What does Asleep mean?

The Smiths: Asleep Meaning

Album cover for Asleep album cover
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Asleep Lyrics

Sing me to sleep
Sing me to sleep
I’m tired and i
I want to go to bed

Sing me to sleep
Sing me to sleep
And then leave me alone
Don’t try to wake me in the morning
’cause I will be gone
Don’t feel bad for me
I want you to know
Deep...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Jul 19th 2014 !⃝

    To me this song is about suicide. My son would play this tune on the piano over and over again and I never asked him what it meant to him. I never knew the words until after his suicide on May 28, 2014. He was 22 years old suffering from depression, anxiety and Bipolar. Each and every word means exactly what it says. We played his song at his funeral and many friends were very touched by this song. They never knew he was that depressed where he would take his own life. It has new meaning to me now and I can connect this with how my son felt. I just wished I talked to him about the lyrics before so I could have helped him. Depression can be controlled but you do need to ask for help.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    FREETBT
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    May 11th 2009 !⃝

    This song is about suicide.
    First off: "Im tired and I want to go to bed." This is not literal. He wants to die.
    Second: "Sing me to sleep and then leave me. Don't try to wake me in the morning cause i will be gone." He wants to let us know that he wants to die alone. He won't be able to be woken up because he is gone aka dead.
    The song goes on to say he is glad to go, he knows there is a better world. He doesn't want to wake up on his own anymore: he feels alone and abandoned in this world. (just the way i felt when i was deeply depressed)
    There can only be hop for a better world after this one. Suicide may be the only way he feels that he can be at peace.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    christo1224
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    Dec 31st 2007 !⃝

    While I agree with the other poster that the song is about "embracing death" I think the true meaning of the song is even more obvious - suicide.

  4. Falankuk
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    Oct 3rd 2022 !⃝

    Wonderful song like many others from the Smiths, definitely is about a person that want to stop his/her life, doesn't matter why...it could be a depression or any other disorder but it seems to be a person fed up about the life hoping in a better world.....

  5. anonymous
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    Mar 25th 2021 !⃝

    Very sad song no matter how you interpret it. Sounds line it's about suicide or wanting to die. Many of his lyrics are depressing.

  6. anonymous
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    Jan 9th 2019 !⃝

    "Sing me to sleep, I'm tired and I want to go to bed" seems to me to be the words of someone asking for an escape. Because of the theme of death that has been introduced so prominently in the book thus far, it could mean to Charlie an escape from life. He may want the opportunity to simply get away, not necessarily die, and wants to take a "nap" to distance himself from everything that is troubling him. He may feel that this song enforces his desire, and likes to listen to it because he can relate to it. I could not blame someone as young as Charlie to want to not be woken up once he found the peaceful place he is looking for. I also can understand him not wanting to "wake up alone anymore". He may feel small and alone with all of the events surrounding him, and he simply wants someone there with him. This song could possibly embody Charlie's emotions, so it is no wonder why he is attached to it so much.

  7. anonymous
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    Jan 9th 2019 !⃝

    I Think the song is about suicide caused by depression.life is so hard for this person and they want to go to a better place 'don't try to wake me in the morning cause i'll be gone' maybe inferring heaven.
    so sad also to the 4th comment down I am really so so sorry about your son,I hope you are ok now.

  8. anonymous
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    Jun 2nd 2018 !⃝

    So confused my brother recently died this was his song don't understand or grt iy at the moment read reviews change my mind ?
    C

  9. anonymous
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    Apr 23rd 2017 !⃝

    Watch the video to the song. It's definitely about suicide

  10. anonymous
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    Mar 9th 2017 !⃝

    Sometimes I will wake up and tell myself that today is going to be a good day and life is so good beyond where i am right now. anyway depression sucks like a bitch.

  11. anonymous
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    Aug 28th 2013 !⃝

    i think the song is about someone suffering either from an illness or depression and can't handle it anymore and just wants their final sleep, the song is so very beautiful.

  12. anonymous
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    May 28th 2013 !⃝

    I don't think it is about suicide at all. It sounds as if the persona is someone who most probably suffers a terrible illness or something, maybe cancer. He is in a great deal of pain and would like to have the final sleep. There does not appear to be any overt or positive act that indicates voluntary suicide, but rather, knowing that the end of his life is near and he accepts it calmly, and asks the listener to sing him off...

  13. anonymous
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    Sep 17th 2011 !⃝

    I don't think the song is about death or suicide at all. It seems like he's been down and is exhausted of all the pain he's been through for so long given the part "I'm tired and I/ I want to go to bed". He doesn't want to wake up with the same old feeling of being sad and alone. And as for the part "Deep in the cell of my heart/ I will feel glad to go" it could probably be about how he has changed from what he used to be. I don't know I could be completely wrong the song doesn't seem as depressing as some may think.

  14. anonymous
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    May 15th 2011 !⃝

    Well, there's a lot of ways to see this song. And there's a lot of ways The Smiths saw it. Maybe they saw it in ways we could never. Maybe it's not about suicide. Maybe it's not even about death. Maybe he's been alone. And maybe he just wants to know that, when he wakes up, there's going to be someone there. And maybe he wants to end on a "good note", so, what's better than knowing someone will be there wen you wake up, even if you're not going to. Because it's nice waking up to someone, anyone. It's just nice. Maybe that's it. I'm not too sure. I'm really not.

  15. anonymous
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    May 3rd 2011 !⃝

    It's about suicide. But Mozzers magical gift for words and vocals makes it uplifting and deep. With John-boys piano and the wind it's just beautiful.

  16. anonymous
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    Apr 5th 2011 !⃝

    "sing me to sleep, sing me to sleep, im tired and i, i want to go to bed, sing me to sleep, sing me to sleep, and then leave me alone..." is basically asking for assistance, 'give me a reason to...' and when I am no longer, you may go.

    "dont try to wake me in the morning, cause i will be gone." is saying that he is dead, no reason to bother.

    "dont feel bad for me, i want you to know, deep in the cell of my heart i will feel so glad to go." I've contemplated this for awhile now, and I really feel as if this is the best option.

    "I dont want to wake up on my own anymore" is showing a sense of loneliness, of no belonging.

    "there is another world, there is a better world, there must be, well there must be" is supporting his reasons for ending his life, in this case that because this 'world' or his life was difficult his next world or life will be easier, better.

    "bye, bye, bye" is his last words to the world or the person with him.

  17. anonymous
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    Dec 26th 2009 !⃝

    It's about a cancer (terminally ill) patient, wishing to die and ready to go, but not wanting to go until they have said goodbye. Sing me to sleep and increase the medication ( I'm ready to go) and be there with me while I die, but don't expect me to be there in the morning.

  18. anonymous
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    Apr 22nd 2009 !⃝

    I think that the person is confused as to if he wants to die or not. I think the person is just looking for a better place and that place just might be heaven. The lyrics change from 'sing me to sleep' to 'sing to me', I think that holds some significance.

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