The Perils Of Sleeping On The Subway: A Musical Tale

Don't Sleep in the Subway is a song written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent and recorded by Petula Clark, who released it as a single in April 1967. The song is about a couple who have many disagreements, with the man often retreating into his own world instead of engaging with the issue. The woman, in the lyrics, advises her partner against walking out after an argument due to his foolish pride. The song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Song in 1968, and peaked at No.5 on the US charts in July 1967.

The song's lyrics

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" is a song by British singer Petula Clark, released in April 1967. The song was written by Tony Hatch and his wife, Jackie Trent. It is a combination of three different sections of music previously composed by Hatch, with styles ranging from pop to symphonic, and a Beach Boys-like melody for the chorus.

The lyrics depict a couple's disagreement, where the man often wanders off, lost in his thoughts, and walks out during an argument. The narrator, likely the woman, advises her sweetheart against leaving due to his "foolish pride". She acknowledges their differences but asks him to stay, warning him that he will be sleeping in the subway or standing in the pouring rain if he leaves. The song conveys a message of compromise and mutual understanding in a relationship.

You wander around on your own little cloud

When you don't see the why or the wherefore

Ooh, you walk out on me when we both disagree

'Cause to reason is not what you care for

I've heard it all a million times before

Take off your coat, my love, and close the door

Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'

Don't stand in the pouring rain

Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'

The night is long

Forget your foolish pride

Nothing's wrong

Now you're beside me again

You try to be smart, then you take it to heart

'Cause it hurts when your ego is deflated

Ooh, you don't realize that it's all compromise

And the problems are so over-rated

Goodbye means nothing when it's all for show

So why pretend you've somewhere else to go?

Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'

Don't stand in the pouring rain

Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'

The night is long

Forget your foolish pride

Nothing's wrong

Now you're beside me again

Oh, oh, oh

Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'

Don't stand in the pouring rain

Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'

The night is long

Forget your foolish pride

Nothing's wrong

Now you're beside me again

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Repeat chorus and fade out)

The song's composition

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" is a song written by Tony Hatch and his wife, Jackie Trent, and recorded by Petula Clark. It was released as a single in April 1967 and was included in Clark's 1967 album, "These Are My Songs". The song is constructed from three different sections of music previously composed by Hatch, transitioning from pop to symphonic, and then to a Beach Boys-like melody for the chorus.

The song's lyrics narrate a couple's disagreement, where the man often walks out on the woman, wandering off on his "own little cloud". The narrator advises her sweetheart against storming out due to his "foolish pride". She warns him that if he does, he will "sleep in the subway" or "stand in the pouring rain" to prove his point. The term "subway" here refers to a pedestrian underpass, as is the case in England, rather than an underground transit system.

The song's chorus repeats the phrase, "Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'/Don't stand in the pouring rain/Don't sleep in the subway, darlin'/The night is long", emphasising the narrator's plea for her partner not to leave. The song continues with the narrator urging her partner to forget his pride and compromise, as "goodbye means nothing when it's all for show".

The meaning of subway

In the song "Don't Sleep in the Subway", the term "subway" does not refer to a mode of transportation. Instead, it refers to the underground passages found in London that enable pedestrians to cross busy intersections safely.

The song, written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, is about a couple who have a lot of disagreements. The man often retreats into his own world instead of engaging with the issue at hand. When he threatens to walk out on her, the woman is asking him not to sleep in the subway but to spend the night with her instead. She is telling him that it is better to come up with a solution and make up.

The song's lyrics suggest that the woman is afraid of being alone and that she needs her partner for comfort and security. The song can be interpreted as a plea for reconciliation, a warning against the dangers of urban life, or an expression of the fear and loneliness that many people experience in large cities.

The song's success

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" was written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent and recorded by Petula Clark, who released it as a single in April 1967. The song was constructed from three different sections of music previously composed by Hatch, with the style changing from pop to symphonic, and then to a Beach Boys-like melody for the chorus.

The song was a commercial success, peaking at No.5 on the US charts in July 1967, becoming Clark's final US Top Ten single. It was also her second of two No.1 hits on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. In the UK, the song reached No.12, marking a decline in Clark's UK chart profile. However, it still reached No.1 in Australia, No.3 in Rhodesia, No.5 in Canada, No.7 in New Zealand, No.10 in South Africa, and No.16 in Germany.

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" was nominated for a 1968 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song, losing to "Up, Up and Away" by The 5th Dimension. Clark has cited the song as one of her favourites, and it remains a popular choice for covers, with notable artists such as Frank Sinatra, Betty Chung, and Mari Wilson recording their own versions. The song has also made appearances in popular culture, including in the TV shows Monty Python's Flying Circus, Malcolm in the Middle, and Glee.

The song's legacy

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" is a song with a lasting legacy, both for its writer, Tony Hatch, and the singer, Petula Clark. The song was written by Hatch and his wife, Jackie Trent, and was released as a single in April 1967. It was Clark's final US Top Ten single, peaking at No.5 on the US charts in July 1967. The song also reached No.12 in the UK charts in the same month.

The song is notable for its musical construction, as it was formed from three different sections of music previously composed by Hatch, with styles ranging from pop to symphonic, and a Beach Boys-like melody for the chorus. The lyrics also have a unique backstory, with the title being inspired by the 1961-62 Broadway musical, "Subways Are for Sleeping". The song's narrative revolves around a couple's disagreements and the potential storming out of the house by the man, with the woman advising him against it due to his "foolish pride".

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" has been recognised and referenced in popular culture over the years. It was nominated for a 1968 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song, covered by artists such as Frank Sinatra and Betty Chung, and featured in television shows like "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and "Glee".

The song holds a special place in Clark's repertoire, as she has cited it as one of her favourite hits. In an interview, Clark mentioned that the song is "a bit of a mystery" to her, but she loves it nonetheless. The song continues to be included in her concert performances.

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