Second Sleep – English Lyrics

• By: Magdalena Bay

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the world of Magdalena Bay through their song “Second Sleep.” This track offers a unique opportunity to explore complex emotional themes through its rich, metaphorical lyrics. The song's blend of musical styles makes it a captivating listen, and for language learners, its introspective and poetic lyrics can provide a creative way to engage with English vocabulary and nuanced expression.

[English]

Second sleep is callin' out to me

If I don't wake up, oh

I have the sense not to make a mess

I fall in love just to hurt myself, mm, mm

Time to toughen up, gotta get some help

Sun's comin' up

Put the coffee on and shudder on out the door

Second sleep is callin' out to me

If I don't wake up, it's all been a bad dream

Yeah, the world's wakin' up, it's not the proto-days

No sleepin' in

Call the cops, drug me up, send the men off to war

Second sleep is calling out to me (ah, ooh)

If I don't wake up, it's all been a-

...

Understanding that love is so demanding

In the city, yeah, love is when you're winning, yeah

La-la-la-la

La-la-la-la, whoa

La-la-la-la

La-la-la-la, whoa

...

(Second sleep is calling out to me)

(If I don't wake up, it's all been a bad dream)

I'm suffering, do you feel this cold?

I'll warm you up when we get to hell

Second sleep is callin' out to me

If I don't wake up, I'll see you in my dreams

It's not natural, yeah, and I really need some help

Oh, take it back

Tear the city down, don't build it up anymore

Second sleep is callin' out to me

If I don't wake up, it's all been- (oh, shut up)

So far to get to where you are

Understanding that love is so demanding

Oh, in the city, yeah, love is when you're bleedin', yeah, oh

La-la-la-la

La-la-la-la

La-la-la-la

La-la-la-la

La-la-la-la

La-la-la-la

La-la-la-la

La-la-la-la

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sleep /sliːp/ A1	noun - a natural periodic state of rest for the body and mind
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection or strong emotional attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone
wake /weɪk/ A1	verb - to stop sleeping; become alert
call /kɔːl/ A2	verb - to summon or contact by phone noun - a telephone conversation
dream /driːm/ A1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep verb - to experience dreams while sleeping
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large and permanent human settlement
help /hɛlp/ A1	noun - assistance or support verb - to give assistance to someone
hurt /hɜːrt/ A1	verb - to cause physical or emotional pain noun - pain or injury
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - having a low temperature; not warm noun - a common viral infection of the upper respiratory tract
hell /hɛl/ B2	noun - a place regarded in many religions as a realm of suffering after death
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - armed conflict between nations or groups
toughen /ˈtʌfən/ B2	verb - to make stronger or more resilient
mess /mɛs/ A2	noun - a state of disorder or untidiness
demanding /dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ/ B2	adjective - requiring great effort, skill, or attention
natural /ˈnætʃrəl/ B1	adjective - existing in or caused by nature; not artificial

Key Grammar Structures

• If I don't wake up, it's all been a bad dream

  ➔ Conditional sentence (Type 1) with present tense and result clause.

  ➔ The condition 'if I don't wake up' shows a possible situation, and 'it's all been a bad dream' expresses the result of that condition.

• I fall in love just to hurt myself

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose ('to hurt') after 'just'.

  ➔ The phrase 'to hurt myself' explains the reason or purpose for 'falling in love'.

• Time to toughen up, gotta get some help

  ➔ Elliptical construction with omitted subject ('It’s time to toughen up').

  ➔ The phrase omits 'it’s', which is understood in context, making the line sound more natural and poetic.

• Call the cops, drug me up, send the men off to war

  ➔ Imperative verbs listing orders or requests.

  ➔ Each verb ('call', 'drug', 'send') is in the imperative mood, expressing commands.

• The world's wakin' up, it's not the proto-days

  ➔ Contraction and present progressive tense ('is waking up').

  ➔ The contraction 'wakin’' replaces 'waking', typical of informal or lyrical English to match rhythm.

• I'll warm you up when we get to hell

  ➔ Future tense with conditional time clause ('when we get to hell').

  ➔ The main clause 'I'll warm you up' is future tense, while 'when we get to hell' uses present tense grammatically, a rule for time clauses.

• Tear the city down, don't build it up anymore

  ➔ Negative imperative ('don't build it up') and phrasal verbs.

  ➔ Both 'tear down' and 'build up' are phrasal verbs meaning 'destroy' and 'construct'; 'don't build it up anymore' gives a negative command.

• So far to get to where you are

  ➔ Infinitive phrase of purpose ('to get') and ellipsis (missing subject/verb).

  ➔ The line omits a main verb, likely 'It’s taken' or 'It’s been', so 'So far to get...' means 'It’s been so far to get...'.