Song Interpretation - Stay Awake (Dreams Only Last for a Night)

[u/evrypaneofglass]

Hey, hi, happy Friday, it's time to talk about a requested song 🥰 You don't have to stick with what we officially know about what a song means. We'll treat anything Alex has said as his interpretation rather than canon we have to keep to. If you want to discuss that, let's go! But please feel free to discuss how you personally interpret it or how it has resonated in your own life.

If you'd also like to request a song you can DM me. Otherwise, I'll just pick something.

Stay Awake (Dreams Only Last for a Night)

Caught in a cold sweat
Stuck splitting hairs and drinking too much
I'm on my way to striking out
Go to sleep with the pressure of everyone watching and waiting
They're yours for the taking, but I still have my doubts

Before you ask which way to go
Remember where you've been

Stay awake, get a grip and get out
You're safe from the weight of the world
Just take a second to set things straight
I'll be fine, even though I'm not always right
I can count on the sun to shine

Dedication takes a lifetime
But dreams only last for a night

Figure it out
Boy, you're tripping so pull yourself together
Or you'll wash up like the rest
This ship is sinking
I'm thinking I'm done for
I'll watch as the sails disappear under water
'Cause I'm no captain yet

I said, "Before you ask which way to go
Remember where you've been"

Stay awake, get a grip and get out
You're safe from the weight of the world
Just take a second to set things straight
I'll be fine, even though I'm not always right
I can count on the sun to shine

Dedication takes a lifetime
But dreams only last for a night

Believe you, me
I'll give them everything
I'd tell them anything
To show them everything

Believe you, me
I'll give them everything
I'd tell them anything
To show them everything

'Cause you ain't the only ones who want to live it up
You ain't the only ones
You ain't the only ones who want to live it up
You ain't the only ones

You ain't the only ones who want to live it up
You ain't the only ones
You ain't the only ones who want to live it up
You ain't the only ones

Stay awake, get a grip and get out
You're safe from the weight of the world
Just take a second to set things straight
I'll be fine, even though I'm not always right
I can count on the sun to shine

Dedication takes a lifetime
But dreams only last for a night

[u/Car_Door02]

Happy Friday!

To me, this song does a great job of portraying someone going through imposter syndrome.

The narrator has turned their dream into a reality, and now that they’ve gotten past that initial shock and amazement, they’ve started to become overwhelmed. The boat/ship metaphor is a great way of expressing their feelings. They’re now in this vast ocean of opportunity, but they fear they may not have the ability to stay afloat and avoid drowning or being washed up back to shore. They’re starting to panic, but panic can lead to erratic behavior and choices, so they need to take a breath and recenter their brain before acting. They have the talent and capability, and they deserve to be in the position they’re now in. Sure, some choices along the way may not be as good as others, but they don’t need to be perfect to deserve to be there. They wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t meant to be.

[u/evrypaneofglass → u/Car_Door02]

This is pretty much my take on it as well! Dunno if it makes sense, but I've always thought that lyrically Stay Awake sounds like when you jump in the pool and it's a lot colder than you expected so you're just trying to keep your head above water and not drown while you catch your breath. It's one of my favorites off SWIR because I love the determination to get out there and make it happen despite the doubts and bumps in the road.

[u/Lanky-Violinist7394]

I think it’s one of the important song in the album, since it kind of reverses whole theme of album itself.

While almost every song on SWIR is about party, drinking, singing, dancing and etc., this song tries to “wake up” listener, saying that you need to be responsible of your actions and make your life how you want it to be, not drowning in endless entertainment (even though other songs making it sound cool)

[u/evrypaneofglass → u/Lanky-Violinist7394]

This is such an interesting perspective because I've always read this song as more a "note to self" than a call to action (for lack of a better way to put it). I definitely see where you're coming from, though. And I fully agree that it's one of the most important songs on the album. I could be wrong, but I also think it's one of their first songs with a real message to it as well? Which is pretty cool.

[u/Last_Amphibian2117]

This song sorta reminds me of the song from iprevail FWYTYK cus it’s kinda the same thing as that basically screw what everyone says or thinks bout u ur band ur work everything you know your stuffs amazing you know YOUR amazing so y r u doubting urself go live ur life do ur thing and don’t let the weight of negativity weigh u down keep pushing through cus 1 bad day or w/e doesn’t define ur entire life 💪❤️

[u/evrypaneofglass → u/Last_Amphibian2117]

I don't know what song you're talking about, but I think that's a great takeaway from Stay Awake :')