Sleep Token Lyrical Analysis - PART 1 - "Sundowning"

Part 1 of my 35,000+ word Sleep Token lyrical and lore analysis dissertation. "SOMEWHERE, SOMEWHERE THE ATOMS STOPPED FUSING. I'M STILL YOUR FAVORITE REGRET, YOU'RE STILL MY WEAPON OF CHOOSING"

Dec 03, 2025

Sleep Token has been reported to be one of, if not the fastest growing band in the world. Unlike other bands crawling the charts they have only had one interview with the Drummer, II, and no other promotional exclusives about or with other band members. They have never been a guest on late night television or interviewed for music articles. So how does a band have such massive growth with virtually no traditional promotion methods? Sleep Token has drawn in their audience by heavy lore building and symbolism to keep fans engaged and enthralled in what is to come next. So what about their lore is so damn interesting that has them climbing the charts so rapidly? Grief. I believe Sleep Token’s discography up to this point (2025 Arcadia era) is a story about the 5 stages of grief. In this essay (turned dissertation) I will be breaking down my personal interpretation of the lore and my stance on how it relates to the grief cycles. This is not in any way claiming to be the “real” lore, I don’t think there actually is any “confirmed” lore, but as music fans we all love to find a way to connect the dots between the poetry and the heartfelt melodies. There are many other fan theories and interpretations of what they believe the lore is, and since the band has never confirmed any of their own lore’s direct meanings, we all get to connect with each other on our own interpretations. This level of connection and community built into being a Sleep Token fan also plays a big role in their massive spark in growth.

So who the hell am I and what qualifications do I have to provide an analysis on this beloved band? Hi, I am Lucyfer, I have been deeply involved in the music industry for 12+ years. I was in a band for 8 years where I was the lead vocalist and lyricists/story teller (currently starting up 3 more projects), have been booking shows and working with a wide array of bands on a business level for 5+ years, along with being a professional Dominatrix for the last 3+ years and online SWerker for the last 7+ years (yes, that will be relevant later).

As a lyricist myself I know it is very rare that all songs are written about one person. When an artist writes “you” over and over again we assume it’s the same “you” every time. As a listener it also creates space for us to relate to the lyrics and fill in the blanks into our own life and experiences so we can connect with the music on a personal level. When an artist is creating concept albums in the way Sleep Token is, lyricists will take a moment to write how they feel about a person then find a way to weave it into the overarching story for the art of the music and to tie it into the full concept as to not veer too far off course from their vision. Though it would be very impressive if every “you” Sleep Token talks about is the same person over the course of 8 years (and running) however, for the sake of this essay we are going to assume that most of the music is centered around “Sleep”, the godlike entity that the fanbase has already established and accepted as part of the “lore” (the band has never confirmed this but it has just been accepted as fact). There will be times where I will specify when I think the songs are not about “Sleep” and I will also be diving into what I think Sleep represents. As someone who knows what it’s like writing songs and building story lines lyrically, I like to think I can understand when an artist is referencing the story/world building vs when the man behind the mask is just speaking from experience and tying that experience into the concept’s storyline.

Speaking of the man behind the mask, we will be referring to him as Vessel or [REDACTED] as he does not wish to have his identity revealed. I think it is important as a story teller, and as a person who has clearly laid out his boundaries and consent, to respect those wishes, and keep his identity a secret. It is also important to note that all of the songs are written by Vessel and II (the drummer) unless otherwise specified. This small detail I think plays an important part when we break down the lyrics and find the space between story line and real life experience… but we will get to that later.

To start my analysis I want to establish my personal theory. I believe all of the Sleep Token albums are representing the 5 stages of grief with ACCEPTANCE not yet released (more on that later). For the time being, I think that Vessel is going through massive loss and processing grief. A lot of people interpret this as the grief of a relationship, as a lot of the music seems to be talking about an abusive lover… I think it can be looked at from that lens for sure, but I think it is much more than that. I think there is an obvious aspect that most of the songs are about the relationship between a god and her Vessel… I mean that’s exactly what Vessel tells us. But I think Vessel is using the story line of a god and her lover as a metaphor for mental health and a deeper grief he is experiencing before he even meets Sleep. I like to think that the setting of our story is much more spiritually filled than a simple relationship squalor and goes beyond the confines of day to day life on earth. The song titles and lyrics are often hinting back to biblical or religious terms, and though many people can view a lover as a god, for this essay I want us to view Sleep as an actual god.

From this point forward I am going to say everything as a fact, because for the sake of this essay, it is. I hope you enjoy my breakdown of this incredible band and my take on their “lore” and musical artistry.

Sundowning - Denial - 2019

This album is where our story starts. The word “sundowning” refers to a symptom of Alzheimer’s. Someone who experiences sundowning will start to have behavioral changes or fits of confusion when the sun starts to set. This is where the Goddess Sleep starts to take her prey. Every time Vessel goes to Sleep, she visits him and puppets him to be her toy. As the sun begins to set, the anxiety of Sleep coming to greet him starts to take its toll as he starts to get drunk on her affection. He begins to flow between excitement and fear on the possibility of greeting her. Sleep is a godlike entity within our story, but also symbolism for depression.

This is also when we experience our first mask change as an audience. Yes, don’t worry I didn’t forget about early days Vessel. For the sake of this essay, we are starting at mask 2, I will explain why at the end. For those who don’t know, Sleep Token is a fully anonymous band who wears masks to hide their identity and each album release or “era” of the band Vessel’s mask changes and the rest of the band evolves with their masks as well. This second mask splits the early era mask in half, only showing the bottom half of Vessel’s face representing the vulnerability he is showing Sleep and us, the audience.

The Night Does Not Belong To God

Musically speaking this song starts almost like a lullaby, pulling you down with it.

When you live, by daylight

With angels at your side

In order now, bestowed by

The light of the sunrise

The world [REDACTED] lives in is beautiful and kind. He views the start of his journey as coming from a place that’s actually very nice. He is not Vessel yet, he won’t be for quite some time. Right now he is going to sleep and looking forward to the morning break.

And you remember everything

Only till the Sun recedes once again

He is referencing his sundowning. In [REDACTED]’s case sundowning is not from Alzheimer’s but a symbolism for depression. Life is great and beautiful but he can’t help but feel like as the days come and go he is reminded of the sorrow of the world and to be able to cope with his depression, he starts to romanticize the depression as a god, who we call Sleep. It’s debatable if Sleep is truly a real god or just a figure he has crafted in his mind. For the sake of this essay we are going to assume Sleep is real, just like [REDACTED] thinks she is real too.

And the night comes down like Heaven

The night comes down like Heaven (x6)

As [REDACTED] falls asleep he is feeling good, finally a moment of release from his waking sorrows. When depression has a grip on you, being able to micro dose death by going to sleep can be incredibly therapeutic and is a very common symptom of depression. He is so happy to escape the world he is in. It’s a nice world, but there is something he is trying to avoid there. He thinks if he falls asleep and wakes up in the morning everything will be better, right? Maybe?

The whites of your eyes

Turn black in the lowlight

In turning divine

We tangle endlessly

Like lovers entwined

I know for the last time

You will not be mine

So give me the night, the night, the night

The depression takes hold and he is now Sleep’s puppet to master. Sleep and depression are basically the same thing to [REDACTED] at this point. He has either crafted Sleep as the entity of his depression that he begs to serve, or he is going to her as a distraction from the pain he is enduring in the daylight. Maybe both! “I know for the last time you will not be mine”. [REDACTED] knows that when he does finally have his final dance with depression/Sleep it will end with suicide and then it will all be over, Sleep will be gone. She will never truly be his until he dies, but he also knows that she will not go with him. Give her everything, but receive nothing. Like lovers they toil in the “what if” and he starts to romanticize his grief into Sleep.

If you are someone who has done this dance with death and suicidal ideations, you very well know this feeling. Flirting with death is morbidly “fun” and can keep you stuck between not getting better, but never actually taking the final leap to death.

The night comes down like Heaven

The night comes down like Heaven (The whites of your eyes)

The night comes down like Heaven (Turn black in the lowlight)

The night comes down like Heaven (In turning divine)

The night comes down like Heaven (We tangle endlessly)

The song ends how it started, lulling us to sleep with a simple but powerful melody that drags you down with him, fading into sleep together.

The Offering

With the first song having a sweet melody, this song starts to feel more sinister. [REDACTED] has fallen asleep and danger is around the corner. It gives a feeling of the “danger nearby” music you find in video games. (It is also fun to note that every second song on each album will be a heavy song musically.)

And you are a garden, entwined with all

You are the silence on sacred shores

You’ve got diamonds for teeth, my love

So take a bite of me, just once, I want to

Turn the page once again (Oh)

Take a bite

There she is, Sleep, in all her glory. She is vicious but beautiful and like anyone falling in love [REDACTED] is ignoring the red flags and turning it into something to love. “Diamonds for teeth” is gorgeous, but deadly. There’s no way that will be a problem later, it is just a beautiful description of her, right? He craves her. He wants her, desperately.

This is a given, an offering

In your favour, a sacrifice in your name

But I know you’ve got a taste

So just take a bite of me

Turn the page once again (Oh)

Give up the game and let me in (Oh)

My arms belong around you (Oh, oh)

So take a bite, I want to know (Oh)

(I want to)

[REDACTED] is begging to serve Sleep, to be her Vessel. Take a bite, claim me, want me, no matter how much it hurts, I want what you want. I am willing to feel the pain to know that it will please you. Absorb me, pull me in, pull me off the shore, encapsulate me, allow me to serve you. Take me away from the pain I experience in the daylight as I do not wish to confront it. I would rather replace my sorrow with you. Even if that is met with pain, it is still an escape from the pain I am running from.

The music here builds into more of the “boss battle” video game music and we can start to feel Sleep’s villainous smirk and the beginning of their quarrel. With Sleep Token the music portrays a lot of the “scenes” in this story just as much as the lyrics does. It’s truly genius the way we can feel the energy and emotions though the music so intensely and how it hits just as deep as the poetry of the lyrics.

(Take a bite)

Take a bite

Levitate

I can lift you up

Your body is mostly blood

Like water, a perfect flood

Engulfing me again (Oh)

And I can tell you won’t

Remember my cracking bones

The trauma we can’t regrow

Just as you leave again, no

[REDACTED] is now trying to convince Sleep to take him in, trying to sell himself and everything he can offer to her. “And I can tell you won’t remember my cracking bones” he knows she will hurt him, but he doesn’t care. He just wants to fall into her and let her abuse him in any way she likes. Because being wanted or used by her feels better than what he is avoiding in his life right now.

Will you levitate

Up where the angels inhabit?

Will you levitate

Where I won’t reach you?

Will she bring him out of this depression? Will she come with him to the daylight? Will she leave him there to sit in his depression and let him wallow?

And we imitate

A story of perfect days

A ballad we fabricate

As you forget your words again (Oh)

And is that all you need

To merely pretend to be

Falling in love with me?

Forgetting the agony again (Oh)

He is romanticizing her and all the possibilities of their possible relationship. This really is just continuing that [REDACTED] knows Sleep is not that interested in him but still he still fawns for her.

Will you levitate

Up where the angels inhabit?

Will you levitate

Where I won’t reach you?

Will you be like everyone else in the daylight? Will you leave me or push me away like everyone else?

Will you levitate

Up where my love doesn’t matter?

Will you levitate

Where I won’t reach you?

Will you levitate?

Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me.

Dark Signs

Where I was raised, there was no streetlights

Just pitch black and passing headlights

And where we met‚ there must have been dark signs

Omens in your skies

Looking back on [REDACTED]’s life before Sleep he finds that he has no purpose, no drive, no guidance, but when he meets Sleep he sees the red flags. He knows what she has to offer is sinister and evil.

Most days‚ you reach for safety

Remain calm‚ forget that you know me

And when we met, I could see dark signs

Alarm bells in your eyes

Sleep throws [REDACTED] aside most of the time and [REDACTED] continues to wear rose colored glasses when looking at her. He interprets her rage and red flags for excitement and lust or love. It is hitting his dopamine centers more than the dread that waits for him in the daylight.

And I miss the man I was

(I won’t break and bend to my basic need to be loved and close to somebody)

The moment we left off

(I won’t break and bend to my basic need to be loved and close to somebody)

And I hate who I have become

(I won’t break and bend to my basic need to be loved and close to somebody)

Every time I wake up

(I won’t break and bend to my basic need to be loved and close to somebody)

[REDACTED] yearns for who he was before the depression engulfed him, before he fell in love with Sleep but even when the nights end and he is back to living a life without her he also can’t help but crave to be back in her embrace again. He feels lonely and she gives him just enough attention to feel loved and close to someone since he can’t find that in the daylight hours. He is stuck between not wanting to go back to his life in the daylight, but also not finding exactly what he needs with Sleep… but Sleep feels just a bit better than what the daylight offers.

And if you saw the marks on my dashboard

The new scars that I didn’t ask for

And would you call asking for answers?

Tear my arms off

[REDACTED] is injured, but does Sleep even care? Would she be mad at him for being hurt? For being so reckless? So careless? Don’t tell her, just in case her response isn’t what he romanticized it to be in his head. Don’t become a burden for her or a problem she needs to take care of. That could push her away. Just ignore the scars.

We are greeted again by him repeating the pre-chorus, chorus, and outro that repeats the sentiment again, showing his spiral into denial of what he is grieving.

Most days‚ you reach for safety

Remain calm‚ forget that you know me

And when we met, I could see dark signs

Alarm bells in your eyes

And I miss the man I was

(I won’t break and bend to my basic need to be loved and close to somebody)

The moment we left off

(I won’t break and bend to my basic need to be loved and close to somebody)

And I hate who I have become

(I won’t break and bend to my basic need to be loved and close to somebody)

Every time I wake up

(I won’t break and bend to my basic need to be loved and close to somebody)

As we repeat this pre-chorus and chorus we can feel [REDACTED] spiraling and getting frustrated with himself. He is having an internal fight on what to do. Stay with Sleep who holds him just enough to forget his daylight sorrows? Or go back to the pain of the daylight? Face what he is grieving on the outside.

Higher

You say you won’t begin again

Capitulate and let me in

‘Cause I am a fire and you are dry as bone

You are taking your time

You are killing me slow

[REDACTED] wants to be Vessel so bad and is begging to be of service. He is getting frustrated with Sleep taking her time to pull him into full service. She loves dangling the carrot telling him to jump then telling him to jump higher.

And I know we instigate

Go back and forth

Lacerate

‘Cause you can remember only when you’re alone

I am granting you more than the debt that I owe

He keeps poking her, trying to get a reaction, getting hurt in the process, and knowing deep down that he is giving more to her than she is to him.

The “debt I owe” line could just be a phrase he is using to describe his sorrow, or, what I like to believe is that he did meet Sleep before the daylight horrors began and maybe it is Sleep who caused all this pain he is experiencing on the outside. Almost as if he made a deal with the devil and, a tale as old as time, it was fun for a while, but eventually ruined him. Alternatively it could be referring to something he did that in turn caused his massive state of grief that he now finds himself in.

‘Cause I look for scarlet and you look for ultraviolet

And we are exhausted by all this pretending

We just can’t resist the violence

And you need a melody, I only need the silence

But each time we battle

The blood and the fury takes us a little higher

The violence is thrilling nonetheless. He is loving the fight, loving the attention it brings, loving the dance they are entwined in. The music here shifts from a ballad to a darker feel. Not quite bad, but it evicts emotions that pulls you down with him.

With all that you believe

You still refuse to shelter me

‘Cause I am a danger

And you’re a long way from home

You are one among many, but you’re now on your own

[REDACTED] starts to taunt her. Why won’t you take me in? What am I too much for you? What am I a danger to you? Why else wouldn’t you want to pull me in? Are you scared? Are you alone? Are you not as powerful as you say you are? Come on, why won’t you take me?

And I hate the way you look

At me when I am not understood

‘Cause you can remember only when you’re alone

I am granting you more than the debt that I owe

You are a god, I know there are many gods yet I only meet you. Were you cast aside by the others? Do they not like you? Why do I want you when I also can’t stand the torture you put me through? I bet when you are alone you start to actually feel bad for me, that must be why you keep coming back. You want me, you just won’t admit it. You owe me for all I have done for you. You make me pay a higher price than what you bestowed onto me. Why keep me around?

[REDACTED] is getting angry and frustrated as the music picks up. He is fighting back, just a little bit, to get answers out of her. He looks for scarlet, aka red flags through his rose colored glasses and she looks for ultraviolet, a light hidden to human eyes but something she can clearly see.

You won’t begin again (x4)

‘Cause I look for scarlet and you look for ultraviolet

And we are exhausted by all this pretending

We just can’t resist the violence

And you need a melody, I only need the silence

But each time we battle

The blood and the fury takes us a little higher

The debt that I owe (x7)

Taunting her. Challenging her. He throws a tantrum in his frustration trying to break her to see if she will crack and be honest with him on her intentions. He just wants answers! His debt feels paid off but she won’t accept it, why? Does she want me around?

Take Aim

From a very intense breakdown in the last song, we are back to a simple melody. Pulling us back into [REDACTED]’s need to please Sleep.

Wait, won’t you wait for me?

Don’t you bathe in rivers?

Don’t you feel alive?

And when I see you waking up

And it sends me shivers

How you love like weapons kill

Aren’t you an almighty god? Don’t you live a life of riches and pampering? The grass is truly greener on your side. Every time I wake without you I am reminded of the terror you bring me but I also crave how you love me. Love is love, no matter how you receive it and if yours comes with violence then I will happily take every hit you send.

So take aim

At me for once

Just take aim

Break me apart

Hit Me! Hit Me! Hit Me!

Call, won’t you call out my name?

Like a curse on this world?

Like a battle cry?

And you make me hate myself

Make me tear my body

Make me yearn for your embrace

Want me. Why won’t you just say it? I know you want me, deep down. Just admit it. Haven’t I proved to you my love? Open up to me. Claim me. Turn me into Vessel, let me serve you and love you the way I know I can. I don’t like who I am becoming, stop playing games with me and just let me in. What else do you want from me? What else about me must I change? I am becoming someone I don’t even recognize but as long as it makes you happy… I will do it.

So take aim

At me for once

Just take aim

Break me apart

Hit Me! Hit Me! Hit Me!

And you know I’ll be yours

When the moment is perfect

I will fire and forget till we both lay broken

And you know I’ll be yours

Just want to be worth it

I will run like the wind till you follow me again

You know how much I crave, desire, and want you. You’re just waiting until the right time, right? I will wait patiently until you are ready. I know what I feel is bad, but it’s okay. It will be worth it in the end. Denial. Denial. Denial.

—--------------

Okay, we are half way through the album and it feels like we aren’t moving very fast through the thought process or situation. But that is grief. Grief is slow, painful, excruciating, repetitive, and definitely not linear. Grief will have us doubling back over and over and over again until our brain and our heart has fully processed every corner of what we are going through. We also haven’t officially met Vessel yet. Sleep is holding this purpose over him, toying him, dangling that carrot knowing if she asks him to jump he will ask how high. She finds this amusing and is enjoying watching him squirm and beg.

—---------------

Give

You take the dark and carve me out a home

I picture you when you are all alone

I know how we got here

I am the shadow, you’re a passenger

I am the intake of breath so sharp and I know you better

Just wanna know you better

Is the right time finally coming? Maybe it’s taken so long because you have been working on something special for me. Let me in, let me see what you are planning. I want to be a part of it so desperately I feel like I can’t wait any longer. You love me, don’t you?

If you wanna give

Then give me all that you can give

All your darkest impulses

And if you wanna give me anything, then give

Give in again

I am ready, I have given you so much and more, show me that my dedication and loyalty has finally paid off. I am ready. I am ready. I am ready.

Musically this chorus hits so hard. The structure and composition is gorgeous and heart wrenching at the same time. They really know how to write music that grabs hold of your heart and squeezes all the feeling out of it.

I’ll tear the fibre from the filament

I’ll be the limit of your light again

I wanna taste you better

I will be watching for your enemies

To let them know that they contend with me

I wanna know you’re out there

I will lay down my sword for you. I will fight for you. I will do anything you ask. Anything. Just give me the reassurance that you are watching. Look what I would do for you.

I just wanna give

Wanna give you all that I can give

All my darkest impulses

And if you wanna give me anything, then give

Give in again

In this open warfare

I won’t fight fair

No, I won’t fight fair

And in your waking moments

I will be there

Hey don’t play with me, I will fight back! Don’t test me! But if you need me at any point, call me, I will come to your beck and call. But also I could just leave at any moment so don’t forget that. I’ll do it!

If you wanna give

Then give me all that you can give

All your darkest impulses, and give

If you wanna give me anything, then give

Give in again

Please put in the same energy I am. I know you want to. I know deep down you love me. Drop your walls.

I love when lyricists make a perspective change on choruses. Turning the main character of the lines from themselves to another person, switching the perspective for a moment. However, in this case it is still [REDACTED] talking to Sleep, begging her to love him back and just as intensely as he is loving her.

I just wanna give

Wanna give you all that I can give

All my darkest impulses

And if you wanna give me anything, then give

Give in again

I will do anything for you. I will die for you. Please give me something in return, just a crumb. Please. If you can spare a few extra crumbs, I will really appreciate that. Please, I am starving.

Gods

Thrusted back into a heavy song we are greeted again with [REDACTED]’s anger and frustration. He has lost his cool, he’s not going to beg. He is going to throw a tantrum in his room pleading why he is being toyed with. Deciding, fuck it, if she won’t love me and the daylight people won’t support me in the ways I need, then I’ll just be alone. I am worthless, I am nothing.

I see the gods avert their gaze from me

My fucking form is but a wreck beneath them

And they’re always people I can call on

It’s all so easy for me

No more taking chances

No more teeth to bite with

No more smiling faces

I am alone again

This is the first time we have [REDACTED] start to get really angry to a point of cursing. It may not seem like a big deal, but as a song writer it is such a powerful statement when you start to use curse words in your lyrics/poetry. It is to display intense anger and lose control and temper. [REDACTED] feels Sleep pulling away, she has left him. Punishing him. He knows there are people in the daylight that care for him, but he misses the fighting and excitement Sleep brings him. That is what has brought him the most joy recently and the caring voices during the daylight do not fill the void that Sleep has created.

You wanna talk?

You wanna talk it out?

‘Cause the joke’s on me and I’m laughing too

You wanna watch me bleed?

‘Cause I bleed so well

It’s all so easy for me

He taunts her, teases her. She doesn’t want to talk to him, he knows that. Would self harming make you care, would that make you talk to me? I can do it, I will do it!

(Eternally, eternally)

Okay breathe, calm down. I am getting too riled up. Pull it back. Try to actually talk to her. Tell her how you feel.

Do you like the way it feels?

Like fire from the heavens

Carving past the surface into you

And do you like the way it feels?

Like fire from the heavens

Tearing me asunder beside you

You like the torture you put me through, don’t you? You love playing with my heart. You can’t get enough of it. You do like me don’t you? Why else would you put all this effort into me? You love me.

At this point [REDACTED] is fighting with Sleep but in his depression it is coming out in ways of self harm. Mentally he is fighting with his depression and his way of fighting back is to physically harm himself to maybe cause some form of release in his mind. Sleep lives within his brain so maybe he can cut her out.

It’s all so easy for me

Sugar

This is the first song we have that is now from Sleep’s perspective. A rare glimpse we get to indulge in. We are finally introduced to her thoughts and her brain.

And you play a twisted little game

But I know in a way

You need to complicate

Believe that though we never eat

We still know how to feed

We still know how to bleed (Oh)

What’s interesting is this song starts on an “and” as if she was already talking and we are just now stepping into the conversation. For me this shows that [REDACTED] either has selective hearing when it comes to what Sleep says or that [REDACTED] is an unreliable narrator… however for the sake of not getting things too mixed up we are going to assume everything said whether it be from Vessel, [REDACTED], or Sleep, that it is true. I don’t want us getting pulled too far on theories and guessing games as this essay will be long enough.

Here she sees [REDACTED] through her godlike eyes and is almost mocking him. She must convince him that she is not of danger to him, but really she is feeding on him. Feeding on his energy, maybe? Emotions? Hurt? Sorrow? Longing? Wanting? Lusting? Obsession? Worship? Praise? The list goes on on what she considers sustenance. It reminds me of energy vampires but in a more cynical and somehow larger way.

Sugar, I’ve developed a taste for you now

Yeah, she likes him. Or maybe just enjoys the thrills she gets from toying with him. Either way, she has taken her bite that he has begged her to take. She now gets off on the flavor of him.

My arms keep you in the room

Barely let you move

Show me what you do (Oh)

Tonight, we’re second-guessed again

Let me wrap the chains

Addicted to the pain

She knows that she has a hold on him and it’s in her power to keep him or let him go. She knows that he won’t wiggle as long as she keeps her grasp. As she senses his questioning she once again tightens the bonds she has on him to keep him locked up. She gets off on his suffering… and most likely the suffering she may feel in this deadly tango.

Do you wanna see how far it goes?

Do you wanna test me now, my love?

You must be crazy if you think that I will give in so easily

Things we buried low

Comin’ to the surface now, my love

You must be crazy if you think that I will give up the game

I love that now we are starting to see her game and motivation in this song. Finally a glimpse into the mind we have so far been trying to understand, that [REDACTED] still has no real concept of. As story telling it is a great perspective change since [REDACTED] seems to be in circles trying to understand Sleep. “You must be crazy if you think that I will give in so easily”, she’s testing him. She wants to push his limits and see where he will break. She is playing hard to get and is loving the chase and the game of it all. She gets off on it. She is pushing him further and further trying to raise the stakes.

(Oh, whoa)

Sugar, I’ve got a taste for you now (x4)

Sugar, I’ve developed a taste for you now

(Do you wanna see how far it goes?)

Sugar, I’ve developed a taste for you now

(Do you wanna test me now, my love?)

Sugar, I’ve developed a taste for you now

(You must be crazy if you think that I will give in so easily)

Sugar, I’ve developed a taste for you now

(Things we buried low, comin’ to the surface now, my love)

(You must be crazy if you think that I will give up the game)

Say That You Will

We are back in the mind of [REDACTED] and his denial continues…

Is that a word you said, my love

Or just a gesture in tongues?

Well, I live to guess your sorrow

And you live to empty my lungs

“Well, I live to guess your sorrow and you live to empty my lungs” such an incredible line. He is trying so hard to understand her, to see through her soul. He thinks he is starting to grasp who she is but still is not quite sure. What he is sure of is that Sleep takes his breath away, both in beauty and in pain. She is constantly leaving him speechless and wondering while also being entranced by her beauty and lust he has for her.

And you’ve got me up in a frenzy again

And I know you’re planning to leave in the end

He is starting to notice her patterns. He’s starting to feel safe and excited, he is getting his breadcrumbs and he can feel that as the breadcrumbs fall it is a sign that she will pull away again… or that the daylight will once again rise pulling her away from him.

Won’t you say that you will?

Let the impulse to love

And the instinct to kill

Entangle to one

In this light, you are mine

Till the sweat turns to blood

Won’t you say that you will

Even if you won’t?

Love me. Want me. I yearn for you. “Let the impulse to love and the instinct to kill entangle to one”. Be with me. Abuse me if you must. Your love feels like daggers and I can’t get enough.

Oh, is that a glint in your eye?

Is that a blade in your palm?

Well, I am yours tonight

So will you lay in my arms?

You ARE enjoying this! You are fond of me! I knew it! I don’t care that each loving act comes with pain, but tonight, lay down your arms, lay with me and love me without the torture, just this once. You can go back to hurting me tomorrow. But tonight, just love me.

Drag Me Under

We have reached the part of the story where I believe [REDACTED] is finally bestowed the title of Vessel. He has shown Sleep loyalty and devotion and though this torture and longing is far from over, it is a huge breadcrumb that pulls the now Vessel further into Sleep’s grasp.

And I know

The angels tonight are

As lost for words

As I am

To merely

Behold you

As we lie down together

Drag me under again

Deep into your love (Oh)

Starting another song on an “and” again makes me think that we are entering a conversation. The conversation being the signing into servitude to the almighty Sleep. “The angels tonight are as loss for words” Vessel knows that the people in the daylight will not be happy with his decision to take on this servitude. Like watching a friend get back together with an abusive ex, he knows that the people in the daylight will not be happy with his decision to sink further into Sleep’s embrace AKA further into his depression.

In the daylight this is probably being seen as more signs of self harm, sleeping for long hours or possibly days, putting off work or even being fired from work, slacking on personal projects or obligations to others, etc. The list goes on. All the classic signs of depression when it starts getting REALLY bad.

And I know

The Gods will

Abandon the heavens just to find us

To merely

Behold you

As we lie down together

Drag me under again

Deep into your love (Oh)

The other gods seemingly also unhappy with this new found official union, but Vessel does not care. He is happy to finally be knighted into his servitude and to officially become Sleep’s valiant Vessel.

Hold me beneath the surface

(And I know the angels tonight are lost for words)

Deep into your love

(As I am to merely behold you as we lie down together)

Blood Sport

Each album has a full story line where the final act is not the last song. In “Sundowning” the finale should be that [REDACTED] is finally given the role of Vessel. That’s the end of the story right? The big finale? Well… it is. That is the end of this album’s tale, however we are also blessed with an epilogue at the end of every album that summarizes what we just witnessed. The first epilogue song we get in this dramatic epic is Blood Sport.

I wanna roll the numbers

I wanna feel my stars align again

Even if the earth breaks like burnt skin

And the heavens just won’t open up for me

Would you invite me in again?

Won’t you pay for your arrogance?

Won’t you show me your weakness?

I crave to feel something, anything. No matter what it takes. I will taunt you and question you, and wonder what I mean to you. I want you to trust me.

I made loving you a blood sport

I can’t win

I made loving you a blood sport

I can’t win

So let’s play

I feel like this is all very self explanatory and a great way to put this entire album into a nutshell. Their dynamic is a game, a game he pushed to play even though he knows he will get hurt. He knew that from the very beginning with her diamond teeth and scarlet flags. He knows with her being a god that he will never be able to beat her, he loves to lose to her. It’s thrilling! He gets hit and will jump right back up begging to be hit again. He wants to play her game.

And somewhere

Somewhere the atoms stopped fusing

I’m still your favourite regret

You’re still my weapon of choosing

“I’m still your favourite regret, you’re still my weapon of choosing” this lyric gets me every time. Such a beautiful line that I wish I wrote. So incredibly poetic, but right to the point in just two simple lines. He knows Sleep wishes she didn’t let Vessel get this far, but she enjoyed their game and now is enjoying having him around, even if just to torment. Vessel knows that every time he interacts with Sleep that she will hurt him and yet he comes back every time for a fresh cut.

And out there

Stuck in a quantum pattern

Tangled with what I never said

You say it doesn’t matter

We are now starting to zoom out of their entanglement to recognize that we have stepped into the world of the gods. He is starting to notice that the physics around him are not of earth but are from a much bigger plane. Maybe even beyond the confines of space, or somewhere between space and the kingdom of the gods. He is starting to taste what her life tastes like and is trying to understand it while still being so stuck in his head that he almost has horse blinders on. He knows he has ascended somehow, and that he is swimming in this new found space of consciousness, but won’t take the time to look around and take it in. Instead he is still stuck trying to sort out her thoughts. Playing the guessing game on what her true intentions are and trying to convince himself that she must love him. He’s gone this far, she wouldn’t do this if she didn’t love him.

Entering the world of the gods is also him succumbing to his depression. This song officially crowns him as Vessel, meaning he has also taken an attempt on his life and he is feeling himself fall further into Sleep’s world. His body is leaving earthly planes and floating up into the heavens. He is closer to death.

Also, this fucking nerd making me google fusing of atoms and quantum patterns cause I haven’t thought about any of this shit since I was in high school I had to remind myself of space science. This lyricism is so quick but so incredibly deep with how he is choosing to form his metaphors about his current mental state being that of space science. Because our minds are made of star dust at the end of the day that even though he feels he is moving outwardly, internally we are our own universes that fall back into themselves connecting us to the far reaches of space and time especially when experiencing a mental health crisis. Atoms no longer fusing is hinting that the energy is dying, things are no longer being made, inspiration is no longer hitting and he is feeling bogged down. While quantum patterns being atoms stuck in a loop unable to escape the dance they are in unless something comes by to disrupt it, much like how an obsession takes over our minds.

I wanna be forgiven

I wanna choke up chunks of my own sins

Even if the sky cracks in mourning

And the heavens just won’t open up for me

He desperately still seeks her approval. He doesn’t care that this godlike world comes with all these riches, he wants HER. So what if he doesn’t wake up again? At least he got her seal of approval. Her love. Her acceptance.

Would you invite me in again?

Let me pay for my arrogance?

Won’t you show me your weakness?

And what if he is given all of this and wakes up again? Would she be mad at him for not staying with her forever? Would she punish him when he comes back again? If he leaves, what will she think of him? [REDACTED] has been coming in and out of this album visiting her only when he lies down, what if he stayed asleep forever?

I made loving you a blood sport

I can’t win

I made loving you a blood sport

I can’t win

And somewhere

(I made loving you a blood sport)

Somewhere the atoms stopped fusing

(I made loving you a blood sport)

I’m still your favourite regret

(I made loving you a blood sport)

You’re still my weapon of choosing

And out there

(I made loving you a blood sport)

Stuck in a quantum pattern

(I made loving you a blood sport)

Tangled with what I never said

(I made loving you a blood sport)

You say it doesn’t matter

—--------------

And so we reach the end of the first album, of act 1 of this heartbreaking epic. When we talk about denial in the stages of grief we are warned about the symptoms: unable to accept the loss, avoiding the loss at all costs, or distracting yourself with something completely different, turning your focus onto another source as to not think about the loss all together. So what did Vessel lose? We are not sure yet, though I do have a theory we will discuss later on. Sleep is his chosen distraction and obsession to escape the feeling of loss that started this whole story. Something happened to [REDACTED] that had him meet Sleep at the beginning of this album… or maybe Sleep greeted him long ago granting him wishes with a hefty price that he now needs to pay back. We are reminded again of the album title “Sundowning” and what it evokes as the sun sets. [REDACTED] was already in a state of depression long before he ran into Sleep’s arms, which means he experienced some form of tragedy in his daylight life. Sleep is just [REDACTED]’s distraction to run from the loss he is experiencing in the daylight. A loss that could very well be Sleep’s doing.

Denial.

—---------------
Keep eye’s peeled for the next parts along with my analysis of Sleep Token’s genre and much more about this dynamic band! ‘Til next time <3

Lucyfer

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