Stay Awake

Album: Settle Down (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Fairport, New York native Julia Nunes started writing songs at the age of 13 when she was in a Ska band. The Portuguese-American troubadour became well known for her videos of both original songs and covers on YouTube in which she sings harmony with herself and plays acoustic instruments. Nunes opened four times for one of her idols, Ben Folds, in May 2008 at the piano player's request after she posted one of her covers of his songs on the net. She made her television debut on January 24, 2012 performing this song on Conan.
  • Nunes told American Songwriter why she is especially proud of this song. She explained that it is, "my anthem for all the people who stay up late for absolutely no reason, but during the hours of 1:00am and 5:00am everything they're doing seems really important. If California Girls and American Idiots get anthems, voluntary insomniacs should too. So I'm especially proud to have written one."

Comments: 2

  • Jim from Morgantown, WvI'm just so excited to see Julia Nunes on Songfacts!!! Her voice is so pure and her songs and videos are wonderful. I hope this doesn't sound sexist but her eyes just pierce their way into my soul.
  • George from Salt Lake City, UtStay Awake speaks to me about the human experience of isolation much more deeply than just voluntary insomnia. We get so turned around in our priorities. Weather it is caught in the trance of being a work-a-holic, or other addiction or whatever it is that separates us from connecting with the people that we love. And there is Julia, making the Buddhist plea to wake up or stay awake to what really matters in life. Go now; sleep well, dream deeply and awake anew. "We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep."
    g
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-Outs

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-OutsSong Writing

The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.