Enter Sandman

Motörhead's 'Enter Sandman' is a haunting lullaby that delves into the fears and anxieties that often accompany the transition from wakefulness to sleep. The song opens with a parental figure advising a child to say their prayers and include everyone, a common bedtime ritual meant to provide comfort and security. However, this sense of safety is quickly undermined by the mention of the 'sandman,' a mythical figure who brings sleep but also, in this context, seems to carry an ominous presence.

The lyrics 'Sleep with one eye open, gripping your pillow tight' capture the tension between the desire for rest and the fear of what the night might bring. The recurring lines 'Exit: Light, Enter: Night' symbolize the inevitable shift from the safety of daylight to the unknown dangers of the dark. This transition is further emphasized by the invitation to 'take my hand, we're off to never never land,' suggesting a journey into a realm where nightmares and reality blur.

As the song progresses, it delves deeper into the child's psyche, revealing 'dreams of war, dreams of liars, dreams of dragon's fire,' and other terrifying images. These lines reflect the universal experience of nightmares, where the mind conjures up fears and anxieties in vivid, often disturbing detail. The closing lines, which reference a traditional bedtime prayer and a lullaby, juxtapose innocence with the lurking presence of 'beasts under your bed, in your closet, in your head,' reinforcing the idea that fear is an inescapable part of the human experience, even in the supposed safety of sleep.