In 2013, he uploaded the song "Vapour" online, where it caught on, drawing thousands of plays.
A follow-up EP, Winter, also garnered considerable attention and by 2014, Bettinson had begun playing live shows, including making an appearance at Austin's SXSW festival.
In 2016, Bettinson released Vancouver Sleep Clinic's full-length debut, Revival, on Sony.
Middle Of Nowhere
Vancouver Sleep Clinic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the border patrol said I should stick there for a while
It's got my mind in a flood and the light gets dimmer
As the world get cold
So now I'm back in my room, but it looks different
My sister's painted the walls, and nothing's in it anymore
But this is the place I found my spirit
So I know I'm home
Trying to work it all out on the way to the moon
And time wants me around, give my word to the gravediggers
I'm just passing through
Sometimes I wish that I lived in the middle of nowhere
With a couple of dogs and a ranch on a farm
And I don't even like farming or early mornings
It just sounds calm
And I'd marry that girl I met in Texas
Then my Grandma could hang 'round for the wedding
And now it's starting to sound like a better ending
And that hits hard
'Cause I came to this world as the child of the dreamgiver
Trying to work it all out on the way to the moon
And time wants me around, give my word to the gravediggers
I'm just passing through
I'm just passing through
I'm just passing through
There's a million tangents I've been twisting
They always lead to regret this reminiscence in the end
Some days my mind feels like a prison
It just needs some sun
So I walk 'til the city meets the country
'Til I'm the only one left in the world
And then I'll write a few songs that just go nowhere
Like this one
'Cause I came to this world as the child of the dreamgiver
Trying to work it all out on the way to the moon
And time wants me around, give my word to the gravediggers
I'm just passing through
I'm just passing through
I'm just passing through
Just passing through
The Vancouver Sleep Clinic's song "Middle of Nowhere" is about the singer's feelings of disconnection from the world around him and his longing for a simpler life. The lyrics open with the statement that he is returning home for winter but has been advised to stick around for a while by border patrol. This creates a sense of unease in him, and he feels like his mind is flooded with thoughts, making it harder to see the light. Despite this, he continues to search for his place in the world and looks to his current surroundings for inspiration.
The singer mentions that he feels like he is just passing through life and struggling with the million tangents that he has been twisting. His mind feels like a prison, and he needs some sunlight to find clarity. He longs for the simplicity of life in the middle of nowhere, with a dog and a ranch on a farm. He even goes so far as to imagine marrying a girl he met in Texas and having his grandma attend the wedding, creating a sense of nostalgia for family and simpler times.
The phrase, "I came to this world as the child of the dream giver, trying to work it all out on the way to the moon," is repeated throughout the song as a reminder of his purpose and desire to understand his place in the world. However, he acknowledges that he is just passing through, and time wants him around, giving his word to the gravediggers.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm coming back home for the winter
Returning to his hometown for the winter season
And the border patrol said I should stick there for a while
Delayed at the border patrol
It's got my mind in a flood and the light gets dimmer
Feeling overwhelmed and depressed
As the world get cold
Winter season is making everything colder
So now I'm back in my room, but it looks different
Noticing changes in his home after a long absence
My sister's painted the walls, and nothing's in it anymore
Room looks different after his sister cleaned it up
But this is the place I found my spirit
Home is where he found his inspiration
So I know I'm home
Feeling like he's in the right place
'Cause I came to this world as the child of the dreamgiver
Believing in dreams and using them as motivation
Trying to work it all out on the way to the moon
Struggling to find his way in life
And time wants me around, give my word to the gravediggers
Time is keeping him alive and he will keep his promise to fulfill his dreams
I'm just passing through
Feels like he's not staying in one place for long
Sometimes I wish that I lived in the middle of nowhere
Wishing for a quieter and simpler life
With a couple of dogs and a ranch on a farm
Envisioning a peaceful life in nature with pets and livestock
And I don't even like farming or early mornings
Not interested in the manual labor aspect of farm life
It just sounds calm
Being attracted to the peacefulness of rural life
And I'd marry that girl I met in Texas
Thinking about settling down with a specific person he met in Texas
Then my Grandma could hang 'round for the wedding
Wanting his grandmother to be present for his wedding
And now it's starting to sound like a better ending
Feeling like this alternative life sounds more appealing
And that hits hard
Realizing the weight of this realization
There's a million tangents I've been twisting
Feeling scattered and overwhelmed with different paths in life
They always lead to regret this reminiscence in the end
Regretting the past and feeling nostalgic
Some days my mind feels like a prison
Being trapped by negative thoughts and emotions
It just needs some sun
Needing hope and positivity in life
So I walk 'til the city meets the country
Walking to find a balance between urban and rural life
'Til I'm the only one left in the world
Feeling isolated from society
And then I'll write a few songs that just go nowhere
Writing songs as a way to express himself and release emotions
Like this one
Acknowledging the possibility that this song might not be successful
I'm just passing through
Feeling like life is fleeting and he's not staying in one place for long
I'm just passing through
Repeating the idea that he's not staying in one place for long
I'm just passing through
Sums up the overarching feeling of transience and impermanence in life
Writer(s): Timothy Bettinson
Contributed by Christopher M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alexiafulga6094
I have been feeling pretty down lately, when the night comes I am paralized by my new friend, anxiety, so I just put on some music and stare out my window, at the foggy sky, I can't even watch the stars. I love this song and tonight will be better because of it, at least I hope so :)
I really hope everyone reading this is having a good day and is happy and healthy. Sorry for my bad english, love to you all
🧡
Edit 1: I'm coming back to this song a month later and my life sucks a bit less :) I'm very grateful that my anxiety left me alone so I can enjoy my life, thank you for this beautiful song, it has truly helped me a lot. Love from Romania
🧡
Edit 2: Baby i'm back and I'm doing pretty good :)
Life has been exhausting but I am grateful that I am healthy and surrounded with good people that love me. Love to you all.
🧡
Edit 3: Hello beautiful people :)
I recently made o promise to myself that I will enjoy the small things in life and that I will fall in love with life again. It's not as easy as I hoped it would be, but I'm gonna try and I'm not gonna stop until I make it. My grandma died 2 and a half years ago and I miss her a lot these days, she was the only person that understood and loved me fully so it's pretty tough without her. But I will try to live for the both of us, a life so beautiful and full of joy that she would be proud of me. Okay that's enough. Thanks for reading, love to you all
🧡
Edit 4: Hello again. :)
Hope everyone is healthy and as happy as they can be. I am doing pretty well if I say so myself :)
I am talking to a boy and I can't seem to figure out if he's boring or I am just not used to a normal, mildly happy human being that doesn't have a lot of trauma.
Idk, we'll see. Summer is coming very soon and I can't wait to spend it with my friends and to make great memories. That's it, hope you are all well. Love to you from Romania 🇷🇴
🧡
Edit 5: Hello my beautiful people! :)
So summer is here and I am trying to make the most of it. 3 weeks ago I started working out and swimming and I'm proud of myself. That boy is still around, still not sure if he's boring or not :))
I'm going out with people, I'm dancing and singing, I'm reading good books, life is really awesome and I hope it stays this way, at least for a while. Love you all, hope you are doing ok.
🧡
Edit 6: Well hello there :)
I'm back and I am doing pretty good despite everything that is going on around me. I can't decide which subject I wanna learn in college, I'm stuck between law and psychology, the first option is the safe one and the second one is my passion but my parents don't approve, they are afraid I won't make enough money. That boy was indeed boring and I will break up with him shortly. I fight with my little brother a lot lately so that sucks. Aaaand I am terrible at taking care of myself. But putting that aside, I am pretty ok. I stiil enjoy the little things in life and I can say I am pretty happy. That's the update, hope you have a good day and a great life :) Kisses from Romania
🧡
Edit 7: Babies I am back :)
In the past 3 months since I haven't written un update here my life has turned upside down. A while after I broke up with that boy I realised I have a crush on my boy best friend of 3 years. I confessed and he said he feels the same, on the 27th it will be out 3 month anniversary:) i was already in a good place in my life, i have a lot of friends and i am a happy person in general and he adds to that happiness a lot, I didn't know i could be so in love with someone, he is truly the best :). I will study law in the end, it's more safe and i enjoy thr subject a lot, it's for the best. Hope you are all well, love you lots🧡
Edit 8: hello people :)
It's 3 months later, i'm doing really well and i am pretty serios about my studying. Also, soon will be my 6th month anniversary for me and my bf. I am so excited!! We love eachother and we are hopeful for the future :) it's a lovely day everyday when I am with him :)
Hope you are all ok and have a good day :)🧡
@HallaMHasan
I'm coming back home for the winter
And the border patrol said I should stick there for a while
It's got my mind in a flood and the light gets dimmer
As the world get cold
So now I'm back in my room, but it looks different
My sister's painted the walls, and nothing's in it anymore
But this is the place I found my spirit
So I know I'm home
'Cause I came to this world as the child of the dreamgiver
Trying to work it all out on the way to the moon
And time wants me around, give my word to the gravediggers
I'm just passing through
Sometimes I wish that I lived in the middle of nowhere
With a couple of dogs and a ranch on a farm
And I don't even like farming or early mornings
It just sounds calm
And I'd marry that girl I met in Texas
Then my Grandma could hang…
@getriinnnn
In 2024, I will still listen to this song faithfully
@danilles.4247
Exactly the type of song I needed right now. I wish I had friends who listened to music like this
@Victoria-ug7jg
Same. I desperately want to send it to someone but I don’t know anyone who would appreciate it as much as me 😞
@harshgahlot2992
Dont worry we are all family of 1.86lakh people right now! You can always share such music with any of us ❤️
@harshgahlot2992
We all be gazing at the sky at the same time sometimes! So that would be inter-connecting of souls through sky & music ❤️
@kiyomikosenpainbangtansarm4565
How about someone make a discord server so we can share songs like this
@Chris-xv1lr
Just friends would be nice right about now...
@ikrambouyoub4288
This song gives me the vibe of travelling early in the morning just in the time between dawn and sunrise .. when the cold breeze kisses you and you see the world yawning and slowly waking up to the sun shining in the clear sky.. very therapeutic
@angelinebena9675
Ikr I feel so happy now
@rebekahprince8361
Very well spoken! You painted me a picture and I like that