Sleeper In Metropolis

Anne Clark's 'Sleeper In Metropolis' delves into the alienation and insignificance felt by individuals in the vast, impersonal expanse of a modern city. The song opens with the metaphor of a 'sleeper in metropolis,' suggesting a person who is lost and insignificant within the overwhelming urban environment. Dreams and aspirations become entangled and stifled by the system, symbolizing how personal ambitions are often crushed by societal structures.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the physical and emotional isolation experienced in the city. The 'conditioned air' and 'sedated breathing' evoke a sense of artificiality and numbness, while the 'viscose sheets on naked flesh' highlight a fleeting comfort that is ultimately overshadowed by loneliness. The 'blackened ocean of night' serves as a metaphor for the vast, unfeeling expanse of the city, where individuals are confined by their desires and dreams, fighting against their insignificance only to find themselves more isolated.

Clark's portrayal of the city as a 'cancerous' entity spreading like an illness underscores the destructive nature of urban life. The 'silent spotlights of society created paranoia' reflect the constant surveillance and pressure to conform, leading to a sense of paranoia and disconnection. The song laments the death of love and genuine human connection in the metropolis, where interactions are mediated through 'glove or partition,' rendering them cold and impersonal. The city is depicted as a 'wasting disease,' a place where no alternative can grow, and where the warmth of human contact is replaced by shadows.