I'm Only Sleeping – English Lyrics

• By: The Beatles
• Album: Revolver

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the English language through the dreamy and inventive world of The Beatles' 'I'm Only Sleeping.' This song is a wonderful opportunity to learn playful and gentle ways of expressing feelings of laziness and the desire for peace. Its creative lyrics and pioneering studio techniques, like the famous backwards guitar solo, not only changed the course of popular music but also showcase how language and sound can be bent and shaped to create a unique mood.

[English]

♪ When I wake up early in the morning ♪

♪ Lift my head ♪

♪ I'm still yawning ♪

♪ When I'm in the middle of a dream ♪

♪ Stay in bed ♪

♪ Float up stream ♪ ♪ Float up stream ♪

♪ Please, don't wake me ♪

♪ No, don't shake me ♪

♪ Leave me where I am ♪

♪ I'm only sleeping ♪

(gentle upbeat music)

♪ Everybody seems to think I'm lazy ♪

♪ I don't mind ♪

♪ I think they're crazy ♪

♪ Runnin' everywhere at such a speed ♪

♪ Until they find there's no need ♪

♪ There's no need ♪

♪ Please, don't spoil my day ♪

♪ I'm miles away ♪

♪ And after all ♪

♪ I'm only sleeping ♪

(slow upbeat music)

♪ Keepin' an eye on the world ♪

♪ Going by my window ♪

♪ Takin' my time ♪

♪ Lyin' there and staring at the ceiling ♪

♪ Waiting for a sleepy feeling ♪

(gentle upbeat music)

♪ Please, don't spoil my day ♪

♪ I'm miles away ♪

♪ And after all ♪

♪ I'm only sleeping ♪

(slow upbeat music)

♪ Keepin' an eye on the world ♪

♪ Going by my window ♪

♪ Takin' my time ♪

♪ When I wake up early in the morning ♪

♪ Lift my head ♪

♪ I'm still yawning ♪

♪ When I'm in the middle of a dream ♪

♪ Stay in bed ♪

♪ Float up stream ♪

♪ Float up stream ♪

♪ Please, don't wake me ♪

♪ No, don't shake me ♪

♪ Leave me where I am ♪

♪ I'm only sleeping ♪

(gentle upbeat music)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wake /weɪk/ A2	verb - to stop sleeping
sleep /sliːp/ A1	verb - to rest in a state of reduced consciousness
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep verb - to experience dreams during sleep
lazy /ˈleɪ.zi/ A2	adjective - unwilling to work or use energy
mind /maɪnd/ B1	verb - to be concerned about or to care for
crazy /ˈkreɪ.zi/ B1	adjective - mentally deranged; insane
float /floʊt/ B1	verb - to rest or move on the surface of a liquid without sinking
spoil /spɔɪl/ B2	verb - to damage or ruin something
miles /maɪlz/ A2	noun - a unit of distance equal to 1,609 meters
keep /kiːp/ A1	verb - to have or retain possession of
eye /aɪ/ A1	noun - the organ of sight
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth and all its inhabitants
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues
ceiling /ˈsiː.lɪŋ/ B2	noun - the overhead interior surface of a room

Key Grammar Structures

• When I wake up early in the morning

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present simple tense to describe a habitual action.

• Please, don't wake me

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The phrase is a request using the imperative mood to ask someone not to do something.

• I'm miles away

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present continuous tense to indicate a current state or condition.

• I think they're crazy

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present simple tense to express a belief or opinion.

• Keepin' an eye on the world

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense (Informal)

  ➔ The phrase uses the present continuous tense in an informal way to describe an ongoing action.

• Waiting for a sleepy feeling

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present continuous tense to indicate an action that is currently happening.