"I awoke, only to find my lungs empty
(Obviously, he awoke grasping for air after sleeping, since he found his 'lungs empty.')
And through the night, so it seems I'm not breathing
(While sleeping, he feels as if he's dead, which is stated by 'I'm not breathing.')
And now my dreams, are nothing like they were meant to be
(Dreams usually imply a positive outlook of the future, yet his dreams "are nothing like they were meant to be"-which are usually positive. Therefore, it seems safe to assume that his dreams aren't as positive and optimistic as they are traditionally defined and how he may personally expect them to be; they are most likely dark and haunting, which the first line of the next stanza plainly states.)
And I'm breaking down, I think I'm breaking down"
(His sleeping sickness certainly breaks him down as the first part of the line says, while he adds a bit of uncertainty about this conclusion, of him breaking down, in the last part of the line by saying 'I think I'm breaking down.')
"And I'm afraid, to sleep because of what haunts me
(If your dreams are haunting, then it is completely understandable why you would be 'afraid to sleep.')
Such as, living with the uncertainty
That'll never find the words to say
Which would completely explain, just how I'm breaking down"
(These three lines are an example of what haunts him and makes him afraid of sleeping. This sleeping sickness is tragic! especially when one notices the sincerity and plea for understanding in Dallas' voice when he sings these lines. I relate to these lines myself, and they are my favorite lines in the whole songs. What really makes this tragic is knowing with almost full certainty that you're breaking down, yet you are not fully able to explain what is causing this breakdown in order for you to gain understanding and eventually counterattack your personal destruction.)
"Someone come and, someone come and save my life
(This is a plea for help, or salvation, from the sleeping sickness, for he's in a desperate situation, one that is life-threatening.)
Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead but now it's like the night is taking sides
(He loses hope that he'll sleep again while alive, and the night seems to not be on his side since it torments him with the sleeping sickness.)
And all the worries that occupy the back of my mind
(While alone in his bed trying to sleep, his mind overflows with the worries he distracts himself with during the day that he cannot now escape from.)
Could it be, this misery will suffice"
(This seems like a personal affirmation of acceptance, where he realizes that this sleeping sickness may be with him for the rest of his life, so all he can do is accept it for what it's worth. He's coming to "peace" with his sleeping sickness.)
"I've become, a simple souvenir of someone's kill
(He's in a vulnerable state like a 'simple souvenir of someone's [the sleeping sickness'] kill because of his personal struggle against his night demons. Also, it's easier to kill someone who's lacking sleep, for sleep restores the body with energy; thus, lack of sleep makes one weaker.)
Like the sea, I'm constantly changing from calm to ill
(He's emotionally unstable, I suppose, like the unpredictability of the sea. He may have a few moments of calmness at night, yet he can be suddenly overtaken by his illness, his sleep sickness, at any changing moment.)
Madness fills my heart and soul as if the
Great divide could swallow me whole, oh how I'm breaking down"
(Not being able to sleep induces hallucinations, a kind of madness, especially if paranoia is added within the picture, if one goes for too long a period of time without sleep. The great divide could be an analogy of the abyss, the bottomless pit of his breakdown, caused by his sleep sickness. The sleeping sickness appears to be slowly sucking him into its devouring mouth; hence, the phrase 'swallow me whole.)
This is a brilliant song that seems born from a vulnerable, courageous place of creativity. Dallas Green gets numerous views from me because of his believable lyrics. He's not ashamed to express his personal demons, which is therapeutic and encouraging to those, like me, who may also have similar demons.
"I awoke, only to find my lungs empty (Obviously, he awoke grasping for air after sleeping, since he found his 'lungs empty.') And through the night, so it seems I'm not breathing (While sleeping, he feels as if he's dead, which is stated by 'I'm not breathing.') And now my dreams, are nothing like they were meant to be (Dreams usually imply a positive outlook of the future, yet his dreams "are nothing like they were meant to be"-which are usually positive. Therefore, it seems safe to assume that his dreams aren't as positive and optimistic as they are traditionally defined and how he may personally expect them to be; they are most likely dark and haunting, which the first line of the next stanza plainly states.) And I'm breaking down, I think I'm breaking down" (His sleeping sickness certainly breaks him down as the first part of the line says, while he adds a bit of uncertainty about this conclusion, of him breaking down, in the last part of the line by saying 'I think I'm breaking down.')
"And I'm afraid, to sleep because of what haunts me (If your dreams are haunting, then it is completely understandable why you would be 'afraid to sleep.') Such as, living with the uncertainty That'll never find the words to say Which would completely explain, just how I'm breaking down" (These three lines are an example of what haunts him and makes him afraid of sleeping. This sleeping sickness is tragic! especially when one notices the sincerity and plea for understanding in Dallas' voice when he sings these lines. I relate to these lines myself, and they are my favorite lines in the whole songs. What really makes this tragic is knowing with almost full certainty that you're breaking down, yet you are not fully able to explain what is causing this breakdown in order for you to gain understanding and eventually counterattack your personal destruction.)
"Someone come and, someone come and save my life (This is a plea for help, or salvation, from the sleeping sickness, for he's in a desperate situation, one that is life-threatening.) Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead but now it's like the night is taking sides (He loses hope that he'll sleep again while alive, and the night seems to not be on his side since it torments him with the sleeping sickness.) And all the worries that occupy the back of my mind (While alone in his bed trying to sleep, his mind overflows with the worries he distracts himself with during the day that he cannot now escape from.) Could it be, this misery will suffice" (This seems like a personal affirmation of acceptance, where he realizes that this sleeping sickness may be with him for the rest of his life, so all he can do is accept it for what it's worth. He's coming to "peace" with his sleeping sickness.)
"I've become, a simple souvenir of someone's kill (He's in a vulnerable state like a 'simple souvenir of someone's [the sleeping sickness'] kill because of his personal struggle against his night demons. Also, it's easier to kill someone who's lacking sleep, for sleep restores the body with energy; thus, lack of sleep makes one weaker.) Like the sea, I'm constantly changing from calm to ill (He's emotionally unstable, I suppose, like the unpredictability of the sea. He may have a few moments of calmness at night, yet he can be suddenly overtaken by his illness, his sleep sickness, at any changing moment.) Madness fills my heart and soul as if the Great divide could swallow me whole, oh how I'm breaking down" (Not being able to sleep induces hallucinations, a kind of madness, especially if paranoia is added within the picture, if one goes for too long a period of time without sleep. The great divide could be an analogy of the abyss, the bottomless pit of his breakdown, caused by his sleep sickness. The sleeping sickness appears to be slowly sucking him into its devouring mouth; hence, the phrase 'swallow me whole.)
This is a brilliant song that seems born from a vulnerable, courageous place of creativity. Dallas Green gets numerous views from me because of his believable lyrics. He's not ashamed to express his personal demons, which is therapeutic and encouraging to those, like me, who may also have similar demons.