Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “When I Sleep” by Have Mercy
When I Sleep, a song by American rock band Have Mercy, is a powerful and emotional trek through the mental and emotional landscape of a lonely person who feels so disconnected even from their own dreams. The song begins with an acoustic guitar, the plaintive sound signaling a difficult journey ahead. It’s clear that the narrator in the song is troubled, describing how “we all get so lonely when we sleep,” a forlorn note of desolation echoed in the lyrics throughout the song.
The narrator of the song doesn’t just feel lonely, he feels totally disconnected from his dreams and longs for someone to “lay me down for good”. The imagery of the song makes it clear that he’s looking for a deeper, lasting connection than just a transitory moment of shared intimacy. “When I wake,” he pleads, “let there be love.” The desperate need for companionship and love is palpable in the song’s thoughtful lyrics.
The song reflects the powerful emotions of loneliness in poignant lyrics underlined by the accompanying instrumental track, as the narrator insists that “somebody let me feel whole again”. The song captures the sorrow of life without companionship and the desire to find fulfillment in another’s embrace that exists within all of us. By the time the song’s introspective look at the heartache of loneliness is through, the listener is left feeling heavy hearted with a sense of the emptiness and sorrow in life.
Through its lyrics and the imagery of his music, Have Mercy’s When I Sleep powerfully portrays the intensity of loneliness and of longing for a deeper connection in a way that will leave the listener feeling deeply moved.