Sleepwalking

"Sleepwalking" by Bring Me The Horizon is a profound exploration of mental health struggles, primarily focusing on themes of depression, addiction, and derealization. The song's title itself is a central metaphor for feeling disconnected from reality, going through the motions of life without being truly present or engaged. Many interpretations suggest the lyrics delve into vocalist Oli Sykes' personal battles with ketamine addiction, which he has been open about. The experience of addiction is likened to being in a "k-hole," a state of dissociation that mirrors the lyrical descriptions of time standing still and feeling unreal.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of internal turmoil. Phrases like "My secrets are burning a hole through my heart and my bones catch a fever" and "My skin's smothering me" convey a sense of being trapped within one's own mind and body, a common feeling associated with severe anxiety and depression. The hallucinatory imagery, such as "Mirrors start to whisper, shadows start to sing," points towards a state of paranoia or derealization, where the perception of the world becomes distorted and frightening.

Ultimately, the song is also a cry for help. The recurring plea, "Wake up! Pull me out and give me a reason to start again," signifies a deep desire to break free from this numb, dreamlike state and reconnect with life. It's a recognition of being lost and a desperate hope for redemption and a reason to fight against the overwhelming feelings of despair. While rooted in dark experiences, the song carries an undercurrent of hope and the will to overcome personal demons.

The narrative opens with the weight of unspoken truths creating an intense internal pressure, a metaphorical sickness that courses through the narrator's very being. This profound inner conflict makes it difficult to function, to even perform the basic act of breathing. The world outside becomes distorted and menacing; judging eyes seem to consume him, mirrors reflect twisted whispers, and shadows gain a life of their own, singing in a chorus of paranoia. His own skin feels like a suffocating trap, intensifying the desperate plea for a way to escape this overwhelming anxiety.

A sense of paralysis takes over as time seems to freeze, a recurring state of disconnection he recognizes from the past. He describes this experience as 'sleepwalking,' a state of moving through life without conscious engagement, as if he has fallen into a deep, disorienting hole once again. This recurring 'fall' suggests a cyclical pattern of struggle, perhaps with depression, addiction, or a profound sense of detachment from reality. The feeling is likened to the surreal and frightening journey of falling down a rabbit hole into a world that is confusing and alien.

Standing at a metaphorical precipice, the narrator questions his path forward. He feels lost, contemplating whether to simply cease to exist. The choice is presented as a stark binary: sink or swim. Yet, the allure of disappearing altogether remains a powerful, persistent thought. This moment of crisis highlights a deep existential dread and a feeling of being utterly lost without direction.

A desperate cry for intervention breaks through the numbness. He pleads for someone to 'wake' him up, to take his hand and offer a tangible reason to begin again. This is a battle against his own apathy and despair, a plea for an external force to pull him from the abyss he finds himself in. He acknowledges his desire to break free but feels incapable of doing so on his own, begging for help to escape his current state.

The song revisits the initial feelings of being trapped and suffocated, the secrets and emotional pain burning within. The physical manifestations of his psychological distress return, emphasizing the cyclical and relentless nature of his struggle. The plea for help to breathe is repeated, a raw and urgent cry that underscores the entire narrative of feeling overwhelmed and on the brink of giving up, while simultaneously clinging to the hope of being saved.

"Sleepwalking" was written by Bring Me The Horizon's vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia, and then-new keyboardist Jordan Fish. It was produced by Terry Date, known for his work with bands like Deftones and Linkin Park, and mixed by David Bendeth. The song was recorded in 2012 at Angelic Studio in Brackley, Northamptonshire, as part of the sessions for their fourth studio album, Sempiternal.

The creation of Sempiternal marked a significant turning point for the band. It was the first album to feature Jordan Fish, whose influence brought a more prominent electronic and ambient dimension to their sound. This shift is evident in "Sleepwalking," which blends electronic melodies with the band's signature metalcore intensity. Sykes has stated that his head was "a lot clearer" when writing the lyrics for this album, allowing him to write from a different, more dramatic and blunt perspective. He was struggling with addiction during this period, and the album became a vehicle to pour everything into his music, which ultimately brought the band closer together.

"Sleepwalking" was released on March 1, 2013, as the second single from Sempiternal. It was featured as BBC Radio 1's "Hottest Record" on February 28, 2013, and its music video was released on March 4, 2013. Sykes has described the track as "one of the more commercial songs on the record" and one of their "best-written songs."

The rhyme scheme in "Sleepwalking" is not strictly consistent but often follows patterns that enhance its lyrical impact. The verses tend to use an ABCB rhyme scheme, as seen in the first verse: "heart" (A), "fever" (B), "deep" (C), "breathe" (B). This creates a sense of cohesion without feeling overly rigid.

The song's rhythm is a key component of its power. It maintains a moderate tempo that allows for both the atmospheric, electronic-led verses and the driving, heavy choruses. There is a strong interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm. For instance, the phrasing in the verses is more spaced out, aligning with the ambient and introspective mood. In contrast, the chorus features more forceful and rhythmically direct vocal deliveries that match the powerful guitar riffs and drumming.

The rhythmic structure, particularly the use of irregular drum patterns and stuttering breakdowns, contributes significantly to the song's feeling of disorientation and inner conflict. The contrast between the steady, almost hypnotic rhythm of the verses and the explosive energy of the chorus mirrors the lyrical themes of numbly "sleepwalking" through life versus the intense, painful moments of crisis and the desperate plea to "wake up."

"Sleepwalking" showcases Bring Me The Horizon's musical evolution, blending various stylistic techniques.

Musical Techniques:

• Electronic and Rock Fusion: The track is a prime example of the band's shift towards electronicore, starting with an electronic melody and synthesizers that build into powerful metalcore chord progressions. The keyboards, handled by Jordan Fish, play a dominant role throughout the song.
• Dynamic Contrast: The song employs significant dynamic shifts, moving from more mellow, ambient verses to an anthemic, powerful chorus. A key feature is the "beautiful bridge" in the middle of the track, which provides a melodic and atmospheric break before building to a huge climax.
• Vocal Delivery: Oliver Sykes's vocal performance is a standout element. He moves seamlessly between melodic, clean singing, particularly in the verses and bridge, and the aggressive, raw screams characteristic of the band's earlier work, especially in the chorus and climax. This dynamic vocal range enhances the song's emotional depth.
• Rhythmic Complexity: The drum patterns are noted as being irregular, adding a layer of complexity to the rhythm section that complements the blend of electronic and rock elements.
• Layering: The production features extensive layering of sounds, with ethereal synths, clean guitars with long reverbs, and heavy, chugging metal riffs coexisting to create a dense, atmospheric soundscape that reflects the song's title.

Literary Techniques:

• Metaphor: The entire song is built around the central metaphor of "sleepwalking" to describe dissociation and depression.
• Imagery: The lyrics are rich with vivid and often disturbing imagery, such as "eyes are swallowing me" and "mirrors start to whisper," which create a strong sense of paranoia and internal torment.
• Rhetorical Questions: The lines "Where do I go from here? / Do I disappear? / Should I sink or swim?" are rhetorical questions that express the narrator's deep sense of hopelessness and confusion.

"Sleepwalking" is considered a landmark song for Bring Me The Horizon and had a significant cultural impact, marking their transition from a divisive deathcore act to a globally recognized rock band. Released on the album Sempiternal, the song was instrumental in catapulting the band to a new level of success, opening the doors to stadium shows and major festival appearances like Glastonbury.

The song was a commercial success, reaching number three on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and charting on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The album Sempiternal debuted at number three on the UK Album Chart and number 11 on the US Billboard 200, eventually achieving Gold certification in the UK, US, and Australia. "Sleepwalking" itself has been certified Silver in the UK, signifying over 200,000 units sold.

Critically, the song was widely praised for its mature songwriting and the successful fusion of electronic elements with metalcore, often drawing comparisons to Linkin Park. It has been ranked highly on several "best of" lists for the band, with critics hailing it as a masterclass in writing a rock radio hit without sacrificing personality. The music video has also garnered significant attention, with nearly 100 million views on YouTube as of early 2023. The song's themes of mental health and addiction resonated deeply with a wide audience, solidifying its place as a fan favorite and a pivotal track in the modern rock landscape of the 2010s.

"Sleepwalking" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that illustrate a state of mental and emotional crisis.

• Sleepwalking: The central metaphor of the song, representing a state of dissociation, emotional numbness, and going through life without conscious engagement. It captures the feeling of being a passive observer of one's own life, trapped in a dream-like state from which it's difficult to awaken.
• Falling into a hole: This recurring image, reminiscent of "Alice in Wonderland," symbolizes repeatedly relapsing into depression, addiction, or a state of despair. It suggests a cyclical struggle and the feeling of being trapped in a confusing and frightening reality.
• The Edge of the World: This represents a point of ultimate crisis and desperation, a crossroads where the narrator must choose between survival ("sink or swim") and giving up entirely ("disappear").
• Distorted Senses: The lines "Your eyes are swallowing me, mirrors start to whisper, shadows start to see" symbolize paranoia, anxiety, and a distorted perception of reality, often associated with derealization or the effects of drug use. The external world becomes a reflection of internal chaos.
• Suffocating Skin: The lyric "My skin's smothering me" is a powerful metaphor for feeling trapped within oneself, unable to escape the torment of one's own thoughts and feelings. It can also relate to the physical discomfort and anxiety of withdrawal.
• Inability to Breathe: The repeated plea for "a way to breathe" symbolizes an overwhelming sense of anxiety and being crushed by emotional weight, a desperate need for relief and a moment of peace.

Several lyrical and musical motifs recur throughout "Sleepwalking," reinforcing its central themes and enhancing its structure and memorability.

• "It's like I'm sleepwalking": This is the song's primary recurring lyrical phrase and central motif. Its repetition in the chorus solidifies the core metaphor of disconnection and emotional numbness. It acts as the anchor for the song's entire narrative, explaining the feeling of going through a cyclical, dreamlike struggle.
• "Fell into another hole again": This line, directly preceding the "sleepwalking" motif, emphasizes the recurring nature of the narrator's struggles with depression or addiction. It suggests a pattern of relapse and the feeling of being trapped in a downward spiral.
• The Plea to "Wake up!": The desperate cry of "Wake up!" in the song's bridge and climax serves as a powerful counter-motif to "sleepwalking." It represents the internal battle against apathy and the desire to break free from the detached state. Its repetition builds tension and emotional urgency.
• "Help me find a way to breathe": This plea appears in the pre-chorus, underscoring the sense of suffocation and overwhelming anxiety. Its recurrence highlights the constant, underlying desperation felt by the narrator.
• The Question of Disappearing: The lines "Where do I go from here? / Do I disappear?" are repeated, hammering home the existential crisis and suicidal ideation at the heart of the song's darkest moments.
• Musical Motifs: The opening electronic melody serves as a recurring musical motif. It appears at the beginning and often subtly underneath the heavier sections, tying the song together and maintaining its atmospheric, ethereal quality, which contrasts with the raw, heavy elements.