How Do You Sleep
The Stone Roses Lyrics


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I've seen your severed head at a banquet for the dead
All dressed up for dinner, looked so fine
Your shining silver salver so tastefully powdered
With the finest military quick lime

Now try and picture this, as I gave you a kiss
The apple in your mouth slipped in mine
The orchestra played the sweetest serenade
We laughed as we put away your wine

So raise your glasses, here's a toast to wasted lives
May all their ghost come back to haunt you
And tell you how they died

How do you sleep
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay
How do you feel
When you close your eyes and try and drift away
Does it feel any better now, does it mean any more
When the angel of death comes knock, knocking
And banging at your door

When all the fun was over, I put you on my shoulder
Took you home, away from it all
Shot down and claimed, mounted and framed
Tastefully hung up on my wall

Are my dreams your nightmares
Get off your knees, the party's over
I'm coming home to you

How do you sleep
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay
How do you feel
When you close your eyes and try and drift away
Does it feel any better now, does it mean any more
When the angel of death comes knock, knocking
And banging at your door

How do you sleep
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay
How do you feel
When you close your eyes and try and drift away
Does it feel any better now, does it mean any more
When the angel of death comes knock, knocking
And banging at your door





At your door

Overall Meaning

The Stone Roses's song "How Do You Sleep?" is a dark and eerie track that speaks of someone who has carried out a heinous act against another person. The lyrics describe a banquet for the dead, where the singer had seen the severed head of the person they killed all dressed up for dinner. The image is made even more disturbing by the shining silver salver that is tastefully powdered with the finest military quick lime.


The lyrics go on to describe a surreal scene where the singer gives the severed head a kiss, and the apple in the mouth of the head slips into their own mouth. The orchestra plays a sweet serenade, and they laugh as they put away the wine. The tone of the song is almost jovial, in a macabre sort of way.


As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is speaking directly to the person they killed, asking them how they can sleep at night and keep the dogs at bay. Their dreams are now the nightmares of the person they killed, who is now mounted and framed, tastefully hung upon a wall.


The lyrics of "How Do You Sleep?" are intentionally disturbing, and the eeriness is heightened by Ian Brown's haunting and ethereal voice. The guitar riff, bass line, and drum beat combine to create a haunting melody that perfectly matches the tone of the lyrics. The result is a dark and unsettling track that is sure to stay with the listener long after they have finished listening.


Line by Line Meaning

I've seen your severed head at a banquet for the dead
I have witnessed your decapitated head being displayed at a gathering of deceased individuals.


All dressed up for dinner, looked so fine
Your head was clothed in a manner suitable for dining and appeared visually appealing.


Your shining silver salver so tastefully powdered
The platter upon which your head was presented was beautifully polished and dusted with high-quality military quick lime.


With the finest military quick lime
The lime powder used to adorn your presentation platter was of the highest caliber available from military sources.


Now try and picture this, as I gave you a kiss
Imagine this moment when I gave you a kiss.


The apple in your mouth slipped in mine
Your mouth contained an apple, which transferred to my mouth during our exchange of a kiss.


The orchestra played the sweetest serenade
A band performed a lovely piece of music.


We laughed as we put away your wine
As we drank your wine, we shared a moment of amusement.


So raise your glasses, here's a toast to wasted lives
Let us lift our glasses to commemorate the squandered lives of those who have passed on.


May all their ghost come back to haunt you
Hopefully, the spirits of these departed individuals will return to torment you.


And tell you how they died
These apparitions will recount to you the details surrounding their demise.


How do you sleep
What is your mental state when you rest for the night?


How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay
How do you survive until sunrise while fending off your attackers?


How do you feel
What emotions do you experience?


When you close your eyes and try and drift away
When you attempt to fall asleep, what feelings surface?


Does it feel any better now, does it mean any more
Have the current circumstances improved, and do they hold any additional significance?


When the angel of death comes knock, knocking
When death arrives to claim your existence.


And banging at your door
Death relentlessly and persistently demanding entry into your life.


When all the fun was over, I put you on my shoulder
After the festivities concluded, I carried your head on my shoulder.


Took you home, away from it all
I brought your head to my residence, removed from the crowd.


Shot down and claimed, mounted and framed
Your head was shot and captured, then preserved and displayed for visual appreciation.


Tastefully hung up on my wall
Your head was artfully suspended from my wall for display purposes.


Are my dreams your nightmares
Do my nocturnal imaginings become your own horrors?


Get off your knees, the party's over
Get up from your position of subservience, the celebration has ended.


I'm coming home to you
I will soon return to confront you.


At your door
Outside of your residence.




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN SQUIRE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Muhammad Dicka

I've seen your severed head at a banquet for the dead
All dressed up for dinner, looked so fine
Your shining silver salver so tastefully powdered
With the finest military quick lime
Now try and picture this, as I gave you a kiss
The apple in your mouth slipped in mine
The orchestra played the sweetest serenade
We laughed as we put away your wine
So raise your glasses, here's a toast to wasted lives
May all their ghost come back to haunt you
And tell you how they died
How do you sleep
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay
How do you feel
When you close your eyes and try and drift away
Does it feel any better now, does it mean any more
When the angel of death comes knock, knocking
And banging at your door
When all the fun was over, I put you on my shoulder
Took you home, away from it all
Shot down and claimed, mounted and framed
Tastefully hung up on my wall
Are my dreams your nightmares
Get off your knees, the party's over
I'm coming home to you
How do you sleep
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay
How do you feel
When you close your eyes and try and drift away
Does it feel any better now, does it mean any more
When the angel of death comes knock, knocking
And banging at your door
How do you sleep
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay
How do you feel
When you close your eyes and try and drift away
Does it feel any better now, does it mean any more
When the angel of death comes knock, knocking
And banging at your door
At your door



Ignatius Bisma

I've seen your severed head at a banquet for the dead
All dressed up for dinner, looked so fine
Your shining silver salver so tastefully powdered
With the finest military quick lime
Now try and picture this, as I gave you a kiss
The apple in your mouth slipped in mine
The orchestra played the sweetest serenade
We laughed as we put away your wine
So raise your glasses, here's a toast to wasted lives
May all their ghost come back to haunt you
And tell you how they died
How do you sleep
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay
How do you feel
When you close your eyes and try and drift away
Does it feel any better now, does it mean any more
When the angel of death comes knock, knocking
And banging at your door
When all the fun was over, I put you on my shoulder
Took you home, away from it all
Shot down and claimed, mounted and framed
Tastefully hung up on my wall
Are my dreams your nightmares
Get off your knees, the party's over
I'm coming home to you
How do you sleep
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay
How do you feel
When you close your eyes and try and drift away
Does it feel any better now, does it mean any more
When the angel of death comes knock, knocking
And banging at your door
How do you sleep
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay
How do you feel
When you close your eyes and try and drift away
Does it feel any better now, does it mean any more
When the angel of death comes knock, knocking
And banging at your door
At your door



All comments from YouTube:

Hughes 6705

One of the most underrated stone roses songs!

edmund blackadder coc

Seriously is

Joanna MEY

@edmund blackadder coc yes I agree. I love this song.

shane kennedy

The second coming was slated when released!!! Had too much to live up to the first album!!! But hasn't it proved to be a brilliant album!!! πŸ˜ŽπŸ‘

Nathan Grindon

Yes it has and in my opinion it is standing the test of time more than their first.

Mewt

an amazing album, one of the best of the 90s hands down

Dave Course

I was always one of the minority who thought second coming was better than the first album :o

Jonathan Wright

It's superb.

Fern Moran

The best, apart from the beatles.

3 More Replies...

Chris Horrocks

The greatest band of their generation

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