom of Darker Clouds" by The Sleeping is a song that discusses the sense of confusion and displacement that the singer feels as they wander between cities. The first verse reveals that the singer is in New York City and is aware of a sense of unease permeating the city. The singer feels like they have witnessed the end of something, and that they are slowly fading away into nothingness. Instead of confronting their fears, the singer decides to run away to the West Coast. They plead for forgiveness from whoever they are leaving behind and embrace the moniker "phantom of darker clouds".
The second verse describes the singer's experience living in Hollywood. They have been "wandering" around the city and the confusion and disorientation has followed them. Instead of dealing with their issues head-on, they attempt to escape their problems by isolating themselves and sending signals back to the East Coast. This verse emphasizes the singer's need to run from their problems, even though they know it won't solve anything. The final refrain repeats the singer's request for forgiveness, suggesting that they feel guilty about their actions, but are unsure how to resolve their problems.
Overall, "The Phantom of Darker Clouds" is a song that deals with themes of confusion, displacement and anxiety. The lyrics reflect the singer's desire to escape their problems and the fear of confronting their inner demons head-on. The use of the metaphor of a phantom highlights the sense of isolation and disconnection that the singer experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold, erie night… New York City.
The setting is a cold and eerie night in New York City.
Been a lot of loose talking uptown.
There has been a lot of gossip and rumors in the city.
Something strange going down.
There is something unusual or suspicious happening.
I grab my coat and make way for the West Coast.
The artist decides to leave New York and head to the West Coast.
Seems that I've got the whole world on its toes.
The artist feels like they are causing a stir or making an impact.
Seems that my mess of a head has just witnessed the end.
The singer feels overwhelmed and like their world is falling apart.
Seems that I'm vanishing into the air over and over again.
The singer feels like they are disappearing or becoming invisible.
Stop complaining, forgive me for running away.
The artist is asking for forgiveness for leaving and doesn't want to hear any complaints.
I just felt like dying out.
The artist is expressing their desire to escape or give up.
Call me your phantom of darker clouds.
The artist is identifying themselves as a mysterious and elusive figure.
Present day, Hollywood City.
The setting shifts to present day in Hollywood.
Done a lot of wandering around this town, confused footsteps got me down.
The artist has been lost and uncertain in Hollywood.
I smother the phone, sending signals back to the East Coast.
The singer is disconnecting and trying to communicate from a distance.
Seems that I've got the whole world on its toes.
The singer still feels like they are causing a stir or having an impact.
Seems that my mess of a head has just witnessed the end.
The singer continues to feel overwhelmed and like their world is falling apart.
Seems that I'm vanishing into the air over and over again.
The artist still feels like they are disappearing or becoming invisible.
Stop complaining, forgive me for running away.
The artist repeats the request for forgiveness and doesn't want to hear any complaints.
I just felt like dying out.
The singer continues to express their desire to escape or give up.
Call me your phantom of darker clouds.
The singer repeats their identification as a mysterious and elusive figure.
Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.