The music video was filmed in summer of 2000 and premiered on VH1 on August 28th. Ben Stiller helped as consultant on the video, which was directed by Mark Romanek, and parodies Jakob's "rock star" status. The song peaked at #26 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock cart in October 2000.
Sleepwalker
The Wallflowers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That could be my reputation
It's where I'm from that lets them think I'm a whore
I'm an educated virgin
Sleepwalker, don't be shy
Now don't open your eyes tonight
You'll be the one that defends my life
While I'm dead asleep dreamin'
Cupid, don't draw back your bow
Sam Cooke didn't know what I know
I'll never be your valentine
The sleepwalker in me
And God only know that I've tried
Let me in, let me drown or learn how to swim
Just don't leave me at the window
I could be the one to be your next best friend
You may need someone to hold you
Sleepwalker, take this knife
You may see someone tonight
You'd be the one that saves my life
When I'm dead asleep dreamin'
Cupid, don't draw back your bow
Sam Cooke didn't know what I know
I'll never be your valentine
The sleepwalker in me
And God only know that I've tried
I'm in your movie and everyone looks sad
But I can hear you, your voice, the laughtrack
But you never saw my best scene
The one where I sleep
Sleepwalk into your dreams
Now, sleepwalker, what's my line
It's only a matter of time
Until I learn to open up my eyes
When I'm dead asleep dreamin'
Cupid, don't draw back your bow
Sam Cooke didn't know what I know
I'll never be your valentine
The sleepwalker in me
Now, the sleepwalker in me
Now, the sleepwalker in me
And God only know that I've tried
The lyrics of The Wallflowers' song Sleepwalker suggest the struggle of the singer to find acceptance and love. The first stanza is about the singer's reputation and the perception of people around her. She longs for acceptance and recognition and believes that she could be the one they adore. Despite being an educated person, her background leads people to believe that she's a whore. The second stanza is about the singer's loneliness and her feeling of being different from others. She talks about the sleepwalker in her, which could be a metaphor for her restless, wandering soul. The chorus urges the sleepwalker not to shy away and to be the one that defends her life while she's dead asleep and dreaming.
The third stanza brings up the idea of romantic love and Cupid comes into the picture. The singer knows that she'll never be Cupid's valentine and that she's the sleepwalker in her. She acknowledges that she's tried to find love before but has been unsuccessful. In the fourth stanza, the singer talks about how she's been a part of someone's movie, but they never saw her best scene. This could be a metaphor for how she's been overlooked or ignored by people despite being a part of their lives. The final stanza is an appeal to the sleepwalker in her to learn to open up her eyes, suggesting that she's ready to face reality and embrace life.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I could be the one they adore
I want to be admired and loved by others
That could be my reputation
My reputation can help me achieve this
It's where I'm from that lets them think I'm a whore
People judge me based on where I come from
I'm an educated virgin
Despite outward appearances, I have a unique and complex identity
Sleepwalker, don't be shy
A plea to my inner self to be bold and assertive
Now don't open your eyes tonight
To prevent distraction and maintain focus on what truly matters
You'll be the one that defends my life
I rely on myself to protect and safeguard my own well-being
While I'm dead asleep dreamin'
Even in my dreams, I feel vulnerable and exposed
Cupid, don't draw back your bow
I am not ready or willing to give my heart to others just yet
Sam Cooke didn't know what I know
The song's allusion to love is irrelevant to my own personal experiences
I'll never be your valentine
I am not interested in romantic love with anyone
Let me in, let me drown or learn how to swim
I need someone to help me navigate my emotions, even if it's painful
Just don't leave me at the window
Don't abandon me or make me feel isolated
I could be the one to be your next best friend
I am open to new relationships and friendships
You may need someone to hold you
We all need comfort and support from others at times
Sleepwalker, take this knife
Empowering my inner self to take control of my life
You may see someone tonight
Anything can happen, be ready to face it
You'd be the one that saves my life
I rely on myself, but also recognize the importance of others in my life
When I'm dead asleep dreamin'
The worries and anxieties of the waking world still plague me even in sleep
I'm in your movie and everyone looks sad
I often feel out of place and disconnected from reality
But I can hear you, your voice, the laughtrack
I try to connect with others and find joy in life, despite feeling disconnected
But you never saw my best scene
Others don't always see the true depth and complexity of who I am
The one where I sleep
My truest self emerges when I am vulnerable and asleep
Sleepwalk into your dreams
I allow myself to be vulnerable and enter into others' lives, even if it's only in my dreams
Now, sleepwalker, what's my line
I question my own identity and purpose in life
It's only a matter of time
I am still searching for answers and will continue to do so
Until I learn to open up my eyes
I hope to gain a clearer understanding of both myself and the world around me
And God only know that I've tried
I have faced many struggles and obstacles, but continue to persevere
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SEAN CHAPMAN, ANDRE DAVIS, MOISES JUAREZ, MATTHEW RYAN MCEWAN, PATRICK SALMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@geminiana3160
Lyrics:
🎤 Maybe I could be
the one they adore
That could be my reputation
It's where I'm from that lets them think I'm a whore
I'm an educated virgin
Sleepwalker, don't be shy
Now don't open your eyes tonight
You'll be the one that defends my life
While I'm dead asleep dreamin'
Cupid, don't draw back your bow
Sam Cooke didn't know what I know
I'll never be your valentine
The sleepwalker in me
And God only know that I've tried
Let me in, let me drown or learn how to swim
Just don't leave me at the window
I could be the one to be your next best friend
You may need someone to hold you
Sleepwalker, take this knife
You may see someone tonight
You'd be the one that saves my life
When I'm dead asleep dreamin'
Cupid, don't draw back your bow
Sam Cooke didn't know what I know
I'll never be your valentine
The sleepwalker in me
And God only know that I've tried
I'm in your movie and everyone looks sad
But I can hear you, your voice, the laughtrack
But you never saw my best scene
The one where I sleep
Sleepwalk into your dreams
Now, sleepwalker, what's my line
It's only a matter of time
Until I learn to open up my eyes
When I'm dead asleep dreamin'
Cupid, don't draw back your bow
Sam Cooke didn't know what I know
I'll never be your valentine
The sleepwalker in me
Now, the sleepwalker in me
Now, the sleepwalker in me
And God only know that I've tried
@carlosquiroz74
Maybe I could be the one they adore
That could be my reputation
It's where I'm from that lets them think I'm a whore
I'm an educated virgin
Sleepwalker, don't be shy
Now don't open your eyes tonight
You'll be the one that defends my life
While I'm dead asleep dreamin'
Cupid, don't draw back your bow
Sam Cooke didn't know what I know
I'll never be your valentine
The sleepwalker in me
And God only know that I've tried
Let me in, let me drown or learn how to swim
Just don't leave me at the window
I could be the one to be your next best friend
You may need someone to hold you
Sleepwalker, take this knife
You may see someone tonight
You'd be the one that saves my life
When I'm dead asleep dreamin'
Cupid, don't draw back your bow
Sam Cooke didn't know what I know
I'll never be your valentine
The sleepwalker in me
And God only know that I've tried
I'm in your movie and everyone looks sad
But I can hear you, your voice, the laughtrack
But you never saw my best scene
The one where I sleep
Sleepwalk into your dreams
Now, sleepwalker, what's my line
It's only a matter of time
Until I learn to open up my eyes
When I'm dead asleep dreamin'
Cupid, don't draw back your bow
Sam Cooke didn't know what I know
I'll never be your valentine
The sleepwalker in me
Now, the sleepwalker in me
Now, the sleepwalker in me
And God only know that I've tried
@jessicajames6277
Have you ever seen something so beautiful it takes your breath away and leaves you speechless? That’s how I feel every time I look at Jakob. A living work of art. 😍
@carlygrayson956
He got the best of both his mom and dad. He has Sara's lovely bone structure and Bob's vivid blue eyes. Plus dad's talent.
@debbresser4908
He has his dad's eye's. He is just as politcal sometimes as well
@Tris-Mimi
❤so glad I am not the only one feel this way
@mcsmaria28
It helps when your mom is a supermodel!
@kcasnar
I'm not gay, but if I was, I'd be gay for Jakob Dylan
@patriciafootejohnson2817
This black Detroit 60's chick loves this song and video. Jakob is handsome like his father Bob Dylan the voice of my generation. Also love 6th Avenue heartache.
@kurtnilsenmusikk
hello, how are you doing it is nice meeting you here.
@idicula1979
The song has one of the most effortlessly smooth, and sublime lyrics. WRAP ME UP IN YOUR ENCHANTMENT SLEEPWALKER.
@jocelynfore4605
My favorite Wallflowers song...when music made sense.