Ashwin Lewis
How Do You Sleep? is a song by LCD Soundsystem, released in 2017 as part of their fourth album, American Dream. The nine-minute song is about someone reflecting on a failed relationship. The lyrics allude to the bitter feud between James Murphy and his ex-DFA Records production partner, Tim Goldsworthy, who abruptly left New York for London, taking equipment that wasn't his. The song's synths and relentless beat add to its poignancy, with Murphy's agonized wail expressing his feelings of betrayal and unresolved emotions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | LCD Soundsystem |
| Album | American Dream |
| Year | 2017 |
| Song duration | 9 minutes |
| Theme | Failed relationship |
| Subject | Deteriorated relationship between James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy |
| Lyrics | "Standing on the shore, facing east", "You warned me about the cocaine, then dove straight in", "One step forward and six steps back" |
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What You'll Learn
The song references James Murphy's relationship with Tim Goldsworthy deteriorating
The song "How Do You Sleep?" by LCD Soundsystem references James Murphy's deteriorating relationship with Tim Goldsworthy, a co-founder of DFA Records. The lyrics allude to the bitter end of their personal and working relationship, which began to fall apart around 2001 when Goldsworthy abruptly left New York and moved back to the UK without notifying Murphy or the other DFA co-founder, Jonathan Galkin.
The line "Standing on the shore, facing east / I can't feel you" is interpreted as a reference to Goldsworthy's sudden departure from New York and Murphy's resulting sense of loss and inability to reach his former partner. The song also mentions Goldsworthy's alleged jealousy of LCD Soundsystem's success and his abrupt departure with equipment that didn't belong to him.
The song's lyrics depict a yearning for the other person and a longing to understand how to move on after such a relationship. This is reflected in Murphy's subdued refrain of "one step forward / and six steps back," which illustrates the speaker's feeling of taking one step forward only to be pushed back multiple steps.
The song also addresses Goldsworthy's alleged failure to perform services he was paid for and his alleged breach of contract with DFA. In 2013, Murphy, Galkin, and DFA sued Goldsworthy for these reasons, further highlighting the deterioration of their relationship.
"How Do You Sleep?" serves as a poignant and universal reflection on the end of a partnership, both personal and professional, and the complex emotions that arise in the aftermath.
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It's about looking back on a failed relationship
The song "How Do You Sleep?" by LCD Soundsystem is about looking back on a failed relationship. The lyrics depict the speaker standing on the shore, facing east, and trying to communicate with their former friend and lover but feeling unable to reach them. The song reflects on the good times they shared, such as laughing and fighting, as well as the setbacks, including the speaker warning their partner about the dangers of cocaine, only to have them dive straight into it. The relationship ended in parting, and the speaker expresses their inability to move on, taking "one step forward and six steps back." The song conveys a deep yearning for the other person and a longing to understand how to move on after such a relationship.
The song is believed to be inspired by James Murphy's deteriorated relationship with DFA co-founder Tim Goldsworthy. Their personal and working relationship became strained around 2001 when Goldsworthy abruptly left New York to move back to the U.K. without notifying Murphy or the other DFA co-founders. The lyrics "Standing on the shore, facing east / I can't feel you" and "I can't hear you anymore" seem to reflect this sense of distance and loss in the relationship.
The song serves as a reflection on the complexities of the relationship, the fond memories, and the painful moments that led to its demise. It captures the emotional struggle of coming to terms with the end of a significant connection and the difficulty of moving forward. "How Do You Sleep?" is a poignant exploration of the lingering emotions that surface when looking back on a failed relationship, expressing both the sadness of what was lost and the hope for eventual healing and closure.
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The lyrics mention the other person's impermanence
The lyrics of "How Do You Sleep?" by LCD Soundsystem are about someone reflecting on a failed relationship. The song's speaker stands on the shore, trying to communicate with their former friend and lover, but they are unable to reach them. This sense of distance and impermanence is captured in the lyrics "Standing on the shore, facing east / I can't feel you." The speaker's feelings of loss and longing are further emphasized by their memories of the good times they shared, such as laughing and fighting, as well as the challenges they faced, including the other person's involvement with cocaine.
The line "Your impermanence" directly mentions the other person's impermanence, suggesting a sense of fleetingness and instability in their relationship. This theme of impermanence is also reflected in the lyrics "One step forward / And six steps back," which indicate the speaker's struggle to move on and the cyclical nature of their emotions. The speaker is trying to move forward, but they keep finding themselves returning to the past or facing setbacks.
The song's title, "How Do You Sleep?" can be interpreted as a question the speaker is asking their former partner. It conveys a sense of bitterness and resentment, as the speaker wonders how the other person can rest peacefully after the way things ended. The song is believed to be about James Murphy's deteriorated relationship with DFA co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, who abruptly left New York and moved back to the UK, causing a rift in their personal and professional relationship.
The lyrics "You warned me about the cocaine / Then dove straight in" further support the interpretation of the song being about a failed relationship. Despite the speaker's warnings about the dangers of cocaine, the other person chose to ignore them, indicating a lack of regard for the speaker's concerns and contributing to the relationship's downfall. The mention of cocaine adds a layer of complexity and bitterness to the narrative.
Overall, the lyrics of "How Do You Sleep?" by LCD Soundsystem convey a sense of bitterness, longing, and reflection on a relationship that has ended. The mention of the other person's impermanence emphasizes the speaker's feelings of loss and their struggle to move on, creating a poignant and universal narrative that resonates with listeners.
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It's a dark dance-punk song
"How Do You Sleep?" by LCD Soundsystem is a dark dance-punk song with a haunting, relentless beat and agonized wails. The song is a sprawling nine-minute monolith that chronicles the deterioration of James Murphy's relationship with DFA co-founder Tim Goldsworthy. The lyrics reference Goldsworthy's abrupt departure from New York to the UK, leaving Murphy and the other DFA co-founder, Jonathan Galkin, behind. The line "standing on the shore, facing east" is a clear allusion to Goldsworthy's departure, with Murphy feeling left behind and unable to move on, as depicted in the lyrics "one step forward and six steps back."
The song opens with anxious thuds, simmering beats, and shimmering arpeggios, setting the tone for Murphy's emotional journey. The JUPITER-4 synth plays a crucial role in the song's atmosphere, with its dreamy, watery sounds weaving a surreal net. The synths hand-built by synth artist, producer, and DJ Gavilán Rayna Russom create a fervent, vicious, and triumphant soundscape.
The lyrics of "How Do You Sleep?" explore the complexities of a failed relationship. The speaker stands on the shore, trying to communicate with their former friend and lover but feeling unable to reach them. They reflect on the good times they shared, as well as the setbacks, including the partner's disregard for their warnings about cocaine. The song captures the speaker's yearning and longing to understand how to move on.
"How Do You Sleep?" serves as a reflection on the bitter feud between Murphy and Goldsworthy, but it also resonates universally. Despite the specific context, listeners can relate to the emotions of heartbreak, betrayal, and the struggle to move forward. The song's combination of raw emotion and relentless rhythm makes it a powerful and poignant addition to LCD Soundsystem's repertoire.
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It borrows its title from John Lennon's 1971 song
The song "How Do You Sleep?" by LCD Soundsystem borrows its title from John Lennon's 1971 song of the same name, a scathing attack on his former songwriting partner Paul McCartney. The LCD Soundsystem song also deals with a bitter feud, this time between James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy, Murphy's ex-DFA Records production partner and co-founder. The lyrics refer to Goldsworthy's abrupt departure from New York to London, and the breakdown of their working relationship.
The song is a sprawling, nine-minute centrepiece to the band's fourth album, "American Dream". It chronicles the deterioration of the relationship between Murphy and Goldsworthy, which ended in lawsuits and accusations. The lyrics depict a yearning for the other person and a longing to understand how one can move on from such a relationship.
The song's synths and relentless beat add to its immense gravity, with Murphy's agonized wail illuminating the dreamy, arpeggiated twinkle of the JUPITER-4. The song opens with anxious thuds, the beat simmering until it boils over, and the shimmering arpeggios dance across the song's surface, skimming Murphy's howling highs and weary lows.
The lyrics "Standing on the shore, facing east/I can't feel you" are a clear reference to Goldsworthy's departure for London, and the breakdown of their friendship and working relationship. The line "You warned me about the cocaine/Then dove straight in" further illustrates the bitterness and resentment felt by Murphy towards Goldsworthy.
"How Do You Sleep?" by LCD Soundsystem is a powerful and poignant song that borrows its title from John Lennon's 1971 song to explore the bitter end of a personal and professional relationship.
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Frequently asked questions
The song is about someone looking back on a failed relationship and the deterioration of a friendship.
The lyrics were inspired by James Murphy's contentious relationship with his DFA co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, who abruptly left New York and moved back to the U.K.
This lyric is a reference to Tim Goldsworthy's sudden departure from New York and LCD Soundsystem, as he fled to London after things fell apart.
The song is characterised by dance-punk rhythms, a relentless beat, and the use of synths, specifically the JUPITER-4, which creates a dreamy, surreal atmosphere.
The song is a sprawling nine-minute monolith.
