The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Sleep comes to everyone while we wait for the Sunday afternoons
Sleep comes to everyone, everyone maybe yeah, but you
Sleep comes to everyone while we wait, wide awake and blue
Sleep comes to everyone, everyone maybe, yeah, but me and you
And so I give myself away, to everybody everyday
And so I give myself to you, and you need it more than I do
And so I give myself away, unto everybody everyday
And so I give myself to you, and you need it more than I do
Sleep comes to everyone while we wait for the Sunday afternoons
And sleep comes to everyone, everyone maybe, yeah, but you
And I had this one figured out, that's why the suicide machine is built for two
A simple sick device devised to overload on love
To bring us colored dreams and sound tracked waves of fun
And so I give myself away, to everybody everyday
And so I give myself to you, and you need it more than I do
And so I give myself away, to everybody everyday
And so I give myself to you, and you need it more than I do
Sleep comes to no one else like we have falling through the ground,
Fulfilling promises of endless summer nights, I'm losing ground, you're losing sound
Somewhere through a thousand blues a dragonfly descends with just a whisper,
"I'm lonelier than God"
And all my wishes spin the fishes in the air and every one
A different shade of you
And to the left where up is down now stands a zebra
Made of shapes of me, and silver and the sun
So bring no guilt with you up above the flat line
Let's just hit the sky exploding into one
Sleep comes to everyone, everyone maybe yeah, but you
Sleep comes to everyone while we wait, wide awake and blue
Sleep comes to everyone, everyone maybe, yeah, but me and you
And so I give myself away, to everybody everyday
And so I give myself to you, and you need it more than I do
And so I give myself away, unto everybody everyday
And so I give myself to you, and you need it more than I do
Sleep comes to everyone while we wait for the Sunday afternoons
And sleep comes to everyone, everyone maybe, yeah, but you
And I had this one figured out, that's why the suicide machine is built for two
A simple sick device devised to overload on love
To bring us colored dreams and sound tracked waves of fun
And so I give myself away, to everybody everyday
And so I give myself to you, and you need it more than I do
And so I give myself away, to everybody everyday
And so I give myself to you, and you need it more than I do
Sleep comes to no one else like we have falling through the ground,
Fulfilling promises of endless summer nights, I'm losing ground, you're losing sound
Somewhere through a thousand blues a dragonfly descends with just a whisper,
"I'm lonelier than God"
And all my wishes spin the fishes in the air and every one
A different shade of you
And to the left where up is down now stands a zebra
Made of shapes of me, and silver and the sun
So bring no guilt with you up above the flat line
Let's just hit the sky exploding into one
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This song is about one person and one person only. It's about two parts of the same person. It's written from a very interesting perspective and that is himself speaking about the part he's upset with and wants to change. He wants to end the sleeplessness, he wants time for himself, and he doesn't want to feel any guilt about making this change. The suicide machine is built for two(the two parts of himself). After they are dead he will leave behind the guilt and the two parts will become one.
From the interviews I've seen of Matt Talbot, this sort of introversion fits him perfectly and a lot of other vocal artists as well. This is a great song. All of the imagery and symbolism is there to make this song decipherable. It's not a sad song or about someone literally committing suicide. It's actually a song about looking at yourself, wanting to make a change, and having hope for the future.