The Cure

Sleep When I'm Dead

12 Meanings

Add Yours

Q&A

Sleep When I'm Dead Lyrics

"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead you angels...

But until then..."

They told me I would live forever
if I kept it clean
They said I would be the chosen one
if I took one for the team

Yeah, it's the only way to be
Never think it isn't fair
That's a green eyed panic climb
to the edge of nowhere

Give it to the chicken
and see if it ticks
Yeah, Give it to the kitten
and see if it sicks
Then give it to the wonderful
wonderful me
and I will tell on my return
the way it is
with all the happy boys and girls.
Yeah, the whole happy world
And the love they feel for me
Yeah, the love they feel for me...

"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said

They told me I could run the world
if I kept it quiet
They said I could be the man
if I took it out of sight

In a monkey suit again
Having fun with all your friends
How a casual hour can pull
all this world to pieces

Give it to the bunny
and see if she kicks
Yeah, give it to the puppy
and see if he sticks
Then give it to the wonderful
wonderful me
I'll let you know when I get back
just how it is
with all the other boys and girls
Yeah, the whole F..F..
other world

And the way it stirs inside
And the why it never burns at night
And the way they make the climb
And the why they never pray for time
And the way I show suprise
And the why I never close my eyes
Yeah.. Just how it is

"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead

But until then..."

Well, I should at least feel tired I think
before I lay me down to dream..

Submitted by

nif On Jul 16, 2008

"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead you angels...

But until then..."

They told me I would live forever
if I kept it clean
They said I would be the chosen one
if I took one for the team

Yeah, it's the only way to be
Never think it isn't fair
That's a green eyed panic climb
to the edge of nowhere

"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead you angels
I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said

They told me I could run the world
if I kept it quiet
They said I could be the man
if I took it out of sight

In a monkey suit again
Having fun with all your friends
How a casual hour can pull
all this world to pieces

But until then..."

Well, I should at least feel tired I think
before I lay me down to dream..

Lyrics saved successfully! Thanks!

These lyrics are currently locked and can only be edited by moderators and administrators.

You must be logged in to edit lyrics.

Unable to save lyrics. Please try again.

Lyrics cannot contain links.

Lyric edit submitted successfully and is pending approval. Approvals usually take 24 hours.

Keep it true to the song

Fix what’s wrong, but don’t rewrite what the artist wrote. Stick to the official released version — album booklet, label site, verified lyric video, etc. If you’re guessing, pause and double-check.

Respect the structure

Songs have rhythm. Pages do too. Leave line breaks where they belong. Don’t smash things together or add extra empty space just for looks.

Punctuation counts (but vibe-editing doesn’t)

Correct typos? Yes. Re-punctuating a whole verse because it ‘looks better’? Probably not. Keep capitalization and punctuation close to the official source.

Don’t mix versions

If you’re editing the explicit version, keep it explicit. If it’s the clean version, keep it clean. No mashups.

Let the lyrics be lyrics

This isn’t the place for interpretations, memories, stories, or trivia — that’s what comments are for. Keep metadata, translations, and bracketed stage directions out unless they’re officially part of the song.

Edit lightly

If two lines are wrong… fix the two lines. No need to bulldoze the whole page. Think ‘surgical,’ not ‘remix.’

When in doubt, ask the crowd

Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.

nif

Submitter

2008-07-16 01:33:39

12 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Sort by

Cover art for Sleep When I'm Dead lyrics by Cure, The

by seanstuarthome

15y ago

I read RS wrote this as he wanted for years to say what he felt strongly about. He said he was tired of people telling him what to do, and that it was time he said what he strongly felt about. Could be about fans trying to tell him how to live his life: I'll sleep when im dead you angels (angels=fans). It also sounds like perhaps people also trying to preach to him about life after death, and as we know RS well, he's a good firm atheist. He's telling them to fuck off basically!

Users:

Reply · 1 Share

by Enven6 15y ago

yep it sounds like it, although it seems again some frustrations from his part. He could just be angry for some reason.

by nif

18y ago

I want to live before I die.

Users:

Reply · 1 Share

by GwiberWyrdd 9y ago

@nif That's good to hear, as that is the usual order. :)

by laurelinwyntre

18y ago

"Up, sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough."

benjamin franklin

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

by MurderRapeLove

17y ago

Try riding the bass line... feel the carefully placed mutes. Notice where they're placed... for instance under the word "Dead..." Very cool.

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

by MurderRapeLove

17y ago

(As he sings "sleep when I'm dead" there are 3 quick bass mutes, the first two are light, and then the third is held just long enough for you to notice.)