Belle & Sebastian – We Are the Sleepyheads

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "We Are the Sleepyheads" Ringtone to Cell

Tired like the beggar with the cold inside his bones
Looking for the pleasure that he knew was so far gone
So far gone
I took a turn to myself
And I was surprised, because I saw everyone who ever I had loved
I felt a whole lot better after that

People look at us and they think we're doing fine
People look at us because they see us all the time
All the time
But they never take to us
We’ve been in this town so long we may as well be dead
So long as people turn their heads
And cross the street whenever we walk on by

Someone told the truth when it really mattered most
The beauty of the moment is the beauty sadly lost
Sadly lost
So I went around to your house
Over tea and gin we talked about the things we read
In Luke and John, the things he said
And now it’s morning, we are the sleepyheads

Send "We Are the Sleepyheads" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by madedge

Track duration: 03:33


We Are the Sleepyheads song meanings
Add your thoughts

5 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This is about the band in Glasgow and not being recognised. The last verse is about going to a friends house and spending all night long drink gin and reading the bible.
    Flag axiom255on July 09, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i dont know if its because i identify with it but i think it refers to people that are in this social group in a small society and although considering where they come from they're supposed to be a way there completely different people only think they're weirdos and nothing more:
    We’ve been in this town so long we may as well be dead
    So long as people turn their heads
    And cross the street whenever we walk on by
    but they're only people that wanna get out of that ticky tacky we all look a-like and here the same stuff
    Flag nurrriton February 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I went to a Belle and Sebastian show last night, and they played this song and it was amazing.
    Flag nervous ticon March 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's about some group of people other than beggars, since that first line says "Tired LIKE the beggar". I could see this song referring to any group which is marginalized and ignored by its community, a community that mistakenly thinks they're "doing fine".

    Whatever the group, its members find solace in the words of Jesus - "In Luke and John, the things he said". After all, Jesus' teachings are wide and welcoming enough to appeal to radically different people: socialists, capitalists, conservatives, liberals, and so on. That particular line fits nicely with the album's larger theme of seeking answers in religion.

    (Picked my favorite song off the new Belle & Sebastian album for my first comment. I love the guitar bits in this.)
    Flag FoolThemAllon March 06, 2006   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:Fucking amazing song truly honoured to be the first one to comment on it.
    Well just the life of a beggar i guess.
    Nothing more to it to me.
    Flag keli_1989on March 05, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain