sleep
j. irvín dally Lyrics
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I step over them because I need my coffee,
Someone is playing in the hall,
I hope they don't grow up at all,
And burn my house down
I don't think I ever sleep,
There are too many things I need,
There's nothing here I really need
Someone smells like piss and shit,
I guess it's only appropriate,
If you could see my elbow,
Still, I know my liquor store,
And what's in the rice and beans,
While I have nothing to move
I don't think I ever sleep,
There are too many things I need,
I don't think I ever sleep,
There's nothing here I really need
My landlord's coming around again,
And I don't catch a word he says,
I guess it's not important,
Junkies lying in the hall,
It's not romantic here at all,
It's just a cheap excuse to be driven to drink,
Driven to drink, driven to drink,
Driven to drink, driven to drink, driven to drink,
Driven to drink, driven to drink, driven to drink,
Driven to drink, driven to drink, driven to drink
The song "Sleep" by J. Irvin Dally is a melancholic portrayal of the urban life. It paints a vivid picture of the singer's environment and the people in it. The first few lines express the singer's indifference to someone sleeping on the street, giving the impression that this is a regular occurrence in the city. They step over the person because they're preoccupied with getting their morning coffee, indicating that they're caught up in the hustle and bustle of city life.
The singer then describes children playing in the hallway and hopes they don't grow up, suggesting that growing up in such an environment is not ideal. They fear that the same children might grow up and set fire to their house, further highlighting the uncertainty and precariousness of living in such a setting. The following lines reveal the singer's insomnia and the restlessness that stems from having too many thoughts and desires. They confess: "There are too many things I need, There's nothing here I really need." Thus, the singer is both longing for things they don't have and simultaneously recognizing that they do not need them.
The description of the people in the hallway who smell like "piss and shit" speaks to the singer's disgust and hopelessness regarding this part of city life. They remark that it is "only appropriate," perhaps indicating their acceptance of this aspect of the urban environment despite its repulsiveness. The final lines express a sense of resignation; the singer knows their liquor store well, knows where to find rice and beans, but there's nothing to move. The line "Junkies lying in the hall, it's not romantic here at all" strikes a critical note. It is as though the singer is cautioning those who might romanticize this environment or consider it gritty yet charming.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the hardships and banality of life in the city. It reveals the singer's disillusionment, frustration, and sense of entrapment.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone is sleeping on my street,
There is a homeless person sleeping on the street in front of my building,
I step over them because I need my coffee,
I prioritize my own needs over helping someone in need and step over the homeless person to get to the coffee shop,
Someone is playing in the hall,
There is a child playing in the hallway of my building,
I hope they don't grow up at all,
I don't want the child to grow up and potentially cause noise or damage in the building,
And burn my house down
This is a hyperbole, but I'm worried that something terrible could happen in the building and cause harm to me or my property,
I don't think I ever sleep,
I have a lot of anxiety and stress that keeps me up at night,
There are too many things I need,
I am constantly chasing after material possessions or other things that I think will make me happy,
There's nothing here I really need
Despite my constant search for things I think I need, I realize that I don't actually need anything to be content,
Someone smells like piss and shit,
There is a person in the building who has not been able to keep themselves clean,
I guess it's only appropriate,
This smell seems to fit with the general state of the building and its inhabitants,
If you could see my elbow,
This is another hyperbole, implying that there is something wrong with my body that is not visible to others,
Still, I know my liquor store,
Despite all the negative aspects of my building and neighborhood, I have found one reliable place to get alcohol,
And what's in the rice and beans,
I know the basic options for food at the nearby stores,
While I have nothing to move
I don't have any immediate plans to leave my current living situation, despite its difficulties,
My landlord's coming around again,
My landlord is making another visit to the building,
And I don't catch a word he says,
I am not paying attention to my landlord's words or concerns,
I guess it's not important,
I don't think my landlord's input or opinions will make a significant impact on my life in this building,
Junkies lying in the hall,
There are drug users who have passed out or are sleeping in the hallway,
It's not romantic here at all,
This is not a desirable or glamorous living situation,
It's just a cheap excuse to be driven to drink,
Despite my negative experiences, I use them as an excuse to drink and escape reality,
Driven to drink, driven to drink,
Driven to drink, driven to drink, driven to drink,
Driven to drink, driven to drink, driven to drink,
Driven to drink, driven to drink, driven to drink
This repeating line emphasizes my tendency to turn to drinking as a coping mechanism.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EARL LEBIEG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind