Who's in a bad mood, who's in a taxi?
Turning the clock back, avoiding a fight with this man he is meeting
Stands in the lobby, counting his questions in the neon light
Sinking under the river, sewer line touches the edge of the suburbs
Back to the beach where a family is waiting on rumors of summer
Lay out a blanket, bring something to feed the birds

With all the luck you've had
Why are your songs so sad?
Sing from a book you're reading in bed
And took to heart
All of your lives unled, reading in bed






Lyrics submitted by tinylittlewords

Reading in Bed Lyrics as written by Emily Haines

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Reading in Bed song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I just saw her last night in Calgary, The extra verse she adds is a mix between her own and lyrics from The house of the rising sun by The Animals, which is a direct refernce to ruining your life to drugs and gambling, i dont know if that has anyhting to do with her but its a cleaver sample.

    Kingangeloon January 17, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think the first two choruses are all the stories and lives that the protagonist is reading about

    Manniacon January 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    alot of her songs could about her father. and i kind of think of this song as the emily version of Love Is A Place by Metric, they're both beautiful and somewhat abstract.

    btw this is probly my favourite Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton song.

    dustybreezeon April 09, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love this song, but I love the remix to it even more. There is just something about it...so beautiful. It reminds me of a sunny, warm day that is still unshakeably melancholy. Emily's voice is lovely.

    angiearaujoxon October 26, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This line pretty much sums up the meaning of the song:

    "All of your lives unled, reading in bed"

    I think the song is about letting life pass you by, missing out on opportunities. The first verses are like glimpses of some people's lives.

    bleu_ice2002on September 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    haunting... i can't grapse the entire meaning of the lyrics, i guess only emily knows what they truely mean

    "With all the luck you've had, why are your songs so sad?"

    best part... beautiful

    sinstoneon September 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I saw her in concert last night here in DC. They added an extra verse and more music to the end. It was so good. I don't really remember any of the lyrics except part about "A house in New Orleans."

    It's such a new experience seeing her in this type of venue, sitting there playing piano the whole time, instead of dancing around like in Metric. I would recommend seeing her if anyone gets the chance. It was a beautiful concert.

    uncletrosson January 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah i thought the rising sun part was pretty cool i didnt see it coming...i think shes saying that everybodys in a fantasy world trying to pretend everything thing is good by escaping reality and reading sappy novels and she just cant do that it would be fake to write a song like that. shes so sad on this album haha

    J___Pon January 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I kind of always thought of the first two verses coming -after- the last verse. What I mean is the first two verses are about the "lives unled." It's saying, Get out of bed, get out of your stories and instead, get out there and make your own happiness and stop hiding.

    To me, it's a cheer up song. I've been addicted to it. With all the luck I've had, why are my songs so sad?

    amyjeanmachineon September 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Ooh I really love this song. I don't know why but it makes me feel all warm and happy. hehe. My favourite line is "With all the luck you've had, why are your songs so sad?" too.

    myheartbaiton October 27, 2007   Link

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