The thing that separates a night terror from a nightmare is that the person experiencing it rarely had any memory of the episode. To an outside observer, they may appear awake, but they are not responsive to the outside world. So, even if Laura is shaking the afflicted person, they won't wake up.
Interestingly, adults who suffer from night terrors have a history of depression. They also have an "inhibition of aggression, self-directed anger, passivity, anxiety, impaired memory and the ability to ignore pain." (thank you, wikipedia)
It gives you a bit more insight into the song's protagonists, doesn't it?
The thing that separates a night terror from a nightmare is that the person experiencing it rarely had any memory of the episode. To an outside observer, they may appear awake, but they are not responsive to the outside world. So, even if Laura is shaking the afflicted person, they won't wake up.
Interestingly, adults who suffer from night terrors have a history of depression. They also have an "inhibition of aggression, self-directed anger, passivity, anxiety, impaired memory and the ability to ignore pain." (thank you, wikipedia)
It gives you a bit more insight into the song's protagonists, doesn't it?