No One's Sleeping

Album: Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "No One's Sleeping" pertains to be about the murder in the UK of Labour MP Jo Cox. The politician was killed by Thomas Mair, a mentally ill man associated with far-right organizations. Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox told Uncut:

    "I think it's important for the English to realize they don't live on a cultural island and that the death of Jo Cox had a profound human impact on me as if it happened in my own country. It's a representative of the ills of our culture. It's representative of that mania, of nationalism. It's madness that this person died so violently, a person with a family, with friendships and scent memories and a whole catalogue of first dates and phone calls and favorite books and songs. I don't have to sit there and politicize how I feel about Brexit - this has nothing to do with Brexit - it's how I feel about the irrational taking over and destroying life."
  • Bradford admits the song's themes are violent and nihilistic. He explained to Consequence of Sound: "We've reached a sort of very dismal nadir. A lot of times that leads to some kind of revolution and renaissance, but I don't know. It's not my job to be pleasant, you know? So I have no problem saying that there's not really a bright side."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.