Eat You Sleeping
The Wallflowers Lyrics
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Beneath my sleeping bag my heart sits in the dirt
They'll eat you sleeping
But in my pillowcase I've got you hummingbird
They'll eat you sleeping
I never should have bet my life when you only bet your sex appeal
They'll eat you sleeping
They'll eat you sleeping
You said that we were gonna take this train alive
They'll eat you sleeping
You as the engineer, me your concubine
They'll eat you sleeping
Now no one's living in my dreams
Only phantoms wanna be with me
They'll eat you sleeping
They'll eat you sleeping
They'll eat you sleeping
I let you supervise and you made me destroyed
I made you qualified, you made me whipping boy
The ones you shouldn't want are the ones you want more
I let you look inside and you butchered right through
A little truth in every lie helps it go down smooth
They'll eat you sleeping
In this asylum of fear she knew no devil that could keep us here
This hummingbird I took her word, my only souvenir
Oh but they'll just eat you sleeping
Oh they'll eat you sleeping
The ones you trust, eat you sleeping
Honest they'll just... eat you sleeping
The lyrics of The Wallflowers' song "Eat You Sleeping" speak of betrayal, fear, and loss. The singer sings of his heart being buried in the dirt while he lies in his sleeping bag, vulnerable to those who would try to harm him. He finds comfort in the thought of his lover being with him in the form of a hummingbird, safe in his pillowcase. However, the fear of being eaten sleeping is overwhelming, and the singer expresses how those closest to us can be the ones who betray us the most. He trusted his lover to take him on a journey, but instead, she treated him like a "whipping boy" and destroyed him. The song ends with the realization that the ones we trust the most can be the ones who eat us sleeping.
The imagery used in the lyrics is haunting, with lines like "heart wears the body and the body wears shirts". The singer's use of a sleeping bag as protection indicates a sense of homelessness and insecurity, and the reference to an asylum of fear creates a sense of claustrophobia and desperation. The hummingbird in the pillowcase is a symbol of hope and resilience, but ultimately, it is not enough to protect the singer from those who would eat him sleeping.
Overall, the song speaks to the dangers of trust and vulnerability, and how the people we rely on can be the ones who ultimately hurt us the most. It is a cautionary tale against blindly trusting others and a powerful reminder to stay vigilant and protect oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Heart wears the body and the body wears shirts
The soul dominates the physical form, which merely serves as a covering.
Beneath my sleeping bag my heart sits in the dirt
Despite being physically comfortable and at ease, my emotions are in a state of turmoil.
They'll eat you sleeping
You'll be taken advantage of while you're vulnerable and defenseless.
But in my pillowcase I've got you hummingbird
Although we're apart physically, I keep the memory of you close to my heart.
I never should have bet my life when you only bet your sex appeal
I made a foolish decision to trust you completely, while you only offered physical attraction in return.
You said that we were gonna take this train alive
You promised that our journey together would be successful and fruitful.
You as the engineer, me your concubine
You were the one in control, while I played a submissive role.
Now no one's living in my dreams
I no longer have any aspirations or hopes for the future.
Only phantoms wanna be with me
I'm surrounded by fake, insincere people who don't truly care for me.
I let you supervise and you made me destroyed
I allowed you to take the lead, but in doing so, you caused my downfall.
I made you qualified, you made me whipping boy
I gave you power and status, but in return, you treated me with disrespect and cruelty.
The ones you shouldn't want are the ones you want more
We often desire those who are not good for us, rather than those who would treat us well.
I let you look inside and you butchered right through
I allowed you to see my vulnerable side, but you took advantage of that and hurt me deeply.
A little truth in every lie helps it go down smooth
Even though you deceive me, there's always a grain of truth to what you say that makes it easier to tolerate.
In this asylum of fear she knew no devil that could keep us here
Despite being surrounded by fear and uncertainty, I found comfort in our relationship.
This hummingbird I took her word, my only souvenir
You may be gone, but the memories we shared are something I'll always treasure.
Oh but they'll just eat you sleeping
Regardless of how much you trust someone, they may still harm you when you're vulnerable.
Oh they'll eat you sleeping
You can't let your guard down, because somebody could take advantage of you when you're not fully alert.
The ones you trust, eat you sleeping
Even the people you have confidence in can betray you when you're not prepared for it.
Honest they'll just... eat you sleeping
People who seem honest and genuine may still cause harm when you're not expecting it.
Contributed by Wyatt B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.