Slept So Long

Jay Gordon's 'Slept So Long' delves into the tumultuous emotions of love, loss, and betrayal. The song opens with a sense of desolation, as the protagonist describes walking and waiting alone, burdened by unbearable feelings. This sets the stage for a narrative of deep emotional conflict, where hope and hatred coexist, reflecting the complexity of human relationships. The lyrics suggest a betrayal, with the protagonist accusing someone of ruining their life, which introduces a theme of profound personal violation and the resulting emotional turmoil.

The chorus reveals the duality of the protagonist's feelings towards the person they are addressing. The line 'I see hell in your eyes' indicates a recognition of the pain and suffering caused by this person, while 'Touching you makes me feel alive' juxtaposes this with the intense, albeit destructive, connection they share. This duality is further emphasized by the contradictory feelings of feeling alive and dying inside simultaneously, highlighting the paradoxical nature of toxic relationships where love and pain are intertwined.

The repeated refrain 'I've slept so long without you' underscores the enduring impact of this relationship on the protagonist. Despite the passage of time, the emotional scars remain, tearing them apart. The mention of killing 'a million petty souls' but not being able to kill the person they address suggests a sense of powerlessness and obsession. This line could be interpreted metaphorically, indicating that while the protagonist has moved past other relationships or conflicts, this particular one continues to haunt them. The song encapsulates the agony of unresolved emotions and the struggle to reconcile love with the pain it has caused.