Sleep Alone (song)

Bat For Lashes Writer(s) Natasha Khan Producer(s) Natasha Khan David Kosten Released September 6, 2009 Recorded 2008-2009 Length 3:11 (radio edit) 4:04 (album version) From Two Suns Single(s) "Daniel" "Pearl's Dream" "Sleep Alone" Promotional single(s) "Moon and Moon" Singles chronology "Pearl's Dream" "Sleep Alone / Moon and Moon" "Laura" Two Suns track listing "Glass" "Moon and Moon"

"Sleep Alone" is a song performed by Bat For Lashes. It serves as the second track on Natasha's second album, Two Suns. It is the third single from the album released on September 6, 2009. 

Background

The song was announced to be the third single on Bat for Lashes' official website. Bat for Lashes performed "Sleep Alone" live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on 12 August 2009.

Music and composition

In the Two + Two documentary about the making of Two Suns, Natasha Khan explained the song:

“It’s all about how you can go partying and in the end of the night you have to come home on your own. I just thought the excitement and it doesn’t matter what you’re doing in the daytime or in the evening, but in your bed it’s nice to sort of have someone that’s your sweetheart with you. I think that’s the universal theme, probably.”

Natasha Khan explained to BBC's Newsbeat:

“Well, I've always been an '80s girl, and I think [on] the first record I was quite shy really and I wanted to just keep it how I'd been playing it in my bedroom. I grew up listening to The Cure and I loved early Madonna and Prince and all of that stuff, so I think what prompted me was just probably having more confidence to kind of reach out and reveal even more of myself and what I love and not be too shy about it.”

In another interview, she discussed the recording process of the song and how she included field recording on it:

For 'Sleep Alone', I recorded in Big Sur, with all of my friends around the campfire clapping and singing and stuff. That comes in as part of the layers.

Critical reception

The Quietus opined:

“It gets all the more pointy-hatted and magical in ‘Sleep Alone'. Khan weaves spells in the cause of summoning a lover, as trickling water and unfussy percussion provide sonic embellishment. Even when Kahn is singing her head off her delivery seems marvellously cool and controlled, though never completely detached as she glides across her songs as a robust constant.”

BBC UK Music opined:

“There are some highs – amongst them Daniel, an obvious choice for first single with its oh-so-now synth-drenched melody and soaring vocals. Sleep Alone is an anthem for the lonely with high pitched vocals against a throbbing bassline.”

Music video

Music video	Information
	Released	August 3, 2009
	Length	03:09
	Director	Rupert Noble
	Producer
	Filmed
	Location
	Vevo views	+187,001

Lyrics

You know, my darling, I can't stand to sleep alone
No sweetheart in the dark to call my own
You're my own, you're my own, I can sing it, I can groan
But the darkness is a stranger and I'm lonely, lonely, lonely, low...

Last night's parties and last night's horrorshow
Smiling and whirling and kissing all I know
Give my soul, give my soul, sing it free across the sea
A lonely spell to conjure you, but conjure hell is all I do

Lonely, lonely, lonely, 'cause my mama told me
The dream of love is a two hearted dream
Lonely, lonely, lonely, 'cause my mama told me
The dream of love is a two hearted dream

They say for every high, high there must be a low, low, low, low, low
From every sun ascending a lonesome moon will grow, grow, grow, grow
Drive my heart, drive my heart, into the fire of a burning heart's desire
A lonely spell so you be seen, do you hear me coming in my blue dream?

Lonely, lonely, lonely, 'cause my mama told me
The dream of love is a two hearted dream
Lonely, lonely, lonely, 'cause my mama told me
The dream of love is a two hearted dream

Lonely, lonely, lonely
Lonely, lonely, lonely

Official versions

• Album version — 05:00
• Radio Edit version — 03:17
• Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid Remix — 04:37
• 909s in DarkTimes Mix — 04:32

Commercial release

Digital release

Sleep Alone / Moon and Moon - Single

	Label: Parlophone Format: Digital Released: September 6, 2009 Barcode: None Photography: Natasha Khan Design: Natasha Khan

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sleep Alone (Radio Edit)"	03:08
2.	"Moon and Moon"	03:07
3.	"Glass (Live on Sirius Satellite Radio, New York City)"	03:50
4.	"Travelling Woman (Live on Sirius Satellite Radio, New York City)"	03:26
5.	"Sleep Alone (Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid remix)"	04:37