☝️ Key Points
- The song is about insomnia and the inability to fall asleep.
- The singer describes the thoughts and worries that keep him awake.
- The chorus emphasizes the irony and frustration of insomnia.
- The lyrics also mention the joys of life, but highlight that the joys of insomnia are ones he can't avoid.
- Overall, the song lyrics illustrate the frustration and accepting attitude of the singer towards his insomnia.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Who Needs Sleep?" by
Barenaked Ladies are about insomnia and the inability to fall asleep. The singer describes how he gets tangled in the sheets while swimming in his own sweat due to the heat. He gives up and throws the blanket away to cool down.
The lyrics also address the thoughts and worries that keep the singer awake. He mentions reading a book and learning a lesson from it, but his thoughts won't let him rest. He feels trapped in his own thoughts and can't switch off.
The chorus emphasizes the irony and frustration of insomnia. The singer counts sheep and heartbeats, but nothing seems to help. He rhetorically asks who needs sleep when you never get any. He also mentions a man who has been awake since World War II to illustrate how long he has been struggling with insomnia.
The lyrics also mention the joys of life, but emphasize that the joys of insomnia are something he can't avoid. The singer accepts his insomnia and even finds some joy in it.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Who Needs Sleep?" depict the frustration and accepting attitude of the singer towards his insomnia. He recognizes that he has to come to terms with it and tries to make the best of the situation.