Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Sleep Instead of Life” by Told Slant
Told Slant’s song, “Sleep Instead of Life,” explores the idea of needing to escape the hustle and bustle of life. The narrator of the song wishes to find a way to soothe their mental and emotional agitation. The song speaks of the longing for a peaceful existence, one that’s replenished by sleeping instead of actively engaging in life.
The song begins with the lyrics, “When I can’t see up ahead / When I can’t hear what my head says / All I can feel is the dread / I’ll sleep instead of life.” This references the feeling of being overwhelmed by life. There are simply too many details to process and too many decisions to make, and the burden of it all can be too much.
The chorus of the song reflects the narrator’s longing for a stillness of mind and body. The lyrics “If I could just sleep and be still” and “If I could just find where I left it” reflect this idea. The narrator is looking for a place of stillness that doesn’t have any of life’s demands.
The bridge of the song continues this search for stillness. The lyrics “When I can’t find the still / That I so desperately need / I can drift off in the chill / To find something I can keep” emphasize the feeling of needing to find stillness in a colder place.
The narrator of the song hints at an acceptance of their is situation and their uncontrollable desire for that moment of stillness. The lyrics “Leave me be in this gripping haze” suggest a surrendering to this longing. Overall, “Sleep Instead of Life” is about the desire to take a break from the daily worries and anxieties of life, and a willingness to accept and explore this desire.