Enter Sandman
Tommy Victor Lyrics

In Tommy Victor's version of "Enter Sandman," the lyrics depict a parent's bedtime routine with their child. The first verse "Say your prayers little one, Don't forget my son, To include everyone," encourages the child to pray for everyone they love and care about, showing the importance of caring for others. The following lines illustrate the parental protection over their child, "I tuck you in warm within, Keep you free from sin, Till the Sandman he comes." This refers to the Sandman of folklore who brings sleep and pleasant dreams. The chorus, "Exit light, enter night, take my hand, we're off to never never land" implies that the parental figure is taking the child into their protection, away from the reality of the world, and into a dream world, hence the reference to "never never land." The second verse shifts the tone, with the opening lines suggesting that the child has nightmares or is tormented by negative thoughts, "Something's wrong, shut the light, heavy thoughts tonight, and they aren't of snow white." The following lines describe the child's dreams of war, liars, dragon's fire and things that bite - all of which are frightening and intense.

The chorus is repeated with a slight variation, "Grain of sand, exit light, enter night, take my hand, we're off to never never land." The final verse brings closure to the scene, with the lyric "Now I lay me down to sleep, pray the lord my soul to keep." This line is a traditional children's prayer, reassuring the child that God is always watching over them. The lyrics then go on to say, "If I die before I wake, pray the Lord my soul to take," expressing the reality of life that no one knows when they will pass away. The final two lines, "Hush little baby, don't say a word, and never mind that noise you heard, it's just the beasts under your bed, in your closet, in your head," are another attempt to assure the child that they are safe and nothing can harm them.