Before the Tapeworms, Will Wood was part of many other smaller projects. Due to him not wanting to be associated with many of these projects, most have been deleted from Spotify.
After entering recovery early in his career, Wood was diagnosed with Bipolar and began treatment. He has since taken a new direction with his work, dedicated to giving back and using his music to raise money for mental health research and inspire others with their own struggles. He leads a reclusive life in Pennsylvania, rejecting social media with the exception of Patreon and Instagram.
His release, “The Normal Album" is his first album following dropping "The Tapeworms" from his moniker. However the album still features Mike Bottiglieri, Mario Conte, Vater Boris, and Matt Berger. "The Normal Album" is his most polarizing, musically diverse, and lyrically dense album yet, explores the concept of normality through various lenses and alternating viewpoints, and features songs in every genre from disco to klezmer.
His last LP “In case I make It,” , where he explored an entirely different style from what he had published in earlier years, was released in 2022. In 2023 he released the live album “IN CASE I DIE”, before taking a hiatus from creating and releasing music which will last indefinitely.
Dr. Sunshine Is Dead
Will Wood and the Tapeworms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are my eyeballs just yet to adjust to seeing the light?
The room I′m in is still the same, the shadows have not rearranged it
No, the only thing that's changed is how I see at night
I fumble for the switch and strap on infrareds and wish
For sunshine when the morning′s somewhere else
But I can't change what time it is or dilate my irises
Only what I look at, and I'm looking at myself
I am not the sunshine, I am not the moon at night
Well, who else could I be when I can hardly see?
I am not the sunshine, I am not the moon at night
I′m no one if I′m nowhere in between
When did I become afraid of the dark?
Was it when I left the cave and swore I'd never go back?
If we can′t see each other, then there's no more use for hiding
I′ve decided I'll abide it; why deny the color black?
I′m not a flower, not a solar-powered calculator
Damn my eyes for seeing what's not there
I'll trade in vision for a practiced intuition
Till my fears come to fruition, I′m not scared
I am not the sunshine, I am not the moon at night
Well, who else could I be when I can hardly see?
I am not the sunshine, I am not the moon at night
I′m no one if I'm nowhere in between
The future must know where you′ve been
The past predicts the state you're in
The present did and will not last
Is, isn′t, was, have, hasn't, has
All that I ask is, keep those empty frames
If nobody′s in them, then no one is to blame
For your self-portraits, sign another name
Well, who should I be then, if I'll never be the same?
I will be my sunshine, I will be my moon at night
Who else could I be, when I can't fucking see?
I will be my sunshine, I will be my moon at night
I′m nowhere now, here′s no one now to be
And if dreams can come true, what does that say about nightmares?
I'll stay awake tonight
The lyrics of "Dr. Sunshine Is Dead" by Will Wood and the Tapeworms explore the idea of self-identity and the fear of the unknown. The opening lyrics, "When did I become afraid of the dark? Are my eyeballs just yet to adjust to seeing the light?" hint at a realization that something has changed, and that the singer is struggling to adjust to a new reality. They feel disoriented and lost, unsure of who they are or where they belong. The repetition of "I am not the sunshine, I am not the moon at night" emphasizes the singer's feeling of being lost and disconnected. They are not sure who they are, and their identity is a mystery to them.
The chorus, "Well, who else could I be when I can hardly see?" encapsulates the theme of the song. The singer is struggling to find a sense of self, but they are hindered by their inability to see clearly. They question whether they will ever be able to find themselves and imply that they are on a journey of self-discovery.
The final verse, "And if dreams can come true, what does that say about nightmares? I'll stay awake tonight," speaks to the singer's struggle to confront their fears. They are afraid of what they might find if they look too closely at themselves, but they know that in order to find their place in the world, they must face their fears.
Overall, "Dr. Sunshine Is Dead" is a powerful exploration of the struggle to find oneself in a world that can be dark and unforgiving. The repetition of certain phrases emphasizes the singer's sense of confusion and isolation, while the final verse speaks to the courage it takes to confront one's fears and find a sense of identity.
Line by Line Meaning
When did I become afraid of the dark?
At what point did I start fearing darkness and what it represents?
Are my eyeballs just yet to adjust to seeing the light?
Is my vision still adapting to the darkness or is it my mindset?
The room I′m in is still the same, the shadows have not rearranged it
The environment remains unaltered by the darkness.
No, the only thing that's changed is how I see at night
I am the only factor altered by my fear of the dark.
I fumble for the switch and strap on infrareds and wish
I look for light sources to help me overcome my fear.
For sunshine when the morning′s somewhere else
I yearn for light despite it not being available at this time.
But I can't change what time it is or dilate my irises
I cannot control the light nor my bodily response to it.
Only what I look at, and I'm looking at myself
I have control over what I choose to focus on and must confront my fear within myself.
I am not the sunshine, I am not the moon at night
I am not reliant on external sources of light for my strength.
Well, who else could I be when I can hardly see?
I am at a loss for identifying myself without the aid of external sources.
I′m no one if I′m nowhere in between
I am an undefined entity without reference to external sources.
Was it when I left the cave and swore I'd never go back?
Did my fear stem from a past experience of being trapped in darkness?
If we can′t see each other, then there's no more use for hiding
There is no point in attempting to conceal oneself in the absence of light.
I′ve decided I'll abide it; why deny the color black?
I have accepted my discomfort with darkness, why try to resist or deny it?
I′m not a flower, not a solar-powered calculator
I am not defined by my external sources of energy and growth.
Damn my eyes for seeing what's not there
I am frustrated with myself for perceiving threats that do not actually exist.
I'll trade in vision for a practiced intuition
I am willing to exchange my physical sight for a more developed sense of intuition.
Till my fears come to fruition, I′m not scared
As long as my fears remain unrealized, I will not be afraid.
The future must know where you′ve been
The future depends on understanding one's past experiences.
The past predicts the state you're in
Past experiences determine one's current mindset and state of being.
The present did and will not last
The present is fleeting and temporary.
Is, isn′t, was, have, hasn't, has
A reference to common grammar tenses, indicating the ever-changing nature of time.
All that I ask is, keep those empty frames
Please leave empty spaces for me to fill with my personal experiences.
If nobody′s in them, then no one is to blame
If my personal experiences don't fit into a pre-existing structure, that is not anyone's fault.
For your self-portraits, sign another name
Do not restrict yourself to a certain identity or way of being.
Well, who should I be then, if I'll never be the same?
Given that I am constantly changing and growing, what identity should I adopt?
I will be my sunshine, I will be my moon at night
I will rely on myself for strength and light in dark times.
Who else could I be, when I can't fucking see?
Given my blindness, it is necessary for me to rely solely on myself.
I′m nowhere now, here′s no one now to be
In this moment, I am not defined by external sources of identity or light.
And if dreams can come true, what does that say about nightmares?
If positive experience can be realized, negative experiences are equally possible.
I'll stay awake tonight
I will confront my fears and remain vigilant in the face of darkness.
Writer(s): William Joseph Colligan
Contributed by Abigail L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.