FAWM: "How Do You Sleep at Night"

How Do You Sleep at Night

2025 by @doglatin

Liner Notes

In the waning hours of FAWM time, I'm getting more "acoustic-one-take" oriented, and sloppier, and, well, so much for disclaimers. I hate to go out on a sour note, but this will probably be the last song I squeak out.

Sour notes are in abundance, I live in a country that just elected one of the most despicable politicians to ever foul our government...every day, more and more egregious acts, statements, and spectacles take place. These events weigh heavily on my psyche, and the trajectory of my songwriting, no matter how hard I try to divert it, keeps going towards the current state of affairs. But I'm resistant to blatant "protest songs" and fist-waving anthemic stuff. So I tend to write these depictions of one-on-one interactions with friends who hold beliefs that are contrary to mine. They are always rooted in personal experience. I hope they're not boring. They might be. Anyway, here's a late-night rumination, a conversation with a friend or family member, trying to figure out what the hell makes them side with a monster. #political #indiefolk #acousticonetake

Lyrics

HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT

Yes I heard what you said There were no in-between lines to be read I heard it loud and clear There was no mistaking what entered my ears

So this is where you stand I guess I failed to understand That you think it’s the road to pride and glory To be on the wrong side of history

Well...I don’t know just what to say I know you’re set in your ways And the ends always justify the means Even if it means siding with the evil team You can rationalize and explain away Every abominable thing they say But I wonder if you’re gonna sleep at night When you figure out right’s not always right And maybe you were just deluded a might And how exactly do you sleep at night

Comments

@tanjabymc 2025

This song gives me hope as an EUropean that there are still enough citizens in the USA who are in their right mind and able to think outside the box: Very poignant, lyrics and music go great together, great song! (This was an ai translation of what I was trying to say, I hope it'sok..)

@elainedimasi 2025

Re: the sentiment, Word Up.

Your choice of how to express it, your guitar and quiet vocal delivery, is so effective here.

Lyrically, I love how it centers on the feeling of the "I". Because like you, I can't often see my way to screaming at yelling at these "you's" no matter how angry I am.

I fear to see that it's I, not they, who can't sleep at night in this scenario...

Finish by saying it again, this arrangement sounds good. A satisfying listen.

@philmcmill 2025

Excellent lyrics! Nice groove, chord progression. Well done! - I didn't hear anything sour.

@hazydave 2025

Good! I do wonder how there are so many seemingly decent people who just don't get it. I guess part of it is that they're locked in a propaganda bubble that reinforces "this is good, this is what we wanted", and it takes some tragedy, like things flipping back on them, maybe "the inevitable Trump Recession" as I put it in one song, before they start to wake up. Of course, they've also demonized that lately.

I did try to explore the horrors of our new reality both directly and taking the perspective of someone on the other side, and perhaps even what motivated them to make a decision that they understand -- well, at least the characters I create -- do ultimately figure out.

@resonut123 2025

Another Good one. A very observant view on our situation here in the USA. It is subtle but yet still it's a stinging commentary on our times and certain people. Strong lyric, vocal and guitar playing.