rei brown is a New York-based, Japanese-American producer and artist who’s … Read Full Bio ↴rei brown is a New York-based, Japanese-American producer and artist who’s music edges on captivating indie pop, alternative electronic and lo-fi R&B. Debuting in 2014,
he’s since released a handful of independent EPs and singles that have solidified his stance as a front runner in the global bedroom pop movement. Influenced by architecture, fashion, film, art and more, the eclectic producer launched his life in music at a young age, beginning with music classes in elementary school and later graduating to band and choir in middle school and high school. After relocating from Kobe, Japan, to Boston in 2011 to study singing/songwriting at Berklee College of Music, rei began to self-release his original music, first releasing his songs on SoundCloud as raybaboon in 2013. He independently released his debut EP, "raybaboon" in 2014, which today counts +28M collective streams. Formally switching monikers in 2014, he’s released a number of breakout projects as rei brown, including the 2016 EP "Lungs", the 2017 double-single “i feel so cold” and the two-part "Lovers" EP series. To date, rei counts +80M cross-platform streams. Across 2020, rei will be released a series of singles starting with quarantine-inspired “Bubble.”

When I Fall Asleep
rei brown Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do you believe that what you see
Is as it seems and there’s nothing in between
What if you peeked and underneath
Was all machine and nobody heard you scream

Even if you tried
What if you were paralyzed?
Would you sterilize everything you memorized?

I’ll

Overall Meaning

start by breaking down the first verse of the song, which contains a series of thought-provoking questions. The lyrics seem to explore the concept of perception and reality. Brown poses the question, "Do you believe that what you see is as it seems and there's nothing in between?" He's questioning whether we fully comprehend the reality that's in front of us or if there's always something more complex happening beneath the surface.

The next line, "What if you peeked and underneath was all machine and nobody heard you scream," is particularly intriguing because it alludes to the idea of uncovering a hidden truth that no one else knows about. It's an unsettling thought because the imagery of being trapped in a machine and nobody being able to hear your scream creates a sense of suffocation and isolation.

The following lines in the verse, "Even if you tried, what if you were paralyzed? Would you sterilize everything you memorized?" take on a more personal tone. The lyrics are suggesting that if you were unable to act or had a limited ability to move, would you be forced to detach yourself emotionally from the memories and experiences that you've had in order to cope? The word "sterilize" implies the idea of sanitizing memories for the sake of objectivity. It's almost as if Brown is challenging the listener to question their own capability to adapt if faced with difficult circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

Do you believe that what you see
Are you confident that your perception of reality is accurate?

Is as it seems and there’s nothing in between
Do you assume that there is no deception or hidden agenda?

What if you peeked and underneath
What if you were to investigate beneath the surface?

Was all machine and nobody heard you scream
What if you discovered that everything was artificial and no one responded to your distress?

Even if you tried
Despite your efforts

What if you were paralyzed?
What if you were unable to act?

Would you sterilize everything you memorized?
Would you erase all your knowledge and memories?

I'll close my eyes and fall asleep
I will attempt to escape from my worries by sleeping.

Maybe in my dreams I'll find relief
Possibly while dreaming, I will find comfort.

From all the questions that haunt me
From the numerous uncertainties that trouble me.

And all the doubts that taunt me
And from all the doubts that mock me.