As I Lay Me Down

Album

Whaler

Label

Columbia Records

Genre

Pop rock

Media Type

45s

Duration

4:11

Composer(s)

Sophie B. Hawkins

Entered Chart

Jun 3, 1995

Peak Date

Oct 28, 1995

Released

February 7, 1995

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Columbia 77801

B-Side

I Need Nothing Else

"As I Lay Me Down" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins. It was released in February 1995 by Columbia Records as the third single from her second album, Whaler (1994), and also appears on The Best of Sophie B. Hawkins (2002). The song, a tribute to her father, is produced by Stephen Lipson and remains one of her two biggest hits, reaching number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for six weeks in 1995. Outside the United States, the song reached number six in Canada, number seven in Australia, number 19 in New Zealand, and number 24 in the United Kingdom. Its music video was directed by Ernie Fritz and filmed in New York City.

It felt like springtime on this February morning
In a courtyard, birds were singing your praise
I'm still recalling things you said 
To make me feel all right 
I carry them with me today

Now as I lay me down to sleep
This I pray 
That you will hold me dear
Though I'm far away
I'll whisper your name
Into the sky
And I will wake up happy

I wonder why
I feel so high
Though I am not above the sorrow
Heavy-hearted 'til you call my name
And it sounds like church bells
Or the whistle of a train on a Summer evening
I want to meet you barefoot, barely breathing

As I lay me down to sleep
This I pray 
That you will hold me dear
Though I'm far away
I'll whisper your name
Into the sky
And I will wake up happy

(Hold out this hand) 
As I lay me down to sleep
This I pray 
That you will hold me dear
Though I'm far away
I'll whisper your name
Into the sky
And I will wake up happy

It's not too near for me
Like a flower, I need the rain
Thought it's not clear to me
Every season has its change
And I will see you when the sun comes out again

As I lay me down to sleep
This I pray 
That you will hold me dear
Though I'm far away
I'll whisper your name
Into the sky
And I will wake up happy

Oh-oh, as I lay me down to sleep
This I pray 
That you will hold me dear
Though I'm far away
I'll whisper your name
Into the sky
And I will wake up happy

I wonder why

Mm, the sun comes out again
When the sun comes out again
When the sun comes out again
When the sun comes out
Oh, the sun comes out again
When the sun comes out again
Mm, comes out, comes out
Oh, wake up happy
'Cause I pray