How Do You Sleep

I've seen your severed head
At a banquet for the dead
All are dressed up for dinner, looked so fine
Your shining silver salver
So tastefully powdered
With the finest military quicklime

Now try and picture this
As I gave you a kiss
The apple in your mouth slipped in mine
The orchestra played the sweetest serenade
We laughed as we put away your wine
So raise your glasses, here's a toast to wasted lives
May all their ghosts come back to haunt you
And tell you how they died

How do you sleep
How do you last the night
And keep the dogs at bay ?
How do you feel when you close your eyes
And try and drift away ?
Does it feel any better now ?
Does it mean any more ?
When the angel of death comes
Knock- knocking and banging at your door*

When all the fun was over
I put you on my shoulder
Took you home away from it all
Shot down and claimed
Mounted and framed
Tastefully hung upon my wall
All my dreams your nightmares**
I hope they all come true
Get off your knees the party's over
I'm coming home to you

How do you sleep
How do you last the night
And keep the dogs at bay ?
How do you feel when you close your eyes
And try and drift away ?
Does it feel any better now?
Does it mean any more ?
When the angel of death comes
Knock-knocking and banging at your door

Lyrics by:
Squire

Music by:
Squire

Written:
1992

Personnel:
John Squire (guitar)
Ian Brown (vocals)
Gary Mounfield (bass)
Alan Wren (drums, backing vocals)
Simon Dawson (Yamaha acoustic piano)

Producer:
Simon Dawson & Paul Schroeder. Partly recorded by John Leckie.

Engineer:

Available on:
Second Coming (4.59)

First live performance:
Never performed live.

Details:
The format of The Stone Roses' classic era is revisited here, with stinging lyrics offsetting a sweet musical sound. For detailed analysis of this song, click here.

* On the 1993 demo, the lyric here is: 'Is there life after death ? Is there anything left worth living for ?'
** I think that Ian ambiguously pronounces the word 'All' as 'Are' in this lyric ('All my dreams, your nightmares...' / 'Are my dreams your nightmares ?...').

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