City and Colour – Sleeping Sickness (Featuring Gordon Downie)

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I awoke, only to find my lungs empty
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 uncertainties
They'll never find the words to say
Which would completely explain
Just how I'm breaking down

Someone come, Someone come and save my life
Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead
But now its like the night is taking up sides
With all the worries that occupy the back of my mind
Could it be? This misery will suffice

I've become, the simple souvenir of someone's guilt
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, Someone come and save my life
Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead
But now its like the night is taking up sides
With all the worries that occupy the back of my mind
Could it be? This misery will suffice

Someone come, Someone come and save my life
Someone come, Someone come and save my life
Someone come, Someone come and save my life
Could it be? This misery will suffice

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Sleeping Sickness (Featuring Gordon Downie) song meanings
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  • 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
  • +1
    General Comment:I've become the simple souvenir of someone's kill*
    Flag callingallcreepson October 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:
    I think the song is about "Sleep Paralysis." I get it all the time. It's when you wake up, and you can't move, and you can't breathe, and you try to to call out for help you can't talk, and sometimes you even see figures, some people think they're ghosts, which obviously they're not, but it's a really scary thing to experience, and when it first starts happening, most people are afraid to go to sleep.

    "I awoke, only to find my lungs empty 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..."
    Flag xmyusernamexon February 23, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Amazing and the fact that Gord Downie is featured makes it even better.
    Flag shimmer117on December 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:There are a few mistakes with the lyrics, and I'm sorry if this sounds like, rude...but one wrong word can change the meaning of a lyric IMO.

    "And I'm afraid to sleep because of what haunts me
    Such as living with the UNCERTAINTY
    THAT I'LL never find the words to say
    Which would completely explain
    Just how I'm breaking down"

    I know, small diffs...but it changes the meaning a bit. I think Dallas is saying that he is afraid to sleep b/c of what haunts him...such as the uncertainty that he will never find how to completely explain how he is breaking down. So what itchyscott and Calligator said basically.

    And it's "And I've become, a simple souvenir of someone's KILL" not guilt. What's a souvenir? Something you get to remember a trip or whatever. That's all he is now to someone, a souvenir...maybe after a failed relationship? Like in hunting, the deer head or whatever is your souvenir...that's what he is to someone now...kind of sad to feel that way.
    Flag mywordsareweaponson September 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is all about when you go to bed and your all by yourself and all you have are your thought, its a really personal time and your deepest thoughts at the back of your mind come out. This happends to him and cos he worries so much about his life and stuff thats happends he doesn't want to sleep cos he cant face thinkin about all the things wrong in his life, amazing song writter and best song on the album
    Flag itchyscotton September 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't see any thing indicating that this thing that haunts him is a girl. I think it's just not being able to put into words how miserable he is that is haunting him. I could be wrong, but that's how I read it. It's a beautiful song either way. I can't get enough of it.
    Flag Calligatoron September 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Beautiful song.
    No doubt about it.
    Dallas Green is amazing.
    Flag hanna405on August 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Beautiful song.
    No doubt about it.
    Dallas Green is amazing.
    Flag hanna405on August 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i seriously cannot believe there are no comments on this song. this song is absolutely amazing! the way i see it, he can't sleep because he's dreams are haunted by this girl. all the uncertainties and everything else he keeps secret during the day comes to life at night. no matter what, this girl has a hold on him and he can't take it anymore so he's breaking down. he wants someone to save him (possibly this girl) and if no one does, "this misery will suffice." beautiful lyrics about lying awake thinking of the one who drives you crazy
    Flag lyricalrockstaron June 29, 2008   Link

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