Lyric discussion by Seizurebleak 

Cover art for Daysleeper lyrics by R.E.M.

Apart from all the other deeper meanings, it definitely paints an accurate picture of working nights (sometimes I hear it on the way home from work in the morning, heh). Although I don't work in an office job, as the person in the song does, I can relate to the 'florescent, flat, caffiene lights'. Everything seems sorta hazy at times. To me the 'ocean machine' would be an alarm clock (9 is a good time to wake up if you work at 11:00 or 12:00), and 'squeezing into heaven would be hittin' the bed (Sleep is awful heavenly after a night of work). That's just my personal interpretation though. The music is awesome too, pretty interesting chords they use. To me his singing almost sounds like he's droning, which fits pretty well with the theme.

@Seizurebleak Ocean machine is one of those boxes that generate "soothing" sounds to mask other background noises. He is turning it up full blast to allow him to sleep through all the inevitable daytime noises.

But I agree that this is simply a song about struggling with a punishing and unnatural work schedule. I lasted about three months before I became desperate to find a different job.