Biography taken from their Bandcamp site.
Daydreams
The Velveteins Lyrics
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Sleepy morning, fall under my skin
Life in a China mall, paradise
In the hand of the [??]
Characters, they wander 'round the halls
I'm back and forth, know we got them all
Drinkin' out, sleepin' in, is all they do
Dreamin' away the sunshine
Wanna take me there
Even on adventuring
I'll just hang around
All [?] on these daydreams
Makin' sure I stay inside this place
Weather's worn, faces they look gray
Well I know I can't stay for much more time
I'm dreamin away the sunshine
Wanna take me there
Even on adventuring
I'll just hang around
All [?] on these daydreams, daydreams
The Velveteins's song Daydreams paints a vivid picture of a weary, sleepy character caught in the mundanity of life in a commercialized world. The opening lines, "Back and forth, it's wearin' me out thin / Sleepy morning, fall under my skin" suggest a sense of exhaustion and monotony. The reference to "Life in a China mall, paradise / In the hand of the [??]" alludes to a consumerist lifestyle that is devoid of genuine pleasure or fulfillment.
The lyrics switch to describing the mundane characters caught in this fabricated paradise, "Characters, they wander 'round the halls / I'm back and forth, know we got them all / Drinkin' out, sleepin' in, is all they do / Dreamin' away the sunshine." The singer longs for an escape from this dull reality and desires to be taken on an adventure, yet ultimately succumbs to mere daydreams as a temporary distraction. The final lines, "Makin' sure I stay inside this place / Weather's worn, faces they look gray / Well I know I can't stay for much more time / I'm dreamin away the sunshine" suggest a resigned acceptance of the current circumstance but also a subtle hint of hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Back and forth, it's wearin' me out thin
The constant movement and change is exhausting
Sleepy morning, fall under my skin
Mornings pass too quickly and leave me longing for more rest
Life in a China mall, paradise
The excitement of exploring a new place brings feelings of joy and wonder
In the hand of the [??]
Unclear meaning, skip
Characters, they wander 'round the halls
People move aimlessly and unpredictably in this busy place
I'm back and forth, know we got them all
I'm constantly on the go, trying to experience everything this place has to offer
Drinkin' out, sleepin' in, is all they do
People here seem to only focus on indulging in pleasures and leisure
Dreamin' away the sunshine
Immersed in thoughts and daydreams, missing out on the actual experiences happening around me
Wanna take me there
I want to be transported to a new place and experience something different
Even on adventuring
Even during exciting and new experiences
I'll just hang around
I'll stay in this current state of daydreaming
All [?] on these daydreams
All my attention is focused on these daydreams and not the reality around me
Making sure I stay inside this place
I'm intentionally choosing to stay in this place and not leave, despite feelings of weariness
Weather's worn, faces they look gray
The environment and people here seem dull and uninviting
Well I know I can't stay for much more time
My time here is limited and coming to an end soon
Wanna take me there
I still long for a new and exciting experience
Even on adventuring
Even during exciting and new experiences
I'll just hang around
I'll stay in this current state of daydreaming
All [?] on these daydreams, daydreams
My attention is solely directed towards these daydreams and that's all I can focus on at the moment
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.