How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep

Album: A Different Kind Of Fix (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the opening track from North London alternative rock band Bombay Bicycle Club's third album, A Different Kind Of Fix. Singer Jack Steadman told The Sun: "I think that track sets the one for the rest of the record. It has a lot of sampled vocals and hip-hop breakbeats. And it doesn't have a chorus."
  • An earlier version taken from Jack's demo for this song was included on the Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack, but for the album the band re-recorded some parts. "It was one of the hardest songs to record," guitarist Jamie MacColl recalled to The Sun. "The demo was very strong and we had quite an attachment to it. We learned that rather than try and capture the magic of a demo, just use the part if you like it."
  • Steadman explained the album title to The Sun: "It's the title of an old song I wrote about bad habits and addictive behaviour. We thought it fitted nicely as an album title as we were bringing our fans something different."
  • Steadman's lyrics for this song convey a perception of a person rather than a precise character study or memory. He told Q magazine: "I write more about the people and the feelings I have about them. I think you start writing music because you can't express things with words."
  • The music video was directed by Anna Ginsburg, who would go on to direct the band's aquatic-themed video for "Luna," on their subsequent album, So Long, See You Tomorrow.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's SongsSong Writing

"London Bridge," "Ring Around the Rosie" and "It's Raining, It's Pouring" are just a few examples of shockingly morbid children's songs.