VIDEO CONTENT:
This was a fun experiment filming the entire songwriting sketch process for this one.
For a more in depth following of the evolution of this song, check out our Studio Journals here.
LYRICS
You can’t believe what’s in your brain
Are you finally breathing or slowly falling in?
You keep your best in center frame
But you’re just pretending your world’s not fading
So tired, no time for sleeping
You’ll shake this feeling if you’ll
Stay awake
Stay awake for me
Just stay awake
Stay awake for me
Leave all the lights on while you wait
Piss off the silence as you let the band play on
For all the times you never felt you had a say
Take back the moment (take back the stolen), take back the heart and swing away
So tired, no time for sleeping
You’ll shake this feeling if you’ll
Stay awake (stay awake)
Stay awake for me
Just stay awake (stay awake)
Stay awake for me
Second chance and fade away
Understand but never stay
Before it pulls us under
Find the lock but need the key
To embrace this side of me
The drop you never bled before
This can’t hurt you anymore
So tired no time for sleeping
You’ll shake this feeling...
Stay awake
Stay awake for me
Stay awake
Stay awake for me
Second chance and fade away
Understand but never stay
Before it pulls us under
Find the lock but need the key
To embrace this side of me
The drop you never bled before
(Stay awake for me)
SONG LORE
Writing Process
The entire writing process is documented in the video above. This song idea first came to me though with that main chorus vocal idea. The verses followed after that, then the bridge. This is often how a song begins with a hooky/catchy chorus idea.
Song Meaning
The second verse of this song really epitomizes the overall meaning of this song as far as backstory is concerned. Growing up in a religious family it was considered an “unholy” thing to listen to loud rock music so I love the line in there that talks about pissing off the silence haha.
This song really is about taking back who you always wanted to be, but were told by others that that wasn’t right for you. “Follow the heart because it is never wrong” is a recurring theme or mantra throughout this whole album, so when the lyrics in this song say “take back the heart and swing away” it’s really driving that idea home.
The main chorus line “stay awake” is really about staying true to yourself. Not falling asleep by allowing others to control who you are, but staying awake to your truest self.