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Classic Songs
Revisited
As I Lay Me Down
written by Sophie B. Hawkins
produced by Stephen Lipson
An American singer with a normally typical British first name... not
to be outdone, Sophie B.’s middle name is Ballantine. She became a
professional pop singer around the early ’90s, during which time
she signed with legendary, ageless label Columbia Records—a
division of CBS until right around this time, 1991-ish, from which time Columbia and all other CBS labels would be distributed through Sony Music. Sophie’s debut album, 1992’s Tongues And Tails, gave birth to and led off with the biggest hit of her career—at least charting-wise—“Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover.” (...Not to punctuation-police you or anything now, Sophe, but... should there not be a comma in there?... Maybe an exclamation point if you were feeling particularly enthusiastic?)
Her 1994 sophomore album Whaler rivaled Tongues And Tails for the source of her biggest hit. Though Whaler’s opening single, “Right Beside You,” did fairly okay, its follow-up “Don’t Don’t Tell Me No” stalled. But right around the corner from there, Whaler single #3, “As I Lay Me Down” was just waiting to make a splash. It became “Damn/Lover”’s biggest contender for most beloved Hawkins hit. And though it did not chart quite as high, it since surpassed “Damn/Lover” in terms of airplay and acclaim. It’s been featured in, for instance, A-list ’90s series like Dawson’s Creek and Party Of Five. She wrote the song in memory of her dad. Matching its tone, most of the video is a pleasant, tame romp with nature.
Have notes to add? Let me know!
YT:
1994
Lyrics
It felt like springtime on this February morning / In a courtyard birds were singing your praise / I’m still recalling things you said to make me feel all right / I carry them with me today, now / As I lay me down to sleep, this I pray / That you will hold me dear / Though I’m far away, I’ll whisper your name into the sky / And I will wake up happy / I wonder why... / I feel so high, though I am not above the sorrow / Heavy-hearted, till you call my name / And it sounds like church bells, or the whistle of a train / On a summer evening, I’ll run to meet you barefoot / Barely breathing / As I lay me (oo la ka ko) down to sleep, this I pray / That you will hold me dear / Though I’m far away, I’ll whisper (oo la ka ko) your name into the sky / And I will wake up happy / Oh darling... / x1 / It’s not too near for me / Like a flower, I need the rain / Though it’s not clear to me / Every season has its change, and I will see you / When the sun comes out again / x1 / Oh-oh, babe... / x1 / I wonder why... (oo la ka ko) / Sun comes out again (oo la ka ko) / When the sun comes out again / When the sun comes out again / When the sun comes out again, ohhhh / When the sun comes out again / When the (oo la ka ko) sun comes out again, mmm / Comes out, comes out, comes out / I will wake up happy / (Oo la ka ko) This I pray... comes out / One day I’m home again, mmm / One day I’m home again / One day (oo la ka ko) / (Oo la ka ko)/[fade]
first release: Whaler (1994/08/02)


audio treated sample
This page was originally made on June 12th, 2021 and last edited on July 23rd, 2021