Personally, I think this song relates to retrospect: how when falling asleep and while not being distracted by the presence of another ("lonliness is sweet"), you are fully able to think over the activities and events of the previous day and mull over reasons for things which may have eluded you.
The first verse is about anticipating sleep and dreams, and the second verse is about insight into the way the world works - the mechanism turns, the molten lava churns etc represents the insight that you gain with the ability to rationally think things over on your own.
"Yesterday just burned away" is, in a way, Johnny defining yesterday by the level of uncertainty you have about prior events, and not just the time of day/night... perhaps that's why whenever you pass out intoxicated, the days seem to merge together? Just a thought.
Personally, I think this song relates to retrospect: how when falling asleep and while not being distracted by the presence of another ("lonliness is sweet"), you are fully able to think over the activities and events of the previous day and mull over reasons for things which may have eluded you.
The first verse is about anticipating sleep and dreams, and the second verse is about insight into the way the world works - the mechanism turns, the molten lava churns etc represents the insight that you gain with the ability to rationally think things over on your own.
"Yesterday just burned away" is, in a way, Johnny defining yesterday by the level of uncertainty you have about prior events, and not just the time of day/night... perhaps that's why whenever you pass out intoxicated, the days seem to merge together? Just a thought.