Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST

Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD

Festival Guides-YOUR ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL COMPANION

Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST

Mixtape-DORK'S BEST NEW TRACKS

Play-DORK'S NEW MUSIC FRIDAY EDIT

Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD

Playlist Covers

Playlist Directory

Before Doors-LIVE SESSIONS

Music Video Directory

Down With Boring-THE DORK PODCAST

Chart Attack-UK NUMBER ONES, DISSECTED

Dork Radio

Live

Live 24/7

Dork Radio

Down With Boring

Join thousands of music lovers getting the best new tracks, exclusive interviews, and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox every week.

In print now

June 2026

Latest issue variants

Dork, June 2026 (Bleachers cover)

Bleachers

Dork, June 2026 (Myles Smith cover)

Myles Smith

Dork, June 2026 (Towa Bird cover)

Towa Bird

|

Privacy Policy|

Cookie settings

© 2026 The Bunker Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Decemberists – Sleepless (2009) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
The Decemberists
Dark Was the Night
Sleepless

TRACK

The Decemberists

Sleepless

Release date: 16th February 2009

From Dark Was the Night

More on The Decemberists

About This Track

"Sleepless" is a track by The Decemberists, from the album Dark Was the Night, released 16th February 2009. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about The Decemberists.

About the Artist

The Decemberists

The Decemberists

Lyrics

Sleepless

As you lie before me now like a shadow

On a pea green sea

Never thought that I could find you so hollow

Laying into me

But this cup of wine

All salt and brine's made me sleepy

The sorrow sows

A field of tears that will never yield a single penny

But I don't know

I've got nothing to hold onto

Wished for gold so I could buy you a palace

By the riverside

You'd come in and I would fill your diamond chalice

You were still alive

But this cup of wine

All salt and brine's made me sleepy

And sorrow sows

A field of tears that will never yield a single penny

But I don't know

I've got nothing to hold onto

I've got nothing to hold onto

Were you sleepless tearing at the air?

Was the water everywhere?

Were you fretful to wade into the room?

I'd been wanting to hear from you - Oh no

Hand it over (Hand it over)

Hand it over (Ooh-ooh)

You're weary lay 'em down

You did your time so thank you very much

Hand it over (Hand it over)

Hand it over (Ooh-ooh)

So now your hopes are all allayed

But you hand it all away

Did his eyelids affix on empty chairs

You had traveled to lay beside?

A gentle torture to watch it all recede

And all the while your mother slept beside him - Oh no

Hand it over (Hand it over)

Hand it over (Ooh-ooh)

You're weary lay 'em down

You did your time so thank you very much

Hand it over (Hand it over)

Hand it over (Ooh-ooh)

So now your hopes are all allayed

But you hand it all away

Were you sleepless tearing at the air?

Was the water everywhere?

Were you fearful and longed to run away

From the cold clasp of Illinois? - Oh no

Hand it over (Hand it over)

Hand it over (Ooh-ooh)

You're weary lay 'em down

You did your time so thank you very much

Hand it over (Hand it over)

Hand it over (Ooh-ooh)

So now your hopes are all allayed

But you hand it all away

But you hand it all away

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Dark Was the Night

2009

Listen

Album

Dark Was the Night

Release year

2009

—Sleepless
—Blood, Pt. 2
—I Was Young When I Left Home
—Brackett, WI
—Amazing Grace
—Service Bell
—Train Song
—Lua
—Deep Blue Sea
—Cello Song
—Knotty Pine
—Mimizan
—Stolen Houses (Die)
—Lenin
—El Caporal
—Hey, Snow White
—So Far Around the Bend
—Well-Alright
—The Giant of Illinois
—Gentle Hour
—You Are the Blood
—Tightrope
—Another Saturday
—Feeling Good
—When the Road Runs Out

More from The Decemberists

Albums & EPs

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Joan in the Garden - EP

Joan in the Garden - EP

Live Home Library Vol. I

Traveling On - EP

Traveling On - EP

I'll Be Your Girl

I'll Be Your Girl

Florasongs - EP

Florasongs - EP

What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live Songs 04.11 - 08.11)

Explore

More tracks by The Decemberists

William Fitzwilliam (Live)

Tell Me What’s on Your MindAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Don’t Go to the WoodsAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Burial GroundAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Tell Me What's on Your MindAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Don't Go to the WoodsAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

All I Want Is YouAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

America Made MeAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Born to the MorningAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Oh No!As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Long White VeilAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Joan in the GardenAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Never SatisfiedAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

The Black MariaAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

William FitzwilliamAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

The ReapersAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Joan in the GardenJoan in the Garden - EP

Clementine (Cover Version)

Wm. Fitzwilliam

PreludeLive Home Library Vol. I

The Hazards Of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle The Thistles Undone)Live Home Library Vol. I

A Bower SceneLive Home Library Vol. I

Won't Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga)Live Home Library Vol. I

The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)Live Home Library Vol. I

The Queen's ApproachLive Home Library Vol. I

Isn't It A Lovely Night?Live Home Library Vol. I

The Wanting Comes In Waves / RepaidLive Home Library Vol. I

An InterludeLive Home Library Vol. I

The Rake's SongLive Home Library Vol. I

The Abduction Of MargaretLive Home Library Vol. I

The Queen's Rebuke / The CrossingLive Home Library Vol. I

Annan WaterLive Home Library Vol. I

Margaret In CaptivityLive Home Library Vol. I

The Hazards Of Love 3 (Revenge!)Live Home Library Vol. I

The Wanting Comes In Waves (Reprise)Live Home Library Vol. I

The Hazards Of Love 4 (The Drowned)Live Home Library Vol. I

The Capp Street Girls

Down on the KnuckleTraveling On - EP

Midlist AuthorTraveling On - EP

I Will Not Say Your NameTraveling On - EP

Traveling OnTraveling On - EP

Tripping Along (Full Band Version)Traveling On - EP

I'll Be Your GirlI'll Be Your Girl

Rusalka, Rusalka / The Wild RushesI'll Be Your Girl

Tripping AlongI'll Be Your Girl

View all tracks by The Decemberists →

Joan in the GardenAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
19:21
Joan in the GardenJoan in the Garden - EP
19:21
A Bower SceneLive Home Library Vol. I
All I Want Is YouAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
2:38
America Made MeAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
5:20
An InterludeLive Home Library Vol. I
Annan WaterLive Home Library Vol. I
Black Mariah
Born to the MorningAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
3:24
Burial GroundAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
4:05

Showing 10 of 50

If you like The Decemberists

Colin Meloy

Colin Meloy

Tarkio

The Mountain Goats

The Mountain Goats

The Shins

The Shins

Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie

Okkervil River

Okkervil River

The New Pornographers

The New Pornographers

Iron & Wine

Iron & Wine

Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird

Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

The Decemberists: "Everything actually is awful, and it's not that funny"

The Decemberists: "Everything actually is awful, and it's not that funny"

Colin Meloy chats with Dork about getting out of old habits, branching out into literature and what’s next for The Decemberists.

7 Nov 2018 • 3:30 pm

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Colin Meloy
Producer: Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner
Drums: John Moen
Guitar: Chris Funk, Colin Meloy
Vocals: Colin Meloy
Accordion: Jenny Conlee
Background Vocals: John Moen
Banjo: Chris Funk
Double Bass: Nate Query
Mixing Engineer: Jeff Saltzman
Percussion: John Moen
Piano: Jenny Conlee
Recording Engineer: Jeff Saltzman
Viola: Lisa Molinaro