Sleep

Citizen's song 'Sleep' delves into the emotional turmoil and existential fatigue experienced by the narrator. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a relationship strained by loneliness and unspoken frustrations. The opening lines, 'We both fell asleep on the floor, then I left you there,' set a tone of abandonment and disconnection. The narrator acknowledges the other person's prolonged solitude and expresses a willingness to go to extreme lengths to balance the scales, even contemplating self-harm to make things 'fair.' This stark imagery underscores the depth of their emotional pain and sense of responsibility for the other's suffering.

The recurring question, 'Do you sleep anymore?' serves as a poignant metaphor for peace and rest, both physically and emotionally. The narrator's insomnia symbolizes a broader inability to find solace or resolution in their life. They are plagued by a sense of inadequacy and the constant pressure to maintain a facade of normalcy, as evidenced by lines like 'I'm getting sick and tired of the smile that I fake every day.' This struggle with authenticity and the desire to 'speak my mind' but being unable to 'think straight' highlights the internal conflict and mental exhaustion they face.

The song also touches on themes of change and the difficulty of adapting to new circumstances. The narrator expresses a longing to 'feel alive again' but admits to being 'not used to change.' This resistance to change, coupled with the desire to make the other person feel better by either leaving or staying out of their way, reflects a deep-seated ambivalence and a yearning for reconciliation. Ultimately, 'Sleep' is a raw and introspective exploration of emotional fatigue, the quest for genuine connection, and the elusive nature of inner peace.