Sleep is more than just snoring, science and a little pillow drool. We’ve decided to dive into the world of sleep songs like a kid diving under the covers after discovering the boogie monster.

Today’s masterpiece is “Sleeping In” by The Postal Service.

Lyrical Analysis

(Lyrics to “Sleeping In” by The Postal Service)
Ben Gibbard  really stretches the limits of the English language with the chorus, “Don’t wake me I plan on sleeping in. Don’t wake me I plan on sleeping in. Don’t wake me I plan on sleeping in. Don’t wake me I plan on sleeping in.”

We got the picture after the first line. We thought the repeat was a mistake, then we realized that it wasn’t a mistake because of the third line in the chorus (which happens to be the same as the first line). By the fourth line, we were ready to throw in the towel and head to bed.

The song’s verses rescue this otherwise yawn-worthy verbal artistry. Gibbard writes about two dreams: one, a reliving of the Kennedy assassination; the other, a cryptic set of lines about do-gooders and global warming that end with “Now we can swim any day in November”.

Sleepability

There’s something really relaxing about the sounds that Gibbard throws into this song. The opening is like a lullaby of cheap keyboard sounds soaked in the sweet tears of slumber angels made from marshmallows.

The super-synthy drums join in the lullaby, making this less of a bedtime song until Gibbard’s breathy, echoing lyrics remind us, “It’s going to be okay. Just lay down and remember that we can swim any day in November.”

Our Somnium Sleep Song Rating (out of 5 Somnium springs)

*Next up in the Somnium Sleep Song series: “Sleep Now in the Fire” by Rage Against the Machine.