The Big Sleep
Toh Kay Lyrics


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Why do you cry when you know how the story ends?
How can you laugh when you know that it hurts your friends?
We've all been there once, but you never left
This is me coming back to get you out to say goodbye, to make amends
I'm not leaving this place
Unless I'm leaving with you
'Cause you're the only person with a half decent heart here
And I know you will put it to use
Until it's gone, gone, gone
Gone, gone, gone
Gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, yeah

Na, na, na...

And as you close your eyes for the big sleep
I hope you think of me, yeah

Na, na, na...

And if you go, I'll be gone
And you'll be left alone to live your life, as you please
But someday you'll agree that I was always meant for you
You were always meant for me and you will see... that you're impossible
You're impossible
You're impossible
You're impossible

Me and Mr. Dylan on the ride home
We had a heart-to-heart about life
But neither him or me could decide for ourselves if we wanted to outlive that night
Like two children on the playground of the unconfessed souls
Abandoned by our mothers and our lovers and our foes
If only we were brave enough to live the lives we stole
What a wonderful world this could be!

Na, na, na...

And as you close your eyes for the big sleep
I hope you think of me, yeah

Na, na, na...

And if you go, I'll be gone
And you'll be left alone to live your life, as you please
But someday you'll agree that I was always meant for you
You were always meant for me and you will see... that you're impossible
You're impossible
You're impossible
You're impossible

So, how many more examples until we break?
So how many sacrifices must we make?
Because we've all been there once before
And it looks like we've returned once more
So is this the beginning or the end?

The last two soldiers on the battlefield
Survivors of the war
They aim at one another while their mothers beg the lord
"If you're listening, I'm missing him
So somehow bring him home.
How did it come to this?"
So the soldiers lift their rifles
And they're aiming at the head
They think of their first love before they take their final breaths
And somewhere in the distance they hear something someone said...
"How did it come to this?"

And as you close your eyes for the big sleep
I hope you think of me, yeah

Na, na, na...

And as you close your eyes for the big sleep
I hope you think of me, yeah





Na, na, na...

Overall Meaning

The Big Sleep by Toh Kay is a touching song about the struggle of trying to save someone who is unable to help themselves. The lyrics are directed at someone who is caught in a cycle of self-destructive behavior, causing them and their loved ones a great deal of pain. The singer questions why this person continues down this path despite the inevitable outcome. The chorus expresses the singer's longing to save them from their self-destructive ways and leave with them. Throughout the song, the singer repeats the phrase "you're impossible," conveying the feeling that saving this person may be an impossible task.


The second part of the song tells the story of two friends who are reflective about the choices they have made in their lives. They wonder if they are brave enough to live the lives they have always dreamed of. The singer recognizes the beauty of the world but acknowledges that it can also be a confusing place where people often lose sight of what truly matters.


The final verse brings the song's themes into a broader, more universal context. The scenario of the two soldiers on the battlefield is a powerful metaphor for the senseless violence that plagues our world. The soldiers aim their rifles at each other, but in reality, they are both victims of the larger forces at work. Ultimately, the song is a call to action that implores individuals to make the most of their lives and to work towards a brighter future.


Line by Line Meaning

Why do you cry when you know how the story ends?
Why do you allow yourself to feel emotional pain when you know how the situation will ultimately turn out?


How can you laugh when you know that it hurts your friends?
How do you justify giving into your own happiness when it's at the expense of someone else's pain?


We've all been there once, but you never left
We have all experienced difficult situations, but you have yet to move on from yours.


This is me coming back to get you out to say goodbye, to make amends
I am making one final attempt to bring you out of your current state and give you closure, while also making amends for any wrongs I may have committed.


I'm not leaving this place
I refuse to leave this place without you.


Unless I'm leaving with you
The only circumstance under which I will leave is if you come with me.


'Cause you're the only person with a half decent heart here
You are the only person in this situation who has a relatively good heart and intentions.


And I know you will put it to use
I have faith in your ability to use your good heart in a positive way.


Until it's gone, gone, gone
Keep using your good heart until you have depleted it completely.


And as you close your eyes for the big sleep
As you approach your eventual death.


I hope you think of me, yeah
I hope that my memory will live on in your thoughts and that I have left a positive impact on your life.


And if you go, I'll be gone
If you pass away, a part of me will leave with you.


And you'll be left alone to live your life, as you please
You will be left to live your life without me, making your own decisions and living as you see fit.


But someday you'll agree that I was always meant for you
At some point, you will realize that we were always meant to be together.


You were always meant for me and you will see... that you're impossible
You have always been the right person for me, but you are also difficult to handle and be with.


Me and Mr. Dylan on the ride home
A reference to being in a car with Bob Dylan.


We had a heart-to-heart about life
We had a deep, heartfelt conversation about life.


But neither him or me could decide for ourselves if we wanted to outlive that night
Neither I nor Bob Dylan could convince ourselves that we wanted to live past that moment in time.


Like two children on the playground of the unconfessed souls
Both of us felt vulnerable and open on a deeper, emotional level.


Abandoned by our mothers and our lovers and our foes
We both felt lost and alone, abandoned by those who were supposed to support us and those who actively worked against us.


If only we were brave enough to live the lives we stole
If only we had the courage to live the lives that we wanted to live instead of following the expectations and rules of society.


What a wonderful world this could be!
The world has the potential to be a wonderful place if people had the courage to be true to themselves.


So how many sacrifices must we make?
How many sacrifices and compromises must we make in life to achieve our goals or find happiness?


Because we've all been there once before
We have all experienced situations where we had to make sacrifices.


And it looks like we've returned once more
It appears that we have found ourselves in a similar situation again.


So is this the beginning or the end?
Are we starting a new chapter or is this the ending of something?


The last two soldiers on the battlefield
A metaphor for a conflict between two people.


Survivors of the war
Both parties have endured the struggle with one another.


They aim at one another while their mothers beg the lord
Both parties are at odds with each other, while their loved ones hope for a positive outcome.


"If you're listening, I'm missing him
A mother's desperate plea to a higher power.


So somehow bring him home.
Asking for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.


How did it come to this?"
Questioning how the situation ended up in such a negative place.


So the soldiers lift their rifles
A metaphor for escalating the conflict.


And they're aiming at the head
They are prepared to cause serious harm or end the conflict once and for all.


They think of their first love before they take their final breaths
Their last thoughts go to something that brought them happiness in the past.


And somewhere in the distance they hear something someone said...
A vague reference to an unknown, external voice or impression.




Contributed by Joshua D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Rafael Pulfer

I think this is exactly what Streetlight Manifesto is all about. Just beautifull songs, mostly about depressing things, either you take it cheerfull and dance your troubles away or you decide to endure the pain and listen to Toh Kay himself =)

Lindsey

This song popped into my head out of nowhere and I just had to hear it ❤

Eric Smith

I like the original way better, but I'm definitely playing this low key version for my baby when she's born. :-)

JJ M

How is you baby doing? I hope well

SteveonLI

this is quite a song, wow. there is something about it that people adhere to. i learned it not here .... but from alice banks in yorkshire. i cut back on the lyrics -- played it on keyboards -- and posted it on my yt channel, which uhhh has 100's of folky stuff. i am an older guy (US) and i had not been familiar w toh or SM til i heard of them via alice. i also did 2 tom waits songs which i learned from her

Riku Anita

when my brother started listening to SM i wasn't sure how i felt about their songs at first but at this point i want an official SM shirt

SteveonLI

i am a karaoke chronic on long island and i was surprised that one of my main k guys didnt have any SM on his machine. i lean a lot toward more toh kay than SM in any case . . . . and when i play stuff at home it is very often w an acoustic sensibility. and it all started with that singer from yorkshire ha

Riku Anita

SteveonLI you told me what you do for a living so i guess ill do the same, i am an aspiring YouTuber and im 14 yrs old as of 7/4/16.i cant say im surprised he didnt have any SM or toh kay, it seems like a large community but it really isnt.

Holden Speed

This is so nice i love his voice and his guitaring so much

enmac500

Seeing it live is awesome

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