Sweet Dream

## Audio

"**Sweet Dream**" is the thirteenth track and one of two lead singles, the other being “Shapeshifter”, from Alessia Cara’s third studio album, *In The Meantime.* It was released on July 15, 2021 through Def Jam Recordings. Cara began to tease the song on June 28, 2021, before officially announcing the release on July 2, 2021.

## Background

“Sweet Dream” is a pop song about insomnia. Cara explains that her entire life she has trouble falling asleep. On August 20th, 2021, she released various lullaby versions of the track, including a vocal mix, instrumental mix, and a piano mix.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

4:55, everybody else is snoring

My heavy eyes, I can never seem to close 'em

My running mind, just can't catch you when it's going

Is it late at night or is it early in the mornin'?

**[Pre-Chorus]**

Only so many sheep a girl can count

Patchouli candles burnin' out

I try to meditate it all away

But damn, it is too quiet now

Daylight helps distract my head

Monsters hide under my bed

They bother me with all kinds of things like

"Where do I go when I'm dead?"

**[Chorus]**

Is it too much to ask for a sweet dream?

Need a step back from my feelings

Life is not so bad when I'm sleeping

Is it too much to ask, too much to ask for a

A sweet dream?

For a sweet dream

**[Verse 2]**

6:58, sun's peakin' through the curtains

I drift away, suddenly the wheels are turnin'

Songs are in my head, scary thoughts begin to worsen

Once I'm wide awake, it's too hard to reverse it

**[Pre-Chorus]**

Chirpin' birds are flying 'round my house

Patchouli candles burnin' out

I try to meditate it all away

But damn, it is too quiet now

Daylight helps distract my head

Monsters hide under my bed

They bother me with all kinds of things like

That one stupid thing I said

**[Chorus]**

Is it too much to ask for a sweet dream? (Sweet dream)

Need a step back from my feelings (Feelings)

Life is not so bad when I'm sleeping

Is it too much to ask, too much to ask for a

A sweet dream

For a sweet dream

A sweet dream

For a sweet dream

**[Bridge]**

Sandman, can you visit me?

All I want is a sweet dream

**[Verse 3]**

8:31, I'm slurrin' every word now

I pray this cold coffee helps me with the rebound

How does everybody I know, know how to sleep sound?

When we're all a mess, I guess the only way out is a

**[Outro]**

A sweet dream (Sweet dream, sweet dream)

Is a sweet dream (Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah)

A sweet dream (Oh yeah, yeah, ayy, ayy)

Is a sweet dream (Yeah, ayy, ayy)

## Live Performances

The song was performed by Cara from Niagara Falls on *The Late Show with Stephen Colberton* July 19, 2021. She also performed "Shapeshifter" on the same day. "Sweet Dream" was then performed on *Live with Kelly and Ryan*.

## Trivia

* The times 4:55, 6:58 and 8:31 are the actual times she wrote the verses.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/alessia-cara-shares-two-new-songs-sweet-dream-and-shapeshifter-2996071
2. ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/alessia-cara-shares-two-new-songs-sweet-dream-and-shapeshifter-2996071
3. ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/1R5Bximq7WOKjDQffE1zMw?si=EbpLbGSNT5iyi9-DrcBnIw
4. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/alessia-cara-sweet-dream-shapeshifter-late-show-stephen-colbert-1199393/
5. ↑ https://youtu.be/Hjiun2k2JcI