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Words from the artist’s archive
SLEEPLESS NATION lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
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Intro
Three AM again, ceiling got my secrets memorized Seventy million Americans can't close their eyes Brain won't power down, thoughts on infinite scroll Welcome to the sleepless nation, losing control
Verse 1
One in three adults ain't sleeping right, that's the data Six hours average when seven's the minimum that matters Four-eleven billion lost every year, that's the cost America the productive, but the rest we lost Melatonin by the nightstand, phone screen still glowing Blue light assassin, and my cortisol's flowing Tomorrow's deadline got my amygdala on fire Running on fumes but they expect me to climb higher
Pre-chorus
Count the sheep, count the hours, count the cost of being wired Whole nation exhausted, running on tired
Chorus
Sleepless nation, eyes wide in the dark Seventy million strong, wearing these bags like a mark Sleepless nation, we the walking dead Can't power down, too much noise in my head
Verse 2
Fifty million workers dragging through the afternoon crash Third coffee hit, still yawning, hiding bags with the flash One in twenty fell asleep at the wheel last month Hundred thousand deaths in hospitals from being too numb Sleep got a PR problem, they call it lazy if you rest Glorify the grind while your health becomes a mess Leptin dropping, ghrelin spiking, appetite out of control Body breaking down while you're chasing empty goals
Pre-chorus
Count the sheep, count the hours, count the cost of being wired Whole nation exhausted, running on tired
Chorus
Sleepless nation, eyes wide in the dark Seventy million strong, wearing these bags like a mark Sleepless nation, we the walking dead Can't power down, too much noise in my head
Bridge
Remember when the lights out meant the day was done? Now we scroll and doom through every setting sun Nineteen-forty-two they averaged eight hours a night Now we're down to six point eight, something ain't right
Verse 3
But I'm learning how to fight it, phone on airplane mode Black-out curtains, cold room, unloading the load Sleep ain't lazy, it's the reset that we earned Every memory gets processed, every lesson learned Twenty percent better mood when you hit that seven mark Depression drops by half, you're a different person, hark So tonight I'm putting down the screen, claiming my rest Sleepless nation waking up to what's really best
Pre-chorus
Count the sheep, count the hours, count the cost of being wired Whole nation exhausted, but we're fighting the tired
Chorus
Sleepless nation, eyes wide in the dark Seventy million strong, wearing these bags like a mark Sleepless nation, we the walking dead Can't power down, too much noise in my head
Bridge
This for every soul who counts the ceiling tiles at night Every parent up with worry, every dreamer losing the fight Your body ain't the enemy, it's begging you to rest Sleepless nation, time to put the exhaustion to rest
Chorus
Sleepless nation, eyes wide in the dark Seventy million strong, wearing these bags like a mark Sleepless nation, we the walking dead Can't power down, too much noise in my head
Outro
Pillow's calling, and tonight I'm finally answering Every hour of rest is another day of mastering Seventy million strong, but we don't have to be Close your eyes, sleepless nation... finally free
Inside the recording
Three AM again, ceiling got my secrets memorized Seventy million Americans can't close their eyes
Count the sheep, count the hours, count the cost of being wired Whole nation exhausted, running on tired
Pillow's calling, and tonight I'm finally answering Every hour of rest is another day of mastering
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.