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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.

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YT:

full version

music video

Sophie B.’s official website

 

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) 

WHALER—Sophie B. Hawkins.jpg
AS I LAY ME DOWN {Single}—Sophie B. Hawk

audio treated sample

This page was originally made on June 12th, 2021 and last edited on July 23rd, 2021

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