I awoke, only to find my lungs empty
And through the night, so it seems I'm not breathing
And now my dreams, are nothing like they were meant to be
And I'm breaking down, I think I'm breaking down

And I'm afraid, to sleep because of what haunts me
Such as, living with the uncertainty
That'll never find the words to say
Which would completely explain, just how I'm breaking down

Someone come and, someone come and save my life
Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead but now it's like the night is taking sides
And all the worries that occupy the back of my mind
Could it be, this misery will suffice

I've become, a simple souvenir of someone's kill
Like the sea, I'm constantly changing from calm to ill
Madness fills my heart and soul as if the
Great divide could swallow me whole, oh how I'm breaking down

Someone come and, someone come and save my life
Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead but now it's like the night is taking sides
And all the worries that occupy the back of my mind
Could it be, this misery will suffice

Someone come and, someone come and save my life
Someone come and, someone come and save my life
Someone come and, someone come and save my life
Could it be, this misery will suffice



Lyrics submitted by tjwells

Track duration: 04:10

"Sleeping Sickness" as written by Dallas Green

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Sleeping Sickness song meanings
Add your thoughts

43 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    My Interpretation:"I awoke, only to find my lungs empty
    (Obviously, he awoke grasping for air after sleeping, since he found his 'lungs empty.')
    And through the night, so it seems I'm not breathing
    (While sleeping, he feels as if he's dead, which is stated by 'I'm not breathing.')
    And now my dreams, are nothing like they were meant to be
    (Dreams usually imply a positive outlook of the future, yet his dreams "are nothing like they were meant to be"-which are usually positive. Therefore, it seems safe to assume that his dreams aren't as positive and optimistic as they are traditionally defined and how he may personally expect them to be; they are most likely dark and haunting, which the first line of the next stanza plainly states.)
    And I'm breaking down, I think I'm breaking down"
    (His sleeping sickness certainly breaks him down as the first part of the line says, while he adds a bit of uncertainty about this conclusion, of him breaking down, in the last part of the line by saying 'I think I'm breaking down.')

    "And I'm afraid, to sleep because of what haunts me
    (If your dreams are haunting, then it is completely understandable why you would be 'afraid to sleep.')
    Such as, living with the uncertainty
    That'll never find the words to say
    Which would completely explain, just how I'm breaking down"
    (These three lines are an example of what haunts him and makes him afraid of sleeping. This sleeping sickness is tragic! especially when one notices the sincerity and plea for understanding in Dallas' voice when he sings these lines. I relate to these lines myself, and they are my favorite lines in the whole songs. What really makes this tragic is knowing with almost full certainty that you're breaking down, yet you are not fully able to explain what is causing this breakdown in order for you to gain understanding and eventually counterattack your personal destruction.)

    "Someone come and, someone come and save my life
    (This is a plea for help, or salvation, from the sleeping sickness, for he's in a desperate situation, one that is life-threatening.)
    Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead but now it's like the night is taking sides
    (He loses hope that he'll sleep again while alive, and the night seems to not be on his side since it torments him with the sleeping sickness.)
    And all the worries that occupy the back of my mind
    (While alone in his bed trying to sleep, his mind overflows with the worries he distracts himself with during the day that he cannot now escape from.)
    Could it be, this misery will suffice"
    (This seems like a personal affirmation of acceptance, where he realizes that this sleeping sickness may be with him for the rest of his life, so all he can do is accept it for what it's worth. He's coming to "peace" with his sleeping sickness.)

    "I've become, a simple souvenir of someone's kill
    (He's in a vulnerable state like a 'simple souvenir of someone's [the sleeping sickness'] kill because of his personal struggle against his night demons. Also, it's easier to kill someone who's lacking sleep, for sleep restores the body with energy; thus, lack of sleep makes one weaker.)
    Like the sea, I'm constantly changing from calm to ill
    (He's emotionally unstable, I suppose, like the unpredictability of the sea. He may have a few moments of calmness at night, yet he can be suddenly overtaken by his illness, his sleep sickness, at any changing moment.)
    Madness fills my heart and soul as if the
    Great divide could swallow me whole, oh how I'm breaking down"
    (Not being able to sleep induces hallucinations, a kind of madness, especially if paranoia is added within the picture, if one goes for too long a period of time without sleep. The great divide could be an analogy of the abyss, the bottomless pit of his breakdown, caused by his sleep sickness. The sleeping sickness appears to be slowly sucking him into its devouring mouth; hence, the phrase 'swallow me whole.)

    This is a brilliant song that seems born from a vulnerable, courageous place of creativity. Dallas Green gets numerous views from me because of his believable lyrics. He's not ashamed to express his personal demons, which is therapeutic and encouraging to those, like me, who may also have similar demons.
    Flag mrignoranton July 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I think its about worrying and not being able to shut his mind off. So all there really is is the misery of that. Lol thats what makes him such a great song writer isnt it? The fact that you can relate it to what ever u bring to the song. Dallas is the best.
    Flag switzy64on June 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i went to the city and colour concert on august 28 2010 at the Molson amphitheatre and this song was the encore song that Dallas sang and Gord Downie came out to sing the song with Dallas and it was so amazing. Dallas is such an amazing singer and songwriter, cant wait to hear new stuff from him whenever that will be.
    Flag TwilightAngel84on October 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song seriously gives me hope. It makes me feel like I'm going to get better. This misery will suffice <3
    Flag messsyjesssion February 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Sleeping is such a personal thing. Your so alone. It's actually sort of scarey. You have nothing except the thoughts in your head. Dallas said something like that in an interview. So I would say that obviously with difficulties in life, sleeping can become tough...because when you escape everything but your own thoughts, your going to obviously think about them. And whoever has not been able to fall asleep at a certain time, it can be frusturating. And i bet you if you think about the " alone with your thoughts " before you go to bed tonight, you'll understand where im coming from. haha. Beautiful Song.
    Flag CDeRoche20on December 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Wow I had never listen to City and Colour, or this song. Yet, I'm listening to this song and it feels like someone wrote exactly what I am feeling. Two night ago I had this dream, and when I woke up I start breaking down because of it, it reminded me of something I been trying to forget. I been having a war with my dreams lately, and sometimes I rather not dream. Like the song said, sometimes are dream hunt us, and remind us of thing we want to forget, yet we can't! And we can't do nothing about it!

    I really love this song!
    Flag jenifrida10on November 22, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I've become the simple souvenir of someone's kill*
    Flag callingallcreepson October 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment::D
    Flag juliecantswimon September 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment::D
    Flag juliecantswimon September 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Dallas Green once said in a radio interview that Leah Millar (Much Music VJ) has a disease known as "Night terrors" and it just basically means intense nightmares while sleeping and you move around a lot and sometimes even talk or scream while these nightmares are going on, and I really believe that this song is not only about Leah Millar's night terrors at night but simply him being afraid of them, and Sleeping Sickness makes a lot of sense.


    What do you guys think?
    Flag Psycho_Iconon September 13, 2009   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